Emergency lighting testing

[sellers]

Does anyone here do regular Emergency lighting testing?

I have been asked to test the emergency lighting at a nursing home in 2 weeks time. The owners are concerened if they have the correct number of lights in the right places as well as the key switches in the right places.

I have booked in 3 hours to do a full test on the batteries, after having a quick look today I noticed that there are no external em lights on fire exits. Also some lights without keyswitches. I'm going to buy the em onsite guide and the regs to get me clued up allthough I know 90% on positions and light output etc.

What do you guys do on your testing? Do you carry a lux meter?

 

[kme]

Yup - NEED to have a lux meter to do the testing correctly mate.

n.b. Need to allow >3 hrs - when the 3hr test is complete, and you restart charging the EM lights, they`re flat, and therefore incapable of providing the emergency lighting in the event of a lighting circuit failure immediately after the test The only other option is a battery tester (which we`ve discussed before, methinks...ACT???)

Sounds like you`re going to have a list of remedials for `em anyway mate

KME

 

[fletchflash]

Ive got some emergency lighting testing to do as parts of periodics on some carehomes too, next month. I was planning on checking battery times, adaquacy of fittings etc but didnt really think a lux meter neccesary. I would be interested to know what others think though

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 23:04 ---------- Previous post was made at 23:03 ----------

ahh...

best look into a lux meter then!

cheers kme

 

[kme]

Just as an addendum to my previous post:

It is my belief that you MUST, as a minimum, have the BS standard if you`re going to inspect summat; be it electrical PIR; you`d refer to 7671 - Fire alarms; 5839. If you intent to sign an em. lighting inspection form, you`re saying it complies with 5266; which can be difficult to confirm if you haven`t GOT 5266, or the necessary equipment to do the test proceedure described within.

KME

n.b. lux meters - TLC -

 

[Manator]

Emergency lighting testing can and does get very involved, again knowing the regulations helps to carry out this inspection properly. Also you have to remember that the certificate is only valid if an electrical certificate can be provided for the circuits. If there is no EIC or PIR, you will have to test the lighting circuits as well.

Lux levels can fall due to the age of the lamps fitted, which is why a lux meter is required for an exsisting installation, correctly spaced and located along escape routes when new may have given the correct levels but in older installations it may not be the case.

 

[stuartrw79]

I think this will help you.

Emergency Lighting Design Guide

 

[sellers]

Do you guys not find yourselves twiddling thumbs trying to fill the 3 hours of testing? This rest home has about 15 em lights. Are there any other checks you do while your there to cover the time?

The rest home is due its PIR next year, the em lighting circuits were tested 4years ago.

 

[stuartrw79]

If there is no EIC or PIR, you will have to test the lighting circuits as well.

If you are just testing an existing emergency lighting installation this falls under British Standards BS 5266 Part 1:2005 and BS 5266 Part 8:2004 (EN 50172). You have no obligation to start testing the fixed wiring for these luminaries.

 

[Manator]

First thing I do is go around and do a visual on all lights to see if the charge indicator is on, and to get the locations, if they are on key switches I turn them off, and then back on, this tells me the lamps are at least working. Check the lux levels to see if there is enough.Then I isolate the circuits, this allows the three hour rundown, whilst I do all the wiring checks. The batteries can be checked on rundown for how well they hold a charge and how fast they are running down, the covers can be cleaned and the keyswitches checked. Then go around and see if any have failed, at the same time note were the manual call points are and if any extra lights are needed. Don't forget any fire fighting equipment, and first aid posts. Once all the tests and rundown have completed, power up and check that the charge indicator comes back on, any lamps that needed changing would have been done before this. After this check the lights will not operate to full potential, until they are fully recharged, a risk assessment must be made on site because it may be required to do the testing in stages over a couple of days.

 

[stuartrw79]

First thing I do is go around and do a visual on all lights to see if the charge indicator is on, and to get the locations, if they are on key switches I turn them off, and then back on, this tells me the lamps are at least working. Check the lux levels to see if there is enough.Then I isolate the circuits, this allows the three hour rundown, whilst I do all the wiring checks. The batteries can be checked on rundown for how well they hold a charge and how fast they are running down, the covers can be cleaned and the keyswitches checked. Then go around and see if any have failed, at the same time note were the manual call points are and if any extra lights are needed. Don't forget any fire fighting equipment, and first aid posts. Once all the tests and rundown have completed, power up and check that the charge indicator comes back on, any lamps that needed changing would have been done before this. After this check the lights will not operate to full potential, until they are fully recharged, a risk assessment must be made on site because it may be required to do the testing in stages over a couple of days.

I do admire you work procedure and ethic, but this maybe a realistic approach on a small scale site, but if you where to try and adopt this procedure on a large scale site for example 24hr large supermarket shop floor it would be completely unpractical.

In lots of situations the basic monthly functional testing and yearly full discharge is not always carried out by an Electrician, usually a maintenance man or like. You could not expect them to start testing the fixed wiring of the installation; this would be tested by a competent electrician when a PIR is carried out.

 

[Evans Electric]

Also you need to create a Test Record Book if there is not one on site . And it will take more than 3 hours , specially as there are some with no test key.

I have a light meter but have never used it for emergency lights , would you not have to be there in the dark to carry that out ?

 

[Manator]

I do admire you work procedure and ethic, but this maybe a realistic approach on a small scale site, but if you where to try and adopt this procedure on a large scale site for example 24hr large supermarket shop floor it would be completely unpractical.In lots of situations the basic monthly functional testing and yearly full discharge is not always carried out by an Electrician, usually a maintenance man or like. You could not expect them to start testing the fixed wiring of the installation; this would be tested by a competent electrician when a PIR is carried out.

Having been away I was unable to make a reply.

The procedure I stated was for an anual PIR on the emergency lighting, which if not also covered by an EIC or PIR would include the testing of the circuits involved. On larger 24 hour operated sites these tests will be done over many days or even weeks, a complete rundown of batteries is not always permitted, in which case some, but not all prefer a change of battery packs, these also need testing for discharge after a 24 hour period on charge, this can be done in the workshop, and then installed. The emergency lighting is a very important part of any installation and under failure could lead to fatalities, the tests have to be done, which way it is carried out is down to the client and the tester.

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Not all premises have to have 3 hours of emergency lights.