LIGHTING
SHEDDING LIGHT ON SAFETY STANDARDS
Ian Watts, Emergency Lighting Manager at Hochiki Europe, explains the most recent update to BS 5266-1 and what it means for facilities managers and building owners in the UK.
In 2016, the British Standards Institution (BSI) made a number of updates to its BS 5266 part 1 Emergency Lighting code of practice (CoP). BS 5266-1 serves as a comprehensive guide on best practice for emergency lighting regulations, and helps facilities managers safeguard their premises and occupants. Let’s take a look at some of the key points to note.
Testing and maintenance It is recommended that all emergency lighting systems be tested at least once a month, and each luminaire examined visually once a year, to ensure they are always in full working order. These inspections should be carried out by a competent engineer, experienced in the latest fire safety processes and technologies.
System repairs As well as monthly testing, BS 5266-1 also instructs that a qualified engineer is appointed to correct any faults in the system. In these instances, FMs are responsible for notifying building occupants about any repair work taking place, and should take steps to implement additional life safety measures. These could include running extra safety patrols, placing extra light sources in affected areas and limiting access where required.
“High-risk areas within the standard are required to be illuminated to 10% of the average mains lighting level.”
Under the new guidelines, tests should be carried out at a period of low risk, or while the building is empty, to minimise the impact on building occupants. Facilities managers should consider testing alternate luminaires in a 24-hour period, to make sure the building’s evacuation system is fully operational at all times. Systems should also be tested for their full rated duration, to certify that they meet specified performance requirements. This process is likely to be impractical and so the simplest way facilities managers can meet these requirements is incorporating a certified EN 62034 automatic testing system throughout their premises.
Documentation Facilities managers are already required to keep a range of documentation about their emergency lighting systems.
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Under the updated guidelines, there are now 13 annexes containing information on emergency lighting categories and their recommended applications, information on calculating lux levels and guidance on logbooks and inspections. In certain premises, facilities managers are responsible for ensuring all relevant documentation is kept up to date. The responsible person for the building needs the support of “competent engineers” so facilities managers can fulfil this role if they keep up to date with training on courses like the Industry Committee for Emergency Lighting’s (ICEL) Foundation Course on Emergency Lighting BS 5266 part 1: 2016, available from both the Lighting Industry Association and the Fire Industry Association.
New lighting categories The updates to BS 5266-1 include an increased range of lighting categories such as emergency safety lighting. This addition stipulates that, in the event of a mains power failure, systems are in place that still allow occupants to see their surroundings, and go beyond escape lighting that only illuminates evacuation routes in the event of a fire. It is strongly recommended that this equipment features automatic testing to ensure it is kept in full working order.
High-risk areas Facilities managers are ideally positioned to assist the responsible person and their appointed risk assessor to complete the written risk assessment. High-risk areas within the standard are required to be illuminated to 10% of the average mains lighting level or 15 lux (Whichever figure is greater within 0.5 seconds). For example hospitals, dangerous machinery and loading bays.
Key takeaways Under the latest fire safety legislation in the UK and Europe, BS 5266-1 is no longer a prescriptive requirement. Buildings’ life safety systems can be legally compliant without being certified to the standard. However, compliance to BS 5266-1 is the easiest way facilities managers can demonstrate to auditing authorities that adequate safety precautions are in place.
Life safety regulation is constantly changing, and for facilities managers, keeping up with new legislation is essential. This ensures the safety of premises and building occupants alike across the built environment.
www.hochikieurope.com twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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