11 Jan Signs your emergency lighting may not be fit for purpose

Emergency lighting is designed to light safe passage for people if there is a mains power supply cut and normal lighting fails. An emergency lighting system is usually powered by a generator or battery so that it runs independently of the main power supply. This guarantees lighting for people in an emergency.

There are a few different types of emergency lighting, although they all serve the purpose of providing illumination if there’s a power cut. These include emergency escape lighting, standby lighting, and escape route lighting.

Signs your emergency lighting may not be fit for purpose include:

·         A delay in response during a power cut drill;

·         No response at all from the emergency lighting during a drill;

·         Weak illumination;

·         Failed illumination;

·         Flickering illumination;

·         Underwhelming duration time;

·         Black spots in your building in high-traffic areas.

If your emergency lighting is showing any of these signs, then it is compromised. This means that health and safety is also compromised. You might also be breaking the law by operating faulty emergency lighting. For example, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, adequate emergency escape lighting is required.

We recommend that you consult an expert under the circumstances to get all your emergency lighting up to scratch. The cost to repair or modernise your system might not be as high as you think, although you can’t put a price on safety anyway.

BS 5266-1: 2011

It’s also important to mention BS 5266-1: 2011. BS 5266-1: 2011 sets out standards for emergency lighting for a wide range of applications. These include hotels, hospitals, schools, colleges, offices and multi-storeys. During design and installation, BS 5266-1: 2011 should be referred to meet the minimum safety standards for emergency lighting. However, it’s also important to note that BS 5266-1: 2011 offers minimum safety requirements only. These are hardly fool proof and so it is up to contractors to do a proper job.

Hence, the importance of choosing a reputable company to design and install your emergency lighting systems. Never skimp on this stage of your building’s development and always choose experience over price. This will ensure a reliable emergency lighting system.