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Emergency lighting systems designed, installed and maintained by SSC Fire & Security provide lighting for an emergency situation should the main electrical supply fail.
The loss of mains electricity could be the result of a fire or a power cut, the normal lighting supplies fail and your building could be in total darkness.
Emergency lighting is required to operate automatically and give illumination of a sufficiently high level to enable all persons to evacuate the premises safely.
British Standards provides guide lines which form the general basis to work on. British Standard BS 5266: Part 1: 2005 includes in its scope residential hotels, clubs, hospitals, nursing homes, schools and colleges, licensed premises, offices, museums, shops, multi-storey dwellings etc. Although this standard recommends the types and durations of emergency lighting systems relating to each category of premise it should be remembered that the standards are minimum safe standards for the types of premises and that a higher standard may be needed for a particular installation.
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To comply with the RRO and ensure your Risk Assessment takes into account Emergency Lighting the "Section 5 - Further guidance on emergency escape lighting" will provide you with further information.
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- Non-maintained Units - This type of emergency light only illuminates in the event of an electrical mains failure, emergency duration 2 hours
- Maintained - This type of emergency unit is illuminated at all times using the same lamps for both normal and emergency operation, emergency duration 3 hours
- Sustained - This type of unit is fitted with two lamps or two sets of lamps. One of which operates on electrical mains supply, the other which operates from the battery supply in the event of electrical mains failure, emergency duration 1 hour
- Central Battery Systems
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Emergency lighting units and signs should be sited to clearly show the fire exit routes leading to the outside of the premises. Where the exit route is not readily identifiable a sign should also be used. Special attention should be noted to stairways, corridor intersections and changes in direction to the outside of the premises. Plant rooms, lifts, toilet areas and all toilets of public access and especially those for the disabled should have emergency lighting.
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There is legislation, guides, British and European standards that require emergency lighting to be installed and the area it should cover. An emergency escape lighting system should normally cover the following areas:
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- each exit door
- escape routes
- intersections of corridors
- external escape routes
- emergency escape signs
- stairways so that each flight receives adequate light
- changes in floor level
- windowless rooms and public, disabled toilet areas
- lifts
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Sited Exit Light
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BS5266 recommends the provision of a horizontal illumination at floor level on the centre line of a defined escape route not less than 0.2 lux and 0.5 lux minimum for anti panic areas. In addition, for escape routes of up to 2m wide, 50% of the route width should be lit to a minimum of 0.1 lux. Wider escape routes can be treated as a number of 2m wide bands. The actual degree of illumination should be closely related to the nature of both the premises and its occupants with special consideration being given to old person's homes, hospitals, crowded areas such as pubs, discos and supermarkets, and to whether or not the premises are residential.
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BS EN 50172:2004/ BS 5266-8:2004 Emergency escape lighting systems. Specifies the minimum provision and testing of emergency lighting for different premises.
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All emergency luminaire should be tested by removing the electrical supply to each unit and checking that they operate satisfactorily.
The electrical supply must then be restored and the charging indicators must be seen to be operating correctly. All faults must be repaired.
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The emergency luminaire must be tested for their full rated duration period and checked for satisfactory operation. The electrical supply must then be restored and the charging indicators rechecked. All faults must be repaired
After all test the results must be logged in the on-site logging book.
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Please contact our office to arrange a call back from one of our experienced surveyors, who will provide a Free Survey and Proposal Service, giving you the opportunity to meet us and learn about the many ways that we can protect you and your property.
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