EscLighting should be sufficient to enable people to work and move about safely. If necessary, local lighting should be provided at individual workstations and at places of particular risk such as crossing points on traffic routes. Lighting and light fittings should not create any hazard.
The loss of mains electricity could be the result of a fire or a power cut and the normal lighting supplies fail. This may lead to sudden darkness and a possible danger to the occupants, either through physical danger or panic.
Automatic emergency lighting, powered by an independent source, should be provided where sudden loss of light would create a risk. It is lighting that automatically comes on when the power supply to the normal lighting provision fails.
Emergency lighting is a general term and is sub-divided into emergency escape lighting and standby lighting.
Emergency escape lighting – It’s this part of an emergency lighting system that provides illumination for the safety of people leaving a location, or attempting to terminate a potentially dangerous process beforehand. It is part of the fire safety provision of a building and a requirement of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Standby lighting- This part of an emergency lighting system enables normal activities to continue substantially unchanged. This guide does not include standby lighting as it is not a legal requirement and is a facility that may or may not be needed, depending on the use and occupancy of the premises, etc.
Escape route lighting – This part of an emergency escape lighting system provided to ensure that the means of escape can be effectively identified and safely used by occupants of the building.
Not only does an emergency lighting system need installing as a part of your Fire Safety regulations – it also needs to be well maintained. We advised all clients that it is important to have your systems checked and serviced on a 6 monthly basis. This is to ensure all parts are working and are fully able to assist you in a case of emergency.
We would advised our clients its necessary to have 2 site visits from us per year, this is carry out a 3 hour drain down, then the second visit would only required a 1 hour drain down. We also advise you do in house testing on a monthly basis, or as directed in your fire risk assessment.
Obviously all premises and businesses have different requirements and all would need to refer to their Risk Assessments to ensure you are on top of all your testing. Some premises may require more than two visits a year some may require less.
Whatever your particular requirements are we can help you. If you require a new risk assessment carrying out so that you are aware of what your particular individual requirements are then we are also able to carry out a full risk assessment of your building. This will identify all areas of risk and also provide an action plan to assist you in all areas, not just your emergency lighting.
We have experienced and qualified engineers who are fully competent and ready to assist on a nationwide basis.
For more information and advice please call 01733 375900 or email sales@absolutepsg.co.uk