Permanent live for smoke alarms and emergency lighting

[Neptune]

Need some guidance please.
I know that smoke alarms require a permanent live and neutral in order to operate. Is this also the case with emergency lights? (The type you have in stairways)

Secondly, have I also understood correctly that these two can only be available at the ceiling rose if the loop has taken place in the ceiling? I.e. if the loop is at the switch, I will have a neutral at the ceiling but not a permanent live?

Thanks in advance.

 

[westward10]

Yes you need a permanent live to charge the battery.

 

[Neptune]

Yes you need a permanent live to charge the battery.

Does it also need a Neutral?

 

[westward10]

Yes it needs a neutral and cpc.

 

[Neptune]

Thanks for your help.
Thinking this through, I will need to take a connection from wherever the loop is done i.e. ceiling or switch as this is where I will find the permanent live and neutral. Have I understood this correctly?

Also, whilst I am at it...could I take a feed (permanent live, neutral and CPC) and supply it to a AICO smoke detector first and then to the emergency light? This may be an opportunity to include a mains powered smoke detector too.

 

[westward10]

You need to remember the emergency light needs a test facility so this mustn't isolate the smoke detector. BS5266 has all the requirements for the provision of emergency lighting it isn't something which should be done ad hoc, it is a safety system.

 

[Strima]

If this is a standard UK ceiling rose then you will have a permanent line and neutral available at this point. Even if the rose has been replaced with a newer light fitting there will often be a L&N available.

I would certainly recommend AICO radiolink units, no messing around with an interlink cable between bases.

As mentioned, emergency lights fall under BS5266, is this for a commercial property as part of a fire risk assessment or for your own home?

 

[Neptune]

If this is a standard UK ceiling rose then you will have a permanent line and neutral available at this point. Even if the rose has been replaced with a newer light fitting there will often be a L&N available.

Presumably not if the loop is at the switch? I thought it was a mixed bag in terms of whether the loop has been done at the switch or ceiling in the UK.

As mentioned, emergency lights fall under BS5266, is this for a commercial property as part of a fire risk assessment or for your own home?

It's an odd one. I am a freeholder of a block of flats (3 Storey Victorian house) but each floor is owned by different individuals. As I understand it, they have an operational smoke alarm in each of their flats as do I, in the top most flat.
I am unclear on whether it is legally required but I wanted all three of us to fund emergency lights and smoke detectors on each floor for added protection. Hence the questions on how they could be wired.

I would welcome any further suggestions. Thanks again.

 

[westward10]

If the loop is at the light fitting the easiest thing to do is completely replace with a fitting which incorporates an emergency, something like this.

Robus Golf 10W LED With Pro-Diffuser IP65 330mm White 4000K Emergency - R100LEDE-01

Electrical2Go sell discount Robus Golf 10W LED With Pro-Diffuser IP65 330mm White 4000K Emergency with free & fast delivery available.

www.electrical2go.co.uk

 

[Strima]

Presumably not if the loop is at the switch? I thought it was a mixed bag in terms of whether the loop has been done at the switch or ceiling in the UK.


It's an odd one. I am a freeholder of a block of flats (3 Storey Victorian house) but each floor is owned by different individuals. As I understand it, they have an operational smoke alarm in each of their flats as do I, in the top most flat.
I am unclear on whether it is legally required but I wanted all three of us to fund emergency lights and smoke detectors on each floor for added protection. Hence the questions on how they could be wired.

I would welcome any further suggestions. Thanks again.

Modern installations could be run via the switch however the vast majority are still looped at the light and have a neutral run to the switch. This allows the circuit to be tapped for smokes etc and have smart switches installed if required.

I'm not up to date on the latest requirements in your instance so anything I say would be pure guess work... ? But a lot would depend on how the flats are built and the fire compartments are designed.