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Emergency Lighting Testing Scotland
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Emergency Lighting Testing Scotland
Emergency illumination
Emergency lighting is used to provide light in case of a power outage or other disruption to the main power source. A fire or a power outage may cause the loss of mains electricity. Without emergency lights, this could cause unexpected darkness, which could put residents in danger of harm to themselves or from panic.
Emergency lighting is typically needed to work completely automatically and provide illumination at a level high enough to allow all inhabitants to safely exit the building. Emergency lighting is often installed during new building construction; the architect specifies the design and type of equipment in compliance with current building regulations and any applicable local authority requirements.
The British Standard offers precise rules for the emergency lighting designer to follow. In addition to hotels, clubs, hospitals, nursing homes, schools and colleges, licenced establishments, workplaces, museums, and stores, BS 5266-1 also applies to multi-story homes. Although the standard suggests the kinds of backups and their lengths for each category of premises, it should be kept in mind that standards only specify the bare minimum; in some cases, a higher level may be necessary.
Emergency lighting – what is it?
Illumination that turns on automatically if the power source for the regular lighting fails. Emergency lighting is a broad category that includes standby lighting and emergency escape lighting.
- Emergency exit lighting is the component of an emergency lighting system that provides illumination to ensure the security of those attempting to leave a facility or stop a potentially hazardous procedure. It is a requirement of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and a component of the building’s fire safety provisions.
- Standby lighting is that portion of an emergency lighting system that is provided to allow regular activities to proceed largely unaltered. As backup lighting is not legally required and is a facility that may or may not be required depending on the use and occupancy of the property, it is not included in this guide.
- Emergency escape lighting is further separated into illumination for high-risk task areas, lighting for open areas, and lighting for escape routes.
Lighting for the escape path helps to mark it and keeps it well-lit. This comprises both emergency lighting, such as emergency lighting bulkheads, and illuminated fire escape signs.
- The purpose of open area lighting, often referred to as anti-panic lighting in some countries, is to make sure there is enough light for building inhabitants to find an escape path.
- High risk task area lighting is a component of an emergency exit lighting system that offers illumination for the safety of individuals participating in potentially hazardous processes or situations as well as to enable correct shut-down procedures for the operator and other building occupants.
Advisory and design
Consultation and design are the first steps in installing emergency escape lighting. The designer, responsible party, and fire risk assessor should consult to determine where the emergency lighting is needed. The designer, responsible party, and fire risk assessor should then draw up a plan that shows the areas that need to be covered, the type (power supply), mode of operation, facilities, and duration of emergency lighting that will be available in an emergency.
Type (power supply)
Independent – Single Point
Advantages:
Installation is quicker and less expensive. You can utilise regular wiring materials. The affected emergency luminaire will automatically turn on in the event of a mains supply failure caused by cable burn-through. Low maintenance costs—only periodic testing and simple cleaning are needed. Low cost of hardware equipment; no need for additional wiring or ventilation, etc. Each luminaire is independent of the others, which increases the integrity of the system. Extension of the system with additional luminaires is simple. There are no unique sub-circuit monitoring needs.
Disadvantages:
The system’s climatic circumstances will fluctuate, and batteries may suffer from a relatively high or low ambient temperature. Depending on the use, the battery has a restricted lifespan of between two and four years. It is necessary to isolate and monitor each luminaire separately during testing.
In general, cost will probably dictate whether to employ a central battery or a self-contained system. A large project may be able to afford the greater initial cost of a central battery system if longevity and low maintenance are requirements for the installation. The self-contained luminaire is the most popular option because installation and luminaire costs are typically a considerable factor, especially on smaller undertakings.
Battery Source Central
Advantages:
With just one site to think about, maintenance and routine testing are simpler. Depending on the kind, a battery has a lifespan of between 5 and 25 years. The slave luminaire is capable of operating in a protected environment with relatively high or low ambient temperatures since it is environmentally stable. Luminaires are often less expensive and large batteries are more cost-effective per unit of power.
Disadvantages:
High costs for capital goods Because each slave luminaire needs a fire-resistant connection, the installation and system wiring are expensive. It is necessary to isolate and monitor each luminaire separately during testing. A requirement for a “battery room” to hold cells and charger circuits, etc.; venting of acid gases may also be required; Poor system integrity – failure of battery or wiring circuit might disable a significant portion of the system Localized mains failure might not turn on the area’s emergency lighting. A potential issue could be voltage drop on the luminaire wired farthest from the main battery.
Operation mode
The main question is whether the premises are maintained or not, and this is determined by how they are used.
- A maintained emergency luminaire is one that always has its emergency lighting lamps on.
The whole list is in BS 5266, and maintained mode is typically used in gathering spaces like theatres, movies, clubs, and halls. When these establishments are occupied, the lights are normally reduced, and the emergency lighting prevents absolute darkness.
Even in well-lit public locations, maintained fire exit signs are utilised to provide clear directions for escape routes in emergency scenarios where the power does not go out.
- A luminaire whose emergency lamps only turn on when the power to the regular illumination fails is referred to as a non-maintained emergency luminaire. In an office or other comparable setting, artificial lighting is typically used in the non-maintained mode while the space is occupied.
- A luminaire with two or more lights that is powered by both the emergency lighting source and the regular lighting source, at least one of which is powered by the emergency lighting source, is referred to as a combined emergency luminaire. One of two maintenance options is available for a combination emergency luminaire. Additionally known as switchable emergency lights.
Facilities
A) Luminaire with test device: The luminaire has a self-test module that can be used for testing.
B) Luminaire with remote test device: A centralised panel conducts remote testing of the system.
C) Emergency lighting luminaire with inhibiting mode: this control mode prevents the emergency lighting luminaire from running and, as a result, prevents the drain of the emergency lighting batteries while the building is empty. The batteries will still be completely charged if a mains breakdown happens at that time, enabling occupancy of the facility as needed. It is carried out by an inhibitor switch that needs to interface with other building services in order to prevent accidental occupancy of the space before the emergency lighting has been recommissioned.
D) High risk task luminaire: The maintained luminance must not be less than 10% of the required maintained luminance for the task under normal lighting conditions for risk task area illumination in high risk regions. The minimum luminance required for this is 15 lux. For task area illumination, the uniformity ratio should be at least 10:1. (0.1). The occupiers’ danger must be present for at least that amount of time.
Duration
The size and intricacy of the property will determine how long it takes to evacuate. The duration depends not only on the evacuation period but also on whether the area is left empty and then reoccupied as soon as the electricity and regular illumination are restored. One emergency escape lighting system must last at least an hour. This means that the luminaires must be left on for at least an hour after the power source fails.
If the premises are not immediately evacuated, as would be the case with overnight accommodations, or if the premises will be reoccupied as soon as the supply is restored without waiting for the batteries to be recharged, emergency escape lighting should be used for a minimum of three hours.
One hour should only be used if the building is quickly evacuated in the event of a supply failure and not reoccupied until the batteries have recovered their full capacity.
The duration of systems at various premises is recommended in great detail in BS 5266.
Classifications for emergency lights
The previous NM or M classification, which measured time in hours, has been replaced with the following code:
1. Type
X – self-sufficient
Y, the main battery
2.Method of action
Zero unmaintained
1 remained
2 non-maintained together
3 maintained more modes are also explained.
3.Resources
A consists of a test device
B a remote test device
C a mode inhibitor,
D a high risk task luminaire.
4.Time spent in minutes.
10, 60,120 or 180
The classification is stated using the following illustration :[x][0][***][180] Self-sufficient, unmaintained, ***, 3 hours long. then applicable, this is inserted at the time of installation.
Placing emergency signals and luminaries
After choosing your basic system, you need give some thought to where the emergency lighting and signs should be placed within the specific buildings involved. After that, you can choose your equipment based on this as a guide. A graphical reference for the placement of emergency lights is offered by Safelincs.
Lighting fixtures and placards should be placed to clearly indicate the exit routes leading to the building’s final exits. Instead of using a lighting unit when the departure route or ultimate exit is difficult to see, a sign should be used. Individual stairs, floor level changes, corridor junctions, changes in direction, the outside of each last exit, control / plant rooms, lifts, and restroom spaces larger than 8m2 should all receive extra attention (although there is an argument for providing all toilets with public access, and especially those for the disabled, with emergency lighting). Fire alarm call points and firefighting supplies should be easily accessible.
Each of the aforementioned items doesn’t need its own light source (luminaire), but there should be enough general illumination to make them visible and functional.
Please note that you should use the manufacturer’s spacing tables or precise computer point calculations. The information above is merely an overview; to fully comprehend what is required, we advise studying the relevant standard.
How many lumens?
According to BS 5266, there should be horizontal lighting at floor level along the centre line of a designated escape route that is not less than 1 lux (permanently unobstructed) and 0.5 lux (for anti-panic zones), except a 0.5 m border around the route. Additionally, 50% of the width of escape routes up to 2 metres wide needs to have lighting that is at least 1 lux bright. A series of 2 m wide stripes can be used to represent wider escape routes. With special attention paid to nursing homes for the elderly, hospitals, crowded places like pubs, nightclubs, and supermarkets, as well as whether or not the premises have overnight accommodations, such as hotels, the actual degree of illumination should be closely related to the nature of the premises and its occupants.
All of this information is found in the appendices to BS 5266-1. The intensity of illumination in specific rooms and regions inside a building will vary based on their function.
N.B. This is only a brief explanation; for a thorough grasp of the issues, we advise studying the relevant standard.
Commissioning Certificate and Logbook
Written declarations of compliance must be accessible on site for inspection in accordance with BS 5266. These should include the main circuit of the typical lighting system supplying unmaintained fixtures, as well as information about the installation’s quality and compliance with IEE rules.
Photometric performance is necessary, and the system designer must provide proof of compliance with light levels.
A completion certificate should be given by the installer to the building’s occupant or owner once the installation of the emergency lighting system, or a portion of it, has been completed.
A record of all system tests and their outcomes must be kept, along with a declaration of good test of operation. The installation needs to supply system logbooks, commissioning forms, testing forms, and instructions.
You can get a free fire safety logbook from Safelincs that includes sections for emergency lighting checks.
Maintenance
Finally, it should be indicated what essential servicing entails in order to guarantee that the system stays completely functional. Normally, this would be done as part of the testing process, but for consumable parts like replacement lights, spares should be made available right away.
testing and maintenance
A mains power failure on the normal lighting circuit or circuits, or on specific luminaries, must be reproduced in order to evaluate an emergency lighting system. As a result, the emergency lighting system will have to run on batteries. It is possible to run this test manually or automatically.
Manual evaluation
By including a switch to disconnect all lighting circuits, specific lighting circuits, or specific luminaires, a fake mains breakdown can be replicated. The following things should be taken into account if manual testing is used:
After simulating the mains failure in a system with a single switch for the entire building or large circuit, the tester must walk the entire structure or circuit to ensure that all emergency luminaires are functioning properly. The entire building or circuit must be walked again to ensure that the emergency lights are recharging after the mains supply has been restored.
Only one walk around the building will be required if the emergency luminaires are individually switched. The test switches, however, must be of a tamper-proof variety because they could ruin the building’s aesthetics. Following the testing, it is advised that the system’s performance be recorded in the fire safety logbook.
Automatic evaluation
Self-testing emergency lighting should be taken into consideration if the time and labour costs of an engineer and the commotion that manual testing causes are too great. To meet the requirements of a particular site, various forms are available. The outcomes of the monthly and yearly testing must still be documented.
Information on emergency lights testing in general
The minimum provision and testing requirements for emergency lighting for various premises are laid out in BS EN 50172/BS 5266-8 (Emergency escape lighting systems). BS 5266-1 contains more information on servicing: (Code of practise for the emergency lighting of premises).
Discharge tests must be conducted after regular business hours. The test should be phased in such a way that it only involves testing substitute luminaires in buildings that are always occupied.
Regular maintenance is necessary. The occupant or owner of the property must designate a qualified individual to oversee system servicing. This person will be given enough power to ensure that any work required to keep the system operating properly is completed.
All full duration tests of the emergency lighting system must, whenever possible, be carried out right before a time of low risk to allow for battery recharge because it is possible for the normal lighting source to fail quickly after a period of testing or during the subsequent recharging period. Alternately, while the batteries are recharged, adequate temporary arrangements must be devised.
At the periods suggested below, the minimum inspections and testing listed below must be performed. The regulatory body might demand particular tests.
Daily inspection of emergency lighting (only for central back-up systems)
Only emergency lighting systems with a central backup battery system are subject to this check. In this instance, the central power supply’s indicators are visually inspected daily to determine whether the system is functioning. No operational test is necessary. Emergency lighting with self-contained backup batteries in each unit is exempt from this test (standard emergency lighting).
Montthy tests of emergency lighting
Every month, all emergency lighting systems must be tested. A quick functional test is being conducted in accordance with BS EN 50172/BS 5266-8.
For the purposes of this test, the simulated failure period should be adequate while causing the least amount of harm to the system’s components, such as lamps. All luminaires and signs must be examined during this time to make sure they are present, in good condition, and working properly.
Annually testing emergency lighting
The emergency lights must be tested for the entire time they are rated to operate (for example, 3 hours). At the conclusion of this test, the emergency lights must still be operational.
Recording the results of the monthly and yearly tests is required, and failures must be fixed as soon as possible if they are found.
The annual emergency light “drain” test is frequently performed by fire alarm servicing companies at the same time as fire alarm system maintenance because it gives the waiting period before the “drain” test something productive to do.
Emergency lighting standards for the United Kingdom and Europe
As of right now, emergency lighting is governed by a number of interrelated standards that can be thought of as forming a hierarchy, as shown below.
Basic directive document
BS 5266-1 Code of conduct for building emergency lighting. provides general guidelines and rules for the installation and use of emergency lighting in the majority of locations other than dwellings.
System requirements
BS EN 1838 emergency lighting is used in lighting applications. specifies the amount of light that emergency lighting is to provide (including luminance, duration and colour).
Emergency escape lighting systems, per BS EN 50172/BS 5266-8. specifies the required quantity of emergency lighting and its testing for various locations.
Product requirements
BS EN 60598-1 Lighting. Tests and general requirements. For specific requirements, refer to the 60598 series.
BS EN 62034 Systems that automatically test battery-powered emergency exit lighting. specifies a testing system for emergency lighting powered by batteries.
BS EN 50171 power distribution centres. specifies centralised power supply systems for luminaries used for emergency lighting.
In 2005, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order was passed.
The “Further guidance on emergency escape lighting” section of the HM Government entry level guides to the RRFSO for various types of non-domestic premises and the communal areas in HMOs each provides additional pertinent information. This link will take you to the guides: Guidelines for the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order
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