Illuminating Safety: The Crucial Role of Emergency Lighting
Whether in a bustling theatre, a busy workplace, or any other public space, the purpose of emergency lighting remains clear: to provide illumination during crises, ensuring that occupants can evacuate safely and efficiently.
The Core Purpose of Emergency Lighting
When the regular power supply fails, emergency lighting takes centre stage. Its purpose is straightforward: to illuminate escape routes and essential fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers and manual call points, swiftly and effectively. In the midst of an emergency, such as a fire, the seconds saved by clear and illuminated escape routes can make all the difference in the world.
Imagine a fire alarm blaring through a building, chaos ensuing, and then the lights go out. Panic sets in, disorientation reigns, and valuable time slips away. This is where emergency lighting steps in, ensuring that people can find their way to safety.
Types of Emergency Lighting
Emergency lighting comes in two primary forms: maintained and non-maintained, each tailored to specific building types and requirements.
Maintained Emergency Lighting: These luminaires remain continuously lit, even during a power outage. They are commonly found in places like theatres, cinemas, clubs, and halls, where borrowed light is scarce, and safety necessitates constant illumination. Maintained emergency lighting also plays a crucial role in public spaces, providing clear and constant guidance for escape routes.
Non-Maintained Emergency Lighting: In workplaces or similar environments with regular artificial lighting, non-maintained emergency lighting remains unlit under normal circumstances. However, in the event of a power failure, these lights activate, powered by backup batteries, ensuring a minimum of three hours of illumination for safe evacuation.
The Importance of Testing
Regular testing of emergency lighting is vital, as these systems must function flawlessly when needed most. The frequency of testing varies based on the system type but should include monthly "flick tests" and annual full-duration tests as outlined in BS 5266-1.
Monthly Tests: These quick functional tests simulate a mains power failure to ensure that emergency lights activate correctly. They help identify any defects or issues that should be promptly addressed. Keeping records of these monthly tests is essential for ongoing safety and maintenance.
Top Tip: Test emergency lights during fading natural light in autumn/winter to simulate real emergency conditions affected by reduced daylight.
Annual Tests: The annual test is a more comprehensive examination that requires emergency lights to remain on for three hours after the primary lighting circuit is switched off. Any defects discovered during this test must be reported and remedied promptly. These tests should be conducted by competent individuals, often alongside fire alarm service technicians.
How to Test Emergency Lighting
Testing emergency lighting requires careful planning and execution. Each light should be identified and recorded, and a log should be maintained detailing the test results, defects, and any remedial actions taken for each luminaire.
During the test, a simulated mains power failure is crucial. For larger systems or buildings with multiple circuits, walking the entirety of the building or circuit to check the lights is essential to ensure they are working correctly. Once power is restored, a second check should be conducted to verify that no faults remain.
High Risk Task Area Lighting
Certain areas, such as those with moving machinery, flammable materials, or control rooms associated with dangerous processes, require specialised high risk task area lighting. This type of lighting ensures that processes can be safely terminated and that occupants can evacuate without undue risk from ongoing hazards.
In conclusion, emergency lighting serves a critical role in building safety, providing a path to safety during emergencies when time is of the essence. Regular testing and maintenance are essential to ensure that these systems function reliably when needed, guiding occupants to safety in their darkest hours. Whether maintained or non-maintained, emergency lighting stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating the way to safety when it matters most.