Domestic emergency lighting test switch

[equitum]

If installing non maintained self contained emergency lighting luminaires (as a requirement imposed for a multi-occupancy letting) is there any regulation to also provide a local test key point ? Testing can still be carried out by turning off the breaker..Installation will be a lot cheaper without them (test points) as can tap straight off ceiling rosesin the halls/landings.

 

[Lectrician]

Put a switch adjacent to each luminaire. They are not expensive.

 

[equitum]

Put a switch adjacent to each luminaire. They are not expensive.

Then you may find a tennant or landlord standing on a chair/staircase rail etc having a nasty fall trying to test if they work !!

 

[mdbalson]

How about putting in one key switch for all of the lights

 

[ColJack]

the problem with using the breaker to test them is that you would then have to leave the lights off for 3 hours ( supposed to make sure that they stay lit for 3 hours )
also breakers are not designed to be used for swithching and have a much more limited life span, in terms of switch operations, than a switch does..

 

[equitum]

the problem with using the breaker to test them is that you would then have to leave the lights off for 3 hours ( supposed to make sure that they stay lit for 3 hours )
also breakers are not designed to be used for swithching and have a much more limited life span, in terms of switch operations, than a switch does..

Fair point. How often should the test be performed then ?

 

[Steve]

We do it weekly at our shop. But thats what our company tells us to do. A fire equipment maintenance company comes every year and checks the extinguishers, alarm and lighting.

 

[GaryMo]

Found this from Bristol City Council

Regular testing of emergency lighting

British Standard 5266: Part 1: 1988 sets out the periodic tests that should
be carried out – the following is a summary and assumes that the
lighting is provided by self-contained non-maintained (only operates
on mains failure) luminaires with 3hr battery standby power.

Monthly
• switch off normal mains supply to check each emergency light
operates from the battery supply
• test for 45 min duration
• remedy any faults
• record in log (see our Record of Tests)

Six Monthly
• prolong the above test for one hour
• remedy any faults
• record in log

Third anniversary of installation – by a competent person (qualified
electrical engineer, member of ECA or NICEIC)
• prolong the above test for 3 hours
• remedy any faults
• confirm compliance with BS 5266-1:1999
• record in log

Thereafter annually from third anniversary – by a competent person
• prolong the above test for 3 hours
• remedy any faults
• confirm compliance with BS 5266-1:1999
• record in log

 

[equitum]

Third anniversary of installation – by a competent person (qualified
electrical engineer, member of ECA or NICEIC)
• prolong the above test for 3 hours
• remedy any faults
• confirm compliance with BS 5266-1:1999
• record in log

Ah thats the job for me, 3 hours on an hourly rate, tea drinkng watching a luminaire to make sure it stays on More of those please !!

Seriously though, cant see that the breaker can't take 12 operations a year without mechanical fatigue foe a good few years..

 

[333rocky333]

But they say you should not do the 3 hour if the building is or will be occupied and there could be a risk that people cannot see to get out.

As you will flatten the batterys so much. if there was an emergency after you finished, they would not be charged enough.
I think it has to be done once a year though.

 

[equitum]

Lets be realistic. My mate can't afford his mortgage on a big house. He can't afford to sell it becasue the price has plumeted His best bet is to let it to students for a few years to weather the storm. The uni/labc inist that as its multiple occupancy he has to have linked mains smoke alarms, emergency lighting on both landings and ext. fans in two bathrooms, and firecheck doors throughout. In a family home none of this is legally required in an exixiting home. Hctive solution, He is looking for a cost effective solution whilst meeting regs, so my thoughts are self contained emerg. nn maintained luminaires fed fron existing ceiling roses, no test switches. yet to see a post that says this is not permissable or otherwise bad practise. Luckily he can have the smokes put in off the lighting circuit connected by RF still under the 16th without need ing RCBO on the light circuit!

 

[333rocky333]

Reg 110-01-01 (xvii) it may need to be supplemented by BS5266