Emergency Lighting Repair

[SparkyChick]

Hi all,

This is kind of prompted by the existing emergency lighting thread, but is subtly different.

I do some work for a charity in Cardiff and on my last visit I was asked to investigate the failure of a light in a toilet. Turns out, it's an emergency luminaire that uses a couple of CFL lamps and a high frequency electronic ballast/charger/inverter unit.

It simply didn't work at all under any circumstances. I investigated and I believe the problem was caused by a failed electrolytic cap on the ballast board. The batteries were also shot and didn't appear to be holding any form of charge.

Further investigation revealed another unit in a similar state.

I've purchased new ballast units designed for this purpose along with new battery packs and have rebuilt one unit and am going to do the other on-site. They are the same spec in terms of operation and run time. Aside from the obvious electrical and operational checks, as these are emergency lights do I need to do anything other than repair and replace as I'm not changing operation, run time, illumination levels or anything, I'm just bringing them back into service?

Just don't want to end up on the wrong side of the rulebook as it's a charity and effectively a public building.

Thanks

 

[westward10]

They are maintained and by being switched they are considered being illuminated at material times as required by BS5266, for example they illuminate when the general lighting is on.

 

[westward10]

They are maintained and by being switched they are considered being illuminated at material times as required by Bs5266, for example they illuminate when the general lighting is on.

 

[SparkyChick]

I always have to look up non-maintained vs. maintained, not quite got my head around the terminology for emergency lighting yet

I wasn't expecting it to be an emergency light when I was asked to replace it, so I rocked up with an IP44 bathroom light as I just asked the staff if they wanted one like I'd replaced before. Needless to say, the fact it was an emergency fitting added a little bit of interest to what would have been a somewhat mundane job

 

[westward10]

It is maintained and these can operate in two ways, permanently illuminated or as in your case only illuminated at material times when the general lighting is switched on. You will not be able to prove its effectiveness in comparison to its original output as you have no photometric data from the manufacturer. Seeing if it as bright as the other light fittings in mains mode is not sufficient because in emergency mode they operate in reduced illuminance. A lux light meter would be required with reference to minimum levels in BS5266 Part 1. Needless to say it is better than the original non functional fitting.

 

[SparkyChick]

Time to break out my Electricians Guide to Emergency Lighting and have a read up

 

[davesparks]

Non-maintained is not illuminated until the power goes off.
Maintained is on, or can be switched on, when the power is on and maintains this condition (stays on) when the power goes off.