wiring emergency light

[KINKY]

You should also be installing emergency lights within 2M of any fire fighting equipment, first aid kits, call points, changes in FFL, trip hazards...... etc

Also the BS recommends installing a fitting at the distribution board to th normal lighting.

 

[RogertheBodger]

Maintained emergency light fittings are designed to be illuminated 24/7 so don't need photocells, time switches etc.
They are usually used to illuminate Fire exits and fire escape routes.
When you connect them to a lighting circuit they need to be supplied with a permanent live which is run through a keyswitch for testing purposes.
Non maintained lights are only illuminated when the mains fail and are usually for general ambient lighting, they also are wired as above.
Hope this is enough information to get you going.................

 

[Deleted member 26818]

As you would only require the lights to be work when the premises are occupied, I would opt for a master switch, that controlled the whole lighting. Rather than a time clock. First one in turns it on, last one out turns it off. Obviously any permenantly live feeds would have to to be separate.
Using a PIR to control the outside lights may cause problems, depending on the choice of lamps. It would be prefferable for the lamps to be lit before someone stepped outside to escape rather than having to wait for lamps to strike up before being able to see their escape route.
The escape route signs that glow in the dark, are really only usefull after they have had a chance to charge up, as such they would only be effective after how ever long it takes for them to charge.
Whereas the decals that can be affixed to the fittings are visable immediately.

 

[mogga]

IMO a photo cells a noNo as would be turning the lights off when unoccupied who says a fire of emergency situation only develops when building is occupied ?? CHECK the BS for emlighting or the electricians guid to emergency lighting this will help you not only with type of lighting it will also give you a better insite into why different types are needed and when they should be chenged and tested

MASTER Switching would turn the supply OFF?????? draining the batteries and requiring them to be charged fully before the premisis next use
"Using a PIR to control the outside lights may cause problems, depending on the choice of lamps. It would be prefferable for the lamps to be lit before someone stepped outside to escape rather than having to wait for lamps to strike up before being able to see their escape route." FFS MAINTAINED BY Definition requires them to be illuminated 24/7

 

[terminator]

Agree with mogga - you really dont sound confident or knowledgeable enough to install these. Don't forget they need an Installation Cert with your signature on it.

You need to have a look at BS5266 2005 (check latest revision) it's quite specific and involved. It has to conform - peoples lives could rely on it.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

There has never been a requiremnet to provide escape route lighting for unoccupied premises.
It would be pointess and wastefull to provide lighting that is not required.

 

[mogga]

There has never been a requiremnet to provide escape route lighting for unoccupied premises.
It would be pointess and wastefull to provide lighting that is not required.

The BS does not differenciate between Occupied and non occupied

 

[mogga]

Emergency Lighting - Free advice,on fire safety and fire prevention have a look here

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I agree, however as the requirement is to provide escape route lighting, lighting will not be neccessary when there is nobody present who would require to escape.

 

[mogga]

I Give UP

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I Give UP

Thank you.
I notice that you have edited an earlier post regarding master switching.
I did indicate in my post that permenant feeds would have to be separate.

 

[grantr37]

would just be 3 hour type internally self maintained with a permanent feed, the permanent feed going through the key test switches and need to test the lights weekly as is a nursery along with the fire alarm, and once a year fully discharged, timed to check 3 hour duration then left to fully charge again from permanent feed (always on live) the units would need changing every 5 years or so in line with the service life of the internal batteries....the exterior lights would be the D type flourescent bulkhead fittings and the interior ones I would recommend the 2 tube 8ft type, as recessed 3ft x 4 tube difuser units only have one of the tubes maintained and it is only a dim glow......
If it was a bigger building I would say that there should be a lighting inverter and a DALI controller for the whole lighting system but on this one I would recommend 3 maintained lights in each small room and 6 in each large room in addition to all the above door fire exit lights inside and out being self maintained ones, and taking into consideration the gathering point designated outside on the fire plan and any lighting on inside stairs and outside steps....

 

[ringer]

Who is designing this? What is their qualification for doing so? Will it be fully certificated? Will there be a log book? Will proper training be given to the responsible person? Will testing procedures and schedules be put in place? Will the installed system comply with BS5266?

If there is a fire and casualties, and the EL system is not up to scratch, there could be some serious fallout. If you fitted the system just based on someone else's say-so then you could be in the firing line at the Coroner's court. Emergency lighting needs to be properly designed and signed off - for insurance purposes too.

 

[Bigboy247]

This place will be full of kids, do it right or don`t bother get someone in who can. I have done a few schools and nurserys over the years and most of the work is state funded and all the paperwork you provide is sent off to be inspected before the funds are released. Just think if it all goes wrong you need to know it will give them the best chance of escape. Not a job to wing and a prayer.

 

[KINKY]

The BS states that maintained lighting only has to be on during material times.