Testing emergency lighting

[Nigel]

Any competent Electrician can install, test and maintain an emergency lighting system.
It takes a bit more info to design or to state whether an existing system complies.

Part of the testing is to verify an existing design is in place and that it is current.

 

[Adam W]

Everything wrong with our industry in a single post right here.

You flick a switch and see if the lights come on. It isn't rocket science.

 

[Nigel]

You flick a switch and see if the lights come on. It isn't rocket science.

Clueless.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Part of the testing is to verify an existing design is in place and that it is current.

Sorry, that would be initial verification.
Monthly or annual testing, battery duration testing and functional testing do not require verification of design.
Any alterations which could affect the existing design, such as new walls, different colour scheme, etc, should result in a revised design at the time of the alteration.

 

[westward10]

I would estimate 99% of emergency lighting installations I test or assess for FRAs are not and have never been compliant with not only current but the standards they should have been installed to at the time, you can also include fire alarm systems to this. I find it bewildering that people berate those who undertake electrical work without a sound underpinning of the requirements and yet will happily install safety systems with the same ignorance.

 

[westward10]

Monthly or annual testing, battery duration testing and functional testing do not require verification of design.

Annex K of BS5266:1 provides a Certificate for this exact purpose.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I would estimate 99% of emergency lighting installations I test or assess for FRAs are not and have never been compliant with not only current but the standards they should have been installed to at the time, you can also include fire alarm systems to this. I find it bewildering that people berate those who undertake electrical work without a sound underpinning of the requirements and yet will happily install safety systems with the same ignorance.

In many instances, the installer is installing to a design supplied by another.
Cables is cables whether it’s for power and lighting, emergency lighting or fire alarms.
Such installers don’t need to know the maximum height of a void above a ceiling before a smoke head has to be installed.
They don’t need to know whether the head should be heat or ionisation.
They don’t need to know the minimum distance from a wall, or from light fittings and other equipment.
They don’t need to know when an emergency exit sign should be maintained or non-maintained.

Yes knowing such things would be useful, but as long as they install as per the design, everything should be ticketyboo.

 

[westward10]

In many instances, the installer is installing to a design supplied by another.
Cables is cables whether it’s for power and lighting, emergency lighting or fire alarms.
Such installers don’t need to know the maximum height of a void above a ceiling before a smoke head has to be installed.
They don’t need to know whether the head should be heat or ionisation.
They don’t need to know the minimum distance from a wall, or from light fittings and other equipment.
They don’t need to know when an emergency exit sign should be maintained or non-maintained.

Yes knowing such things would be useful, but as long as they install as per the design, everything should be ticketyboo.

That may be the case but this does not change the fact a multitude of systems are not compliant. Assessing whether AFDs are required in voids can only be known if the Category of system is known. Minimum spacing from walls and luminaires is a basic requirement for any Category of system.

 

[Adam W]

I would estimate 99% of emergency lighting installations I test or assess for FRAs are not and have never been compliant with not only current but the standards they should have been installed to at the time, you can also include fire alarm systems to this. I find it bewildering that people berate those who undertake electrical work without a sound underpinning of the requirements and yet will happily install safety systems with the same ignorance.

Perhaps, as you seem to be suggesting, nobody considered themselves sufficiently competent to upgrade it, so just left it alone.

 

[bigspark17]

If you are annual or monthly testing you do not need to verify the design. Comments should be noted on test certificate & log book. If the fire risk assesment deems it an unsatisfactory design then that will force the client to take action.
Annual test you are there to test that the battery withstands the 3hr test without the light fading. No new exits or walls are apparant and the general el install, i would always comment if no easily accesible key switch is readily available but wouldnt give an unsatisfactory if there wasnt one.

 

[Nigel]

Sorry, that would be initial verification.
Monthly or annual testing, battery duration testing and functional testing do not require verification of design.
Any alterations which could affect the existing design, such as new walls, different colour scheme, etc, should result in a revised design at the time of the alteration.

Clause 4.1, 4.2, 5.2.2, 5.2.8, 6.7 and 11 states otherwise.

You do not verify the design is correct, you verify that it has been carried out, is in place and is a true reflection of what is installed.

 

[Nigel]

If you are annual or monthly testing you do not need to verify the design. Comments should be noted on test certificate & log book. If the fire risk assesment deems it an unsatisfactory design then that will force the client to take action.
Annual test you are there to test that the battery withstands the 3hr test without the light fading. No new exits or walls are apparant and the general el install, i would always comment if no easily accesible key switch is readily available but wouldnt give an unsatisfactory if there wasnt one.

Part of the periodic inspection is to check a design has been carried out, it is in place and is a true reflection of what is installed. Whether the design meets BS5266 is not part of the testing but checking it is 'there' is a part of the testing procedure.

You also cannot deem it either 'satisfactory' or 'unsatisfactory'. It either complies or it does not. If there is not a suitable test facility (which can be the OCPD if suitable) then the installation does not comply.

 

[Nigel]

I would estimate 99% of emergency lighting installations I test or assess for FRAs are not and have never been compliant with not only current but the standards they should have been installed to at the time, you can also include fire alarm systems to this. I find it bewildering that people berate those who undertake electrical work without a sound underpinning of the requirements and yet will happily install safety systems with the same ignorance.

Agree completely. 99% of the periodic inspections we do never comply to BS5266. Actually I would say that we have never carried out an inspection without a deviation recorded. No design in place is always an issue.

Having said that the emergency lighting we install is also hardly ever designed. We include these costs at the tender stage and when the installation is of a decent size the clients do the design but when it is additional emergency lighting they do not want to pay the costs for design.

A comment is made on the certification that the client did not want the design completed.

 

[Nigel]

In many instances, the installer is installing to a design supplied by another.
Cables is cables whether it’s for power and lighting, emergency lighting or fire alarms.
Such installers don’t need to know the maximum height of a void above a ceiling before a smoke head has to be installed.
They don’t need to know whether the head should be heat or ionisation.
They don’t need to know the minimum distance from a wall, or from light fittings and other equipment.
They don’t need to know when an emergency exit sign should be maintained or non-maintained.

Yes knowing such things would be useful, but as long as they install as per the design, everything should be ticketyboo.

The difference between a quality tradesman and a trained monkey.

 

[suffolkspark]

Jesus essex this has ruffled your feathers