This means that the emergency light fitting works with the main lights and is connected to the other lights and is controlled with the normal lighting. When the power fails, the emergency light remains on through the battery which has been charged whilst the mains is on. It can also be turned off whilst the mains is on if it is not needed. The battery often emits around 10% of the normal light levels. Non-Maintained Emergency Lighting Confirmation that the emergency lighting system has been installed in accordance with the relevant regulations and standards. Is your building permanently used E.G. Hotels, then you need to test the lights so that the end of the test corresponds to the start of day. In this way the emergency lights will have a good time to recharge during daylight hours. Natural daylight will help if the emergency lights don’t last 3 hours. Should I test ALL emergency lights at once?

Details of the testing and commissioning carried out on the emergency lighting system, including dates and the results of the tests. Details of any repairs or replacements carried out on the emergency lighting system, including dates and the nature of the work carried out. Our experienced testers conduct over 14,000 emergency lighting tests every year in properties across the country. They test and inspect all units to ensure they’re functioning correctly. Carry out a full discharge test of the emergency lights to ensure that they remain illuminated for the required duration (usually 1-3 hours).In my humble opinion the switch should be of "simulation" status IE cutting power (as it would if in a power cut, fire, etc.) and illuminating EL only. The kind of emergency lighting system your building requires depends on the nature of your business. For example, the emergency lighting system is not always required to provide light at the same intensity as the mains (however, it should be bright enough for safe evacuation). By working with the qualified engineers at Voltix Services , system designs and the ideal testing regime are all part of our compliance services . If you have a central battery system, then most of the above still applies to you. Drop the incoming power to the battery and do the same walk tests. Make a note of any failures etc. However you need to test the whole system all at once. By testing the whole system at once, you are ensuring that the battery can power all the emergency lights for a full 3 hour duration. If you only tested in zones then the battery would not get a full and proper test. Simulate a power failure by either an emergency key switch or by switching off the mains power to the emergency lighting.

An emergency log book is required to keep a record of all the testing, maintenance, and servicing carried out on an emergency lighting system. It is a legal requirement to keep an emergency log book for each building that has an emergency lighting system installed. A minimum duration of 3 hours should be used for emergency escape lighting if the premises are not evacuated immediately. The 3 hour time frame allows the fire brigade time to work in the event of a fire after all of the building’s occupants have been safely evacuated. How often should my emergency lighting system be tested? UK fire safety legislation states that emergency lighting is required in buildings to provide light if normal lighting fails during a fire. We can provide emergency lighting testing and servicing to ensure you are fire safety compliant. We can test your emergency lighting system at a time that suits you. The results of all testing and any necessary corrective action can be recorded in your fire safety logbook. This record is then available for inspection if required. The duration that emergency lighting should stay on for depends on the relevant regulations and standards, as well as the specific requirements of the building and its occupants. However, the general requirement is that emergency lighting should remain illuminated for a minimum of 1 hour, but it may need to remain illuminated for up to 3 hours in certain circumstances.Standby lighting enables normal activities within in building to continue in the event of a mains power failure. Standby lighting is not a legal requirement but is a facility that some buildings may need depending on the use and occupancy of the premises.

Be very careful when touching anything inside the electrical consumer box, there is a danger of electrocution if something is wrong. If in doubt seek a qualified electrician ** What time of day should I test the emergency lights L PERM is the permanent live supply and must have no normal (manually operated) switch or sensor on it. However, a key-switch is permissible and will usually be installed on this circuit. L PERM has two functions:

It is worth noting that the duration of emergency lighting may vary depending on the specific application. For example, in areas where there is a higher risk to the safety of occupants, such as escape routes, the emergency lighting may need to remain illuminated for a longer period of time. This should be determined through a risk assessment and in accordance with the relevant regulations and standards. Test facilities often take the form of a fishtail key inserted into a specific switch, either near the main fuse board or relevant light switches. Additional Combined Services Self-test has several benefits. First, it saves the labour of manual testing. Secondly, it removes the risk that routine monthly or annual testing is overlooked.

UK fire regulations stipulate that your emergency lights should be turned on and off monthly to test them and have a full service once a year. The latest British Standard recommends that you have a 3 hour emergency lighting test once a year, during which your main light circuit should be switched off and your emergency lights left on for a 3 hour period to find out of any batteries need replacing. How can Equiptest help me?Records of all testing and maintenance carried out on the emergency lighting system, including dates, results, and any faults or issues identified. If everyone goes home at 5pm then perhaps start the test then, or up to 3 hours before. So you know that if there was a problem after the test no one would be in the building and the emergency lights would have a long time to recharge overnight, before people start working again in the morning. But the building is used 24/7 365 days a year! It's swings and roundabouts in the building as some areas the key switch shuts off the power to the lights (per room, location) and illuminates the EL. The new refurbished areas the key switch does not cut power to the lights, and with some EL units being part of the main lights this poses a problem to actually see if they are working or not. Yes they have green LEDs in them but you have to look closely to see if they are actually coming on as required. This performs the same function as a key-switch, isolating the fitting from its permanent live supply and thereby simulating a power failure. As I understand it the EL light units that (should) have LEDs on them, the LEDs are illuminated when in normal 'charging' mode but go out when in EL mode?