emergency lighting

[dacosta]

Hi,

I have been asked to install an emergency lighting system in a small factory with an office area. I would like to know what areas i need to cover and generally how to wire it all. Is it all on one circuit fed from one keyswitch. do they only need to illuminate when power fails? what are the legal standards i need to meet?

 

[Electron1]

I think ur in for a roasting lol

 

[Sidewinder]

Firstly dacosta, you need to have the relevant BS's and the forms to complete.

Next you need to have the FRA for the building.

Then you need to competently design the install around the BS's and the FRA.

Not quite as easy as it seems.

If you do the design and get it wrong and someone dies you will be held liable.

Sorry, to help correctly we would need a lot more info. ; )

Welcome to the forum, what a baptism eh!

Seriously, joking aside you need the things above then you can look at it.

There are standards to meet and there are guides out there to help, but if you are designing EM ltg then you must hold the standards, else you are leaving yourself wide open, the FRS's don't hold back on prosecutions, nor do other authorities in the event of something going wrong.

Your insurance cover for this also needs to be in place else you could again find yourself hung out to dry as it were.

Give us a bit more info on the premises and we can guide you.

; )

 

[johninlondon1]

from IET website

BRITISH STANDARD BS 5266-1:2005

Emergency lighting

 

[batty]

Maybe a good idea to get somebody to design a system for you emergency lighting is important and don't forget you will need to provide a signed certificate to comply with regs. Of course you could always go out and buy the regulations you need to comply but they are not cheap.

 

[Sidewinder]

You may find that parts 1, 7 & 10 apply without more info can't say sorry.

 

[dacosta]

Factory floor 8 meters by 24 meters, door entry both ends, also roller shutter each end. toilets on ground level. staircase 3 meters in to the side. open plan leading to office space. fire exit at far end of building im assuming one illuminated sign at each end, one outside each end, one for every fire detection call point and extinguisher etc, one over stairs, one in office. one keyswitch feeding all which cuts supply and allows battery ack up to kick in. test every week. log results. test until battery drained down every year?

 

[Sidewinder]

You'll probably need lighting in the toilets then, at every change of direction and at final exits, plus exterior and sufficient illumination for the designated exit routes, these will be on the FRA.

What are the factory processes?

What is the shading like from installed equipment?

 

[batty]

I hope this is not a wind up?

 

[dacosta]

sorry what is fra?

conveyor lines painting a loose product going through various dryers.

line is tight to wall and clear of all exits

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 20:52 ---------- Previous post was made at 20:52 ----------

why would it be a wind up

 

[batty]

Only the fact as an opening post you are expecting a forum and members to design an emergency lighting system without seeing even a plan I personally do not know the BS to what it needs to be designed too and remember if you do take the information given and act on it and something goes wrong the forum will not be responsible its in the terms and conditions. But welcome to the forum anyway maybe introduce yourself so we know a bit about your experience as an electrician.

 

[dacosta]

yes they have had an independent health and safety assessor in and he has advised emergency lighting. assume he is aware of fume issues. dont think it concerns the lighting system.

 

[Sidewinder]

FRA=Fire Risk Assessment.

If you had posted that you were working in a factory with an office block and asked me if it needed EM Ltg, I could have said yes from here with just that info!

Don't assume that the H&S assessor is competent, for these sorts of locations, he may not be.

What is the painting process, what else do they do, to be honest, if the paint is solvent based and there are ATEX zones present then EM Ltg could be the last of the issues to consider!

Does this give you an idea why we are asking so many questions!

 

[Sidewinder]

I missed the comment of "don't think it concerns the lighting system" sorry it DOES!

 

[NozSpark]

yes they have had an independent health and safety assessor in and he has advised emergency lighting. assume he is aware of fume issues. dont think it concerns the lighting system.

Of course it does.

If I were you then I'd get someone in to do a Fire Risk Assesment and also get them to design the lighting, then you install,,,,, maybe even get them back to commission..

It's not just about having a few lights here and there,, you'd probably have to achieve minimum lighting levels

 

[Sidewinder]

It still does mate as it has to be outside the zones for it not to be of consequence to be ignored!

At this time we don't know so it does concern the design considerations until it is proven otherwise!

 

[septiclecky]

FRA=Fire Risk Assessment.If you had posted that you were working in a factory with an office block and asked me if it needed EM Ltg, I could have said yes from here with just that info!

Don't assume that the H&S assessor is competent, for these sorts of locations, he may not be.What is the painting process, what else do they do, to be honest, if the paint is solvent based and there are ATEX zones present then EM Ltg could be the last of the issues to consider!

Does this give you an idea why we are asking so many questions!

Have to agree we have a bloke on site who goes around doing the fire assessments, on one he said that the switch was not suitable for the location as the fitting was a flameproof fitting to which I put the idiot right. It was not a flameproof fitting but a old metal bulkhead fitting. bad day explode

 

[Sidewinder]

Septic, I am confused, he said that a flame proof fitting was not suitable for a "normal" area, or that an old metal fitting "was" flame proof?

Or, was he just saying the switch was not suitable as it was not flame proof but the fitting was?

Was this in a Zoned area?

If I understand things correctly then he almost certainly is NOT competent!

 

[septiclecky]

Septic, I am confused, he said that a flame proof fitting was not suitable for a "normal" area, or that an old metal fitting "was" flame proof?Or, was he just saying the switch was not suitable as it was not flame proof but the fitting was?

Was this in a Zoned area?

If I understand things correctly then he almost certainly is NOT competent!

Sorry for confusing you, no he said that the switch was the wrong one (MK Grid switch sunk in wall) for the fitting which the numpty thought was a flame/explosive proof fitting until I pointed out it was neither only a very old type off bulkhead fitting which has the raised glass dome on it if you know the type I'm taking about.