Making interiour fancy lighting legal requirements?

[louuk]

Hi all.

I have wanted to make some fancy interior lights eg wall lights/pendants etc for a long time but have always been put off by not having any idea about the legal/safety requirements and not knowing where to find this info.
Does anyone know if there is set safety advice/rules that I must apply when making the lights or where I can find this info, i'm thinking fire safety etc.
I would primarily be making aluminium or resin wall panels & pendant lights these would be for sale

Many thanks for any help
lou

 

[mattylad]

Hello Louuk,

I cant answer your query precisely at the moment, but if your local library has the facility to log onto the British Standards Online site, you can (using your membership number) search on the site for the standards that apply, download & view them all freely.
(They are print protected)

AFAIK BSEN60598 may be the std to look for, although I dont design light fittings myself so I cannot be completely sure & our lighting designer is on site at present.

You will also need to be concerned with the "low voltage directive" and "The Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 89/336/EEC"

Consider also W.E.E.E, R.O.H.S. & CE marking.

There is (unfortunately) a lot more involved in designing an electrical appliance than just making it. You have to ensure that above all it is 100% safe, that it does not interfere with anything else, cannot be interfered with and is marked correctly for sale in the UK market.

Have I mentioned the BS finger yet? the std size of finger that's not allowed to touch exposed/covered electrical connections


Mattylad.

EDIT: Your local trading stds or small business advice depts may be able to advise you better what stds you need to seek.

 

[louuk]

Hi Mattylad,
Now I know when I was so reluctant!!! I figured there would be alot of red tape involved. I will try trading standars as suggested when I get chance and try and get some clarification but thatnks for the pointers of areas to look into.
Much appreciated, Lou

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I figured there would be alot of red tape involved.

That's one way of looking at it.

Another way is that there are standards in place so that when people buy a light fitting they can have confidence that it won't electrocute them/burn them/poison them/interfere with their radios & TV etc, which all seem perfectly reasonable to me...