Author Archives: atico

EMERGENCY LIGHTING DESIGN GUIDE – LIGHT LEVELS

Escape Routes (UP to 2 METRES WIDE). A fire escape route is a path that leads to a point of safety, such as a fire exit or protected stairwell in the event of an emergency or mains failure. BS5266 and CIBSE LG12. Light level. Minimum illumination level should be 1 lux along centre-line and a central band consisting of not less than half the full width to 50% of that value (0.5 Lux). Duration: 60 minutes if evacuated immediately. 180 minutes otherwise. (CIBSE LG12 states – as required for installation). Response Time: Response time should be no more than 5 seconds. Reference Plane: Finished floor level. Question Substantially wider escape routes to be treated as several 2 metre strips or be treated as an open area

EMERGENCY LIGHTING DESIGN GUIDE – SPACING TABLES

The spacing tables show the distance from the wall or door to the first luminaire and then the distance that must not be exceeded for spacing between subsequent luminaires. This is shown for the luminaires being mounted either parallel to the route (Axial) or at right angles to the route (Transverse) for different mounting heights. In addition to values for escape routes, figures are also given for the coverage of open areas by regular arrays of luminaires. Transverse Mounting Positions

EMERGENCY LIGHTING DESIGN GUIDE – SIGNAGE

General. BS EN 1838 :2013 Clause 5 : Required to ensure ESCAPE ROUTES are apparent from any location. Should be MAINTAINED mode where occupants may be unfamiliar with building. Should be conspicuous. The designer consider smoke accumulation when locating signs. Location. BS5499-4 :2013 Clause 4.5 states safety signs should be located : At all normal exits. At all emergency exits. Along escape routes. Anywhere else if the route to the nearest exit is not clear.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING DESIGN GUIDE – TESTING SCHEDULES

Self Contained Luminaires – Testing. Test schedules stated in BS5266-8 :2004 are as follows :
COMMISSIONING STAGE: Energise lamp from the battery for full discharge at rated time (i.e. 3 hours).
If Automatic Test System is used, emergency module will carry out initial battery charge and discharge at rated time (i.e. 3 hours). Results reported to system. 

EMERGENCY LIGHTING DESIGN GUIDE – LEGEND VIEWING DISTANCES

LEGEND VIEWING DISTANCES. BS5266 and BS5499 define the viewing distances for exit signs, these are spilt into two categories; a. INTERNALLY illuminated exit signs. b. EXTERNALLY illuminated exit signs. The calculation is as follows: Viewing Distance (D) = The overall height of legend (H) x Factor (F)

EMERGENCY LIGHTING MONITORING & TESTING – WHAT ELECTRICAL CONSULTANTS NEED TO KNOW

With each design and installation, there are several requirements to consider in relation to emergency and back-up lighting. Emergency lighting test systems are an essential safety constituent and an appropriate installation to ensure safe and correct performance, is required. There are two British Standard base guides to reference here: They are: BS 5266-1:2016 and Automatic Test Systems for Battery Powered Emergency Escape Lighting – BS EN 62034. We’ll start with the national standard, the BS 5266-1:2016.

A ‘HOW TO GUIDE’ FOR YOUR EMERGENCY LIGHTING MONITORING & TEST DESIGN

This guide has been created to support Electrical Consultants as they scope and design an emergency/back-up lighting installation with automatic testing, for either a new build or a retro-fit.
Emergency lighting test systems are a mandatory safety constituent and an appropriate installation will reference two British Standard base guides.

END USERS… ARE YOU BEING A RESPONSIBLE EMPLOYER?

Building owners or their responsible persons are legally bound to test their emergency lighting, record test results and maintain their systems.
Legal Requirements: Emergency lighting is part of the fire safety provision of a building and cannot be ignored.
As noted by the Industry Committee for Emergency Lighting (ICEL), which is the foremost UK authority on emergency lighting and provides third party accreditation for components and products for emergency light fittings under the auspices of the Lighting Industry Association (LIA):

SCHOOL LABORATORIES – GUIDELINES FOR COMPLIANT EMERGENCY LIGHTING

School laboratories would be classified as “high risk” areas due to their being scientific equipment, bunsen burners, chemically filled beakers/volumetric flasks etc.
BS EN 1838:2013 4.4 states that
“high risk areas require high risk area lighting to which would require not less than 10% of the required maintained illuminance for that task and not less than 15 lux.”

HOW DO YOU CALCULATE VIEWING DISTANCES FOR EXIT SIGNS MOUNTED GREATER THAN 2.5M?

BS5499-4, Clause 4.6c makes it very clear that “mounting height greater than 2.5m may be used, e.g. in large open spaces or for operational reasons, but such signs should be both conspicuous and identifiable and therefore large signs might be necessary”.
To assist evacuees with the prediction of the location of successive signs, the following principles should be applied:-