Emergency Lighting Introduction
Emergency lighting is one of the essential life safety systems required to be provided by an owner or occupant of premises that is a place of work. The system should, if correctly designed, installed and maintained, reduce the possibility of an accident or loss of life in the event of an electrical power loss. The requirement for emergency lighting, its type and location, is defined through the carrying out of a risk assessment.
Why carry out an Emergency Lighting Risk Assessment?
It is a legal requirement in many countries that a risk assessment is carried out and documented, and the findings acted upon within reasonable time, if there are more than 5 persons employed in a premises.
If there are less than 5 persons employed in a premises, a requirement still exists to carry out a risk assessment, but it does not need to be formally recorded.
Carrying out a Risk Assessment
An assessment should be made to determine that the installation meets the requirements of all current legislation and codes of practice. Emergency lighting and signs must comply to the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 and BS5266 or ISO3217 or other local regulations.
Levels of Illumination
The current code of practice, BS5266 Pt 1:1998, specifies a minimum requirement of 0.2 lux on the centre line of emergency escape routes. Higher levels are to be used if particular risks exist.
ISO3217:1989 specifies a minimum requirement of 0.5 lux on the centre line of escape routes.
In open areas BS5266 Pt 1:1988 and ISO3217:1989 specifies 1.0 lux average over the whole area.
New European Harmonised Requirements for Emergency Escape Routes
New requirements will soon be introduced in the E.U. that specify a level of 1.0 lux for emergency escape routes. It may be permissible to still use 0.2 lux for permanently unobstructed¹ escape routes.
Open areas less than 60msq, where there is no fixed escape route, require a minimum level of 0.5 lux anywhere on the floor, excluding 0.5m border around the room. High-risk areas require at least 10% of the normal mains lighting level or a minimum of 15 lux to be provided within 0.5 seconds of the power failure. This level has to be maintained until the hazard ceases.
Maintenance Legislation requirements
In the UK BS5266 places an obligation on building owners/occupiers to carry out regular routine tests of the emergency lighting installation, to ensure correct performance. Other countries will have similar requirements. In brief these tests are:
Daily
Check indicator light and that all maintained luminaries are operating.
Monthly
An operational test for a short period (a maximum of one quarter of the rated duration).
Three Yearly
Test for full duration.
Subsequently
For self-contained systems, test yearly for the full duration. During each test, the luminaries should be checked for correct operation. After testing, the supply should be restored and then checked to ensure the system is charging correctly. A detailed test schedule and test reports are listed in BS5266. Test records and log books are available from Westminster. For maintained luminaries, we recommend that the lamps are routinely replaced after 5000 hours running, or according to the manufacturer¹s guidelines. Note: to comply with the proposed European regulations, the tests should be monthly and annually, e.g. a full discharge.
Monitoring and testing is obviously very time consuming, so why not purchase cost-effective automatic testing systems from us. Alternatively, we can also carry out the necessary maintenance for you under a flexible maintenance contract.
Just telephone +44 (0) 1295 756300 to ask for more information.
Where to site luminaries
BS5266/LP1007 and ISO3217 provide detailed guidance on where luminaires should be installed and the minimum levels of illumination for escape routes and open areas, together with the minimum period of illumination duration of the luminaire after failure of the normal lighting. The health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) regulations 1996, requires that adequate provision of exit and safety signs be provided and which are to be illuminated by emergency lighting.
A Near stairs and near changes of level.
B Near, within 2 metres of fire fighting equipment and alarm call points.
C Near each intersection of corridors.
D Near each change of direction.
E To illuminate exit doors and safety signs.
F Outside and near to each final exit.
G Both outside and within passenger lift cars.
H Toilets and facility areas of greater than 8m squared.
I Moving staiways and walkways.
J Pedestrian escape routes from covered and multi-storey car parks.
K Open floor areas greater than 60m squared.
L Moving or hazardous machinery, generator, control and plant rooms.
N.B. An additional "Points of Emphasis" is determined in the harmonised European installation requirements which is near (within 2 metres) of any first aid point. (EN 1838)