Emergency Lighting Handbook

THE UK’S NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATION

Protecting people, property, business and the environment
Emergency Lighting
Handbook
Mike Floyd
 CONTENTS
Contents

FOREWORD 5

1 INTRODUCTION 6
1.1 General emergency lighting terminology and definitions 7

2 LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS 8

2.1 Current legislation in the UK 8
2.2 European directives 9
2.3 Standards applicable to emergency lighting 9
2.4 Standby lighting 11
2.5 Current emergency lighting product standards 11
2.6 Third party approved products 11
2.7 Third party approved services 12
Author: Mike Floyd 2.8 CIBSE 13

Editor: Glenn Tomkins 3 TYPES OF EMERGENCY LIGHTING PRODUCTS  14

3.1 Self-contained emergency lighting luminaires 15
3.2 Marking and categories of operation 18
3.3 Conversions of mains lighting luminaires 19
3.4 Central battery systems 19
3.5 Slave luminaires 21
Fire Protection Association 3.6 Wayfinding systems 22
London Road, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 0RH
Tel: +44 (0)1608 812 500 Fax: +44 (0)1608 812 501
Email: [email protected] Web: www.thefpa.co.uk 4 SYSTEM DESIGN  23
4.1 Building assessment 23
© Fire Protection Association 2012 4.2 Emergency lighting duration 24
4.3 Drawings 25
ISBN 978-1-902790-78-7 4.4 Siting and light levels 26
4.5 Additional locations 30
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval 4.6 Toilet facilities 30
system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in 4.7 Motor generator, control rooms, plant rooms and switch rooms 30
writing of the publisher, or be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other 4.8 Covered car parks 31
than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition 4.9 Specific locations 31
being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. 4.10 Maximum delay times 33

Printed by Information Press 0.5/5.12

5
 4 SYSTEM DESIGN continued
CONTENTS

FOREWORD
4.11 Signs 33
4.12 Open areas 35

Foreword
4.13 High risk task areas 36
4.14 Additional requirements and considerations 36

5 SYSTEM INSTALLATION 39
5.1 Self-contained luminaires 39
5.2 Central power systems 40

T
6 VERIFICATION AND COMPLETION OF INSTALLATIONS  42 his book aims to give a general overview of all aspects concerned with
6.1 Completion 42 emergency lighting systems. It is intended to assist those managing, auditing or
6.2 Re-certification of existing systems 44 assessing the fire risk in buildings in order to determine the adequacy of measures
6.3 Common errors in design and installation 44 in place. Key points in the design, installation and servicing of emergency lighting
systems are covered, but those involved in more depth, especially if offering professional
services to building owners should refer to the various standards mentioned. A list of
7 ROUTINE TESTING AND MAINTENANCE 46 these is given at the end of the guide. Those involved in contract and specification
7.1 Daily 46
writing, or any more detailed work with the topic, should always check they are using
7.2 Monthly 47
the current standard as reference. Many designers and installers are unaware of recent
7.3 Annually 48
changes to standards in this field.
7.4 Automatic testing systems 48
Howard Passey
FURTHER INFORMATION 51 Education & Training Director
Fire Protection Association
INDEX 52

6 7
 1 1

1
INTRODUCTION | Xxx

INTRODUCTION | General emergency lighting terminology and definitions

Normal lighting No fire Fire!
power

Introduction
Situation dangerous –
Healthy Situation normal
normal lighting aids escape
Situation inconvenient/dangerous – Situation disastrous –
Failed emergency lighting aids safe standby/ emergency lighting aids
evacuation escape
Table 1: Comparison of situations requiring emergency lighting

1.1 General emergency lighting terminology and definitions

Emergency lighting
Lighting provided for use when the supply to the normal lighting fails
(BS EN 1838: 1999: Lighting applications. Emergency lighting).

Final exit
Terminal point of an escape route (BS EN 50172: 2004: Emergency escape lighting
systems).

Place of safety
Place in which persons are in no danger (BS EN 50172: 2004).

Emergency exit
Way out that is used during an emergency (BS EN 50172: 2004).

gunnar3000 – Fotolia.com
Escape route
Route designated for escape to a place of safety in the event of an emergency
(BS EN 50172: 2004).

Emergency escape lighting

That part of emergency lighting that provides illumination for the safety of people leaving
a location or attempting to terminate a potentially dangerous process before doing so

I
n any emergency where it is necessary to evacuate a building, such as a fire incident, it (BS EN 1838: 1999).
is vital that all escape routes can be safely followed and exits found which lead on to a
place of safety. In a large percentage of a building during daylight hours, no lighting may Non-maintained emergency luminaire
be needed to achieve this at all due to the ‘borrowed’ light from windows and other glazed Luminaire in which the emergency lighting lamps are in operation only when the supply
areas. Other parts such as internal corridors, stairways and basements always need to the normal lighting fails (BS EN 60598-2-22: 1998 + A2: 2008: Luminaires. Particular
lighting to ensure people escaping through these areas can do so safely and effectively. requirements. Luminaires for emergency lighting).

More buildings nowadays have extended hours of use, or are cleaned and maintained Maintained emergency luminaire
outside of normal working hours. Where people using the building are unfamiliar with the Luminaire in which emergency lighting lamps are energised at all times when normal or
layout, it is even more important that there is no confusion as to the routes for escape emergency lighting is required (BS EN 60598-2-22 + A2).
and the location of the exits themselves. This is especially critical when people may be
‘disorientated’, ie the building has a drinks or entertainment licence. In most cases, the Centrally supplied emergency luminaire
normal lighting will continue to work in most parts of the building, even during a fire, Luminaire for maintained or non-maintained operation which is energised from
unless the main electrical supply is the source of the fire. a central emergency power system that is not contained within the luminaire
(BS EN 60598-2-22 + A2).
However, a properly designed, installed and maintained emergency lighting system will
ensure that all the relevant areas stay lit to an acceptable standard, with sufficient time Material times
for all to escape and other measures safely taken. Times at which the premises are occupied.
8 9
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any hazard present or any other relevant circumstances) in order to safeguard the safety
2
LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS

LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS | European directives

of relevant persons —
(g) emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs; and

Legislation and standards

(h) emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency
lighting of adequate intensity in the case of failure of their normal lighting.

Scotland
The Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 make almost identical provisions in the
section entitled ‘Means of escape’ other than the number of the section:
13.—(1) Where necessary in order to ensure the safety of relevant persons in respect
of harm caused by fire, the person with duties under section 53 or 54 must ensure that
routes to emergency exits from relevant premises and the exits themselves are kept free
from obstruction at all times.
(2) The following requirements must be complied with in respect of relevant premises
where necessary (whether due to the features of the relevant premises, the activity
carried on there, any hazard present or any other relevant circumstances) in order to
ensure the safety of relevant persons in respect of harm caused by fire:–
(g) emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs; and
(h) emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency
lighting of adequate intensity in the case of failure of their normal lighting.

Northern Ireland

Monkey Business – Fotolia.com

The Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010, carry identical section numbering
and wording to those in Scotland.

2.2 European directives

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the previous Workplace Regulations
were drafted to ensure England and Wales complied with the Workplace Directive
89/654 EEC. The first number of this directive indicates the year, so it can be seen

A
number of situations may require premises to have emergency lighting installed that the UK were very late in complying when the Workplace Regulations were issued
as a legal requirement. This will principally be when the Building Regulations are in 1997.
applied, which they will be in new or refurbished premises. Most existing premises
will be covered by a fire risk assessment-based requirement for emergency lighting Products for sale within the EU (formerly EEC) began to be made to harmonised
throughout the UK, other than domestic premises and a few other exceptions. standards to aid economic activity many decades ago. The Construction Products
Directive (89/106 EEC) formalised the requirement for minimum performance and safety
standards for a wide range of building components fixtures and fittings. This includes
2.1 Current legislation in the UK fire alarm and emergency lighting components, as well as fire extinguishers and fire door
England and Wales opening hardware.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 replaced a raft of previous legislation.
For most commercial premises this was previously the Fire Precautions (Workplace)
Regulations 1997, but for some the Fire Precautions Act 1971 applied. The short extract 2.3 Standards applicable to emergency lighting
below is the exact wording applying to emergency lighting: The British Standards Institute (BSI) have been publishing guidance on emergency
Emergency routes and exits lighting for many decades and the current code, BS 5266-1: 2011: Emergency lighting.
14.—(1) Where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the Code of practice for the emergency escape lighting of premises dates back to 1975
responsible person must ensure that routes to emergency exits from premises and the in various forms. Note that this is after the Fire Precautions Act of 1971 which required
exits themselves are kept clear at all times. a number of buildings to have emergency lighting in its first order of 1972. The 2011
(2) The following requirements must be complied with in respect of premises where edition of the British Standard is a full revision of the 1999 edition which had been
necessary (whether due to the features of the premises, the activity carried on there, amended in 2005.
10 11
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Since 1999, BS 5266-1 has provided what BSI term the ‘base guidance document’.
LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS | Family of emergency lighting standards

LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS | Standby lighting

BASE GUIDANCE DOCUMENT This gives general recommendations and guidance on the provision and operation
of emergency lighting in most premises other than dwellings. The family of standards
shown in Figure 1 provide the whole picture and relationship between each
BS 5266-1: 2011 separate standard.
Emergency lighting: Code of practice for
the emergency escape lighting of premises
Gives general recommendations and guidance 2.4 Standby lighting
on the provision and operation of emergency As can be seen from the new title, the current BS 5266-1 no longer specifically covers
lighting in most premsies other than dwellings. this function. However, wording in it implies it is at least safe to re-occupy a recently
evacuated building with only the emergency lighting functioning. The building might only
be usable as a shelter from the elements, rather than a full workplace, if a fully planned
standby system is not installed.

If the business interruption cost from losing lighting systems is large during incidents
SYSTEM STANDARDS where evacuation is not necessary, then a standby system should be considered
and costed. Many businesses spend considerable sums on ‘uninterruptable’ power
supplies for computer servers, but do not consider the extension of this to, at least, the
BS EN 1838: 1999 BS EN 50172: 2004 building’s lighting.
(BS 5266-7: 1999) (BS 5266-8: 2004)
Lighting applications – Emergency escape
Emergency lighting lighting systems 2.5 Current emergency lighting product standards
Specifies the illumination Specifies the minimum As can be seen from Figure 1, three standards cover products for use within the
to be provided by provision and testing EU. Many non-compliant products are available on the internet and through general
emergency lighting of emergency lighting trading suppliers, despite the fact that this could be against EU trading law in certain
(including illuminance, for different premises. cases. Although thoroughly tested, products which only meet US or other international
duration and colour). standards should not be used in regulated buildings within EU countries. Such products
could be considered for non-regulated domestic applications and possibly in embassies
and airbases, which are not considered to be UK territory.

An approved product can also easily be rendered non-compliant by changing the

PRODUCT STANDARDS lamp or batteries to a different type. Many sellers offer LED conversions for a range of
luminaires. These rarely have the same light characteristics as the original lamp.

BS EN 60598- BS EN 62034: BS EN 50171:

2-22: 1998 2006: Automatic 2001: Central 2.6 Third party approved products
+ A2: 2008: test systems for power supply In many fields of safety, products tested and approved by a third party organisation
Luminaires for battery powered systems are available. This is very widespread in fire alarm components, fire extinguishers and
emergency emergency Specifies central sprinklers, for example.
lighting escape lighting power supply
Specifies self- Specifies a systems for BSI offers the ‘Kitemark’ scheme for manufacturers of the main finished products, as
contained and test system for luminaires for well as the various cables and wiring for the power supply. As in all such schemes,
centrally powered battery powered emengency companies have to meet both quality assurance and product standards, to show a
luminaires for use emergency lighting. consistently complying product is being supplied to the market.
in emergency lighting.
lighting situations. ICEL, the Industry Committee for Emergency Lighting, is the approval division of the
Lighting Industry Association, which was formed on January 1st 2012, from the merging
of the Lighting Industry Federation and the Lighting Association. ICEL has contributed
Figure 1: BSI’s family of emergency lighting standards to emergency lighting standards from its beginning. A number of the current standards
derive from previous ICEL standards, which have been adopted into BS and EU codes.
12 13
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For purchasers, installers and end users, products which meet ICEL • Installation: City & Guilds (C&G) 2382: Certificate in the requirements for electrical
LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS | Third party approved services

LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS | CIBSE

approval are clearly marked with their protected logo. This includes installations BS 7671: 2008 + A1: 2011 Requirements for electrical installations. IET
factory converted lighting units which double as emergency lighting Wiring Regulations. Seventeenth edition
when needed. • Commissioning/verification: C&G 2391: Inspection, testing and certification of
electrical installations.
Replacement batteries are a particular problem in self-contained
luminaires, as a minimum four-year life is expected, despite the high Existing systems that have been installed without correct paperwork
operating temperatures in the housings. ICEL scheme 1010 certifies batteries and cells and servicing can be retrospectively certified to SP 203-4. First, the
which can meet these criteria. building management appoints a BAFE approved company to take
over servicing of the emergency lighting system. A full audit is carried
out and an engineer’s report is issued for defects and missing
2.7 Third party approved services luminaires in the system. Once these have been corrected, the
As with the electrical system or fire alarm system, the emergency lighting system should company can begin to issue certificates for the now compliant
be designed, installed and completed by ‘competent persons’. This can be assured system. These only remain valid while the servicing and maintenance continues to be
by the use of companies whose expertise and work have been vetted by a third party carried out by a BAFE approved company.
organisation, as well as using approved products.
Currently, only a small number of companies have opted to be vetted by one of the two
For the electrical aspect of the work, vetting is offered by the Electrical Contractors scheme providers, BSI and National Security Inspectorate (NSI). However, this number
Association (ECA), the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting is expected to rise sharply as the construction sector improves and building owners
(NICEIC) and SELECT, Scotland’s trade association for the electrical industry. A large become more aware of the benefits in our ‘blame culture’ society.
percentage of all commercial work is done by companies accredited to these bodies.

In contrast, a relatively small percentage of emergency lighting work and other fire safety 2.8 CIBSE
work is carried out by third party accredited firms. This leaves a majority of ‘responsible The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) have
persons’ and their organisations far more liable for non-compliance and problems with published technical guidance on lighting and emergency lighting for
such systems through choosing not to use accredited firms. The saving in cost this many years. The document TM12 was widely used as a reference in
might make, if any, could easily be wiped out by any issue later leading to litigation. A this area.
third party installed system gives the owners many benefits and security of mind. These
include access to duplicate records, if any are lost and a complaints procedure, but by The Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) now publishes a number
far the most significant is demonstration to a regulator or court of ‘due diligence’. of documents on these topics under the CIBSE umbrella including
SLL Lighting guide 12: Emergency lighting design guide, which was last revised in 2004.
British Approvals Fire Equipment (BAFE) administers a number of schemes for third
party accreditation of fire company competency, notably for fire extinguisher technicians
(SP 101/ST 104) and fire alarm design, installation and maintenance (SP 203-1). Their
most recent scheme covers similar aspects of emergency lighting. Numbered SP 203-4,
companies offering work in the emergency lighting sector can be vetted and accredited
for their ability to:
1. design;
2. installation;
3a. commission;
3b. handover; and
4. maintain.

As with other BAFE schemes, SP 203-4 is modular in form, so companies can elect to
offer one or more areas of expertise. To ensure persons carrying out each aspect of the
electrical side of the work competently, an electrical qualification is also a requirement for
each module, other than design:

14 15
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3.1 Self-contained emergency lighting luminaires
3
TYPES OF EMERGENCY LIGHTING PRODUCTS

TYPES OF EMERGENCY LIGHTING PRODUCTS | Self-contained emergency lighting luminaires

This is the most commonly encountered type of luminaire and is usually designed to be
fitted to a ceiling to illuminate a certain area or building feature. These devices comprise

Types of emergency
a housing containing all the components to act as a stand-alone emergency light. There
is a charger/switchover device, battery, lamp and light diffuser. All that is needed is a
supply from the local lighting circuit from which it would take over, in case of failure.

lighting products For most premises, this is the most widely used product, as it is highly cost effective
in smaller installations. In many locations, the luminaires will be wired so that the lamp
is only illuminated if the supply fails. This is termed ‘non-maintained’ operation. In this
mode, only the charge current is drawn from the supply, but the lamp condition is only
known during a periodic functional test or power failure.

However, in certain locations, such as cinemas, theatres and other public places, a
luminaire should always give out light, even when the supply is healthy. The installer can
set this and it is termed ‘maintained’ operation. This has the advantage that the lamp is
continually proving it is functional, but obviously consumes more power and increases the
frequency of lamp changes. Some standard fluorescent tubes will only last for six months
when energised continuously in maintained mode.

‘Smart’ self-contained luminaires are available that can self-diagnose, or be tested by a

remote handset. A block of coloured LEDs indicates healthy or various faults, usually on
the luminaire casing, but sometimes additionally on a handset. This negates the need

tournee – Fotolia.com
for frequent trips up and down ladders, which involve assessment under the Work at
Height Regulations.

Self-contained luminaires are made in a wide range of options, including standard

rectangular, square, round and inset versions which sit almost flush to the ceiling.

E
arly systems were often composed of wet batteries charging in a housing placed The commonest luminaire is the rectangular box with an 8W T5 fluorescent tube
in the electrical plant room. In a failure of the lighting circuits in the plant room, producing about 100 lm (lumens) in emergency mode and 350 lm in maintained mode.
240v would be fed to luminaries containing two mains ‘pigmy’ bulbs of around
15 Watts. This setup would now be termed a ‘central battery system’. Leaps in battery Luminaires are also available as signs. Some are simply the box form with a sign face
and bulb technology have completely transformed emergency lighting to enable greater instead of the diffuser. These can have a clear panel in the downward facing side
duration times, brighter bulbs and far more varieties of installation.

By the 1970s, nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cad) rechargeable cells became more widely

available and their prices lowered. The invention of the low voltage compact fluorescent
tube that could be powered by 12V or even 6V arrived at a similar time. Mainly
conceived for automotive applications, such as camping and caravanning, it soon found
its way into low cost emergency luminaries that were self-contained with Ni-Cad cells
and charger/control circuits.

Further improvements to batteries came with the growing demand for smaller and more
powerful supplies for mobile music, video and games devices, but especially mobile
phones. Nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) cells also suffered less from charge/discharge
memory problems of Ni-Cad cells. Lithium ion (Li-ion) cells now widely used in electronic
devices offer further gains. Super bright white LED clusters using very little current are Figure 2: Self-contained
now widely available. bulkhead luminaire
16 17
 3 3
to illuminate door thresholds or other features. Other signs are very slim and light,
TYPES OF EMERGENCY LIGHTING PRODUCTS | Self-contained emergency lighting luminaires

TYPES OF EMERGENCY LIGHTING PRODUCTS | Self-contained emergency lighting luminaires

Figure 4: Detail of LED in
sometimes double-sided and can be hung in corridors from ceiling fixtures; these are emergency light fitting
commonly referred to as wafer style signs. One type of emergency lighting, which is
still a form of self-contained type, is a pair of wide angled spotlights mounted on, and
powered by, a battery box. These units are found in high ceiling spaces such as halls,
sports centres and workshops where normal luminaires would not provide the minimum
light levels. The spotlights are usually trained on the exit doors from the space covered,
rather than giving a general level of light. However, manufacturers of LED luminaires can
now cover up to 9m high spaces, so these may gradually take over this role.

As luminaires are also required outdoors and in potentially grimy industrial locations, a
range of waterproof and dustproof models with various ingress protection (IP) ratings
is available.

For certain hazardous environments such as flammable gas, liquid or dust, intrinsically
safe models are made which will operate safely in these conditions and not themselves Figure 5: Ignition of self-contained
ignite flammable atmospheres which may be present. All terminations and batteries are luminaire casing is a stricter test
carefully sealed within the casing by a combination of insulation materials, or even inert than other fittings
gases. The commonest situation where many people see these in use almost every
week is a petrol filling station. As these devices are safety critical and expensive to buy, being number 22 out of 25 possible variations. As with any electrical product, it must pass
they are specially marked with the rating they achieve, as is all equipment for this field. various tests for electrical safety in order to carry the CE mark. Additionally, all emergency
The ATEX directive specifies markings for use throughout the EU, enabled in the UK by lighting luminaires must be suitable for fixing to flammable ceilings or walls (F marked).
the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR).
The casing is also required to self-extinguish when a very hot metal tip is placed against
All luminaires for approved use in the EU, whether self-contained or slave, are required it for a given time and then removed. This test arose from a previous ICEL standard.
to meet the long and oddly number standard – BS EN 60598-2-22: 1998 + A2: 2008: Acrylic diffusers used in other non-emergency luminaires are not usually able to pass the
Luminaires. Particular requirements. Luminaires for emergency lighting. This number current test. The newest version of the standard allows the test to be carried out at a
arises as the standard covers a long list of other luminaire types, with emergency ones lower temperature (650°C instead of 850°C) if the charger/invertor unit is encased within
the unit so that it is ‘protected’. This should ensure that it cannot cause damage if it has
a fault or overheats.

Normal (non-emergency) luminaires that are placed in escape routes are not required to
pass this test, but there is a need to meet thermoplastic requirements TP(a) or TP(b) in
the Building Regulations 2000 guidance documents, with similar guidance in Scotland
and Northern Ireland. Luminaires must be able to work in emergency mode at an
elevated temperature of 70°C for at least one hour.

There must be a label in the luminaire’s casing to add the commissioning date, plus
marking indicating suitable lamp type and battery when either original fails any testing.
Batteries must be marked with year and week of manufacture and the safe method for
their disposal. An indicator lamp which shows the battery is charging must be visible.
This can currently be red or green, so many manufacturers have moved to a green
LED as some building occupants seeing a red light have reported it to the maintenance
department as a fault. The red colour arose from use of small neon lamps before LEDs.
Green is seen as a healthy condition in many electrical devices and the standard will
soon only allow this option.

The output of a luminaire has safety margins included so that as the batteries and lamp
degrade, it still meets the minimum illumination stated. Some degree of dirt and grime can be
Figure 3: Internally illuminated sign tolerated within reason. Regular servicing will ensure that these factors are not exceeded.
18 19
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3.3 Conversions of mains lighting luminaires
TYPES OF EMERGENCY LIGHTING PRODUCTS | Marking and categories of operation

TYPES OF EMERGENCY LIGHTING PRODUCTS | Conversions of mains lighting luminaires

Design and refurbishment fashion in buildings have led to a trend for flush ceiling lines
with no obstructions, such as a self-contained luminaire. These have mainly been
replaced by specially converted mains fluorescent lights identical to those already fitted
in a modern flush ceiling. This also avoids duplication of components when separate
luminaires are fitted. Sometimes the batteries and control circuits for a number of units
are placed in a separate box in the ceiling void, with a feed into each individual lighting
unit. The additional component in the control circuits is a DC inverter.

This device will take the battery direct current voltage (3-6V) and supply the 230V
alternating current tube with a very high frequency signal of around 40kHz. This gives
the appearance of being very bright while only using a small current from the battery.
These are termed ‘conversion kits’ and are particularly common in offices. The cells
often only power one tube and an LED indicator for the batteries under charge should
be visible from below for audit and inspection/maintenance purposes. Another frequently
encountered version of converted luminaires is the inset spotlight or downlight.

Modern lighting units are installed to reduce the glare given by older types because
of their casing design or mounting position. Many have angled and deflecting
arrangements to achieve the lower glare performance. When the unit works as an
Figure 6: emergency light, it automatically benefits from this feature. As LED lights become more
Converted common, the operating current for emergency use will be reduced enabling smaller
light fitting batteries and longer durations.

Conversions not carried out at the time of manufacture should only be carried out by
3.2 Marking and categories of operation accredited agents who can certify the fitting meets safety requirements and remark
The former markings with ‘M’ as a maintained, or ‘NM’ for non-maintained luminaire, were it as CE compliant. As previously mentioned, lighting manufacturers offer these units
replaced in previous editions of emergency lighting codes. The duration is expressed in pre-fitted and certified. Photometric data will be needed for it to be correctly installed.
minutes rather than hours. A four box identification label on the luminaire now covers:

d)
a) Type b) Mode of operation c) Facilities Duration*
3.4 Central battery systems
The early systems where simple luminaires were wired to a battery box on charge in
X self-contained 0 non-maintained A including test device 10 a plant room could be viewed as simple central battery type. The luminaries for such
Y central supply 1 maintained B including remote test 60
2 combined non-maintained mode 120 systems are termed ‘slaves’ as they have no ability to function without the control unit.
3 combined maintained C including inhibiting 180 They only contain a lamp which is powered by wiring from the control unit. The majority
4 compound non-maintained mode of these systems were used in industrial applications and large scale public access
5 compound maintained D high risk task area buildings such as theatres and cinemas. If the slaves are to function reliably during a fire
6 satellite luminaire
event, then the connecting wiring must be high temperature resistant and mechanically
* in minutes for self-contained system strong. This was initially only achievable using mineral insulated copper cable (MICC)
often referred to as ‘Pyro’ (Pyrotenax) which was also used for bell/sounder circuits and
The box below would indicate a self-contained, non-maintained 3h luminaire with no other critical parts of fire alarm circuits. This name comes from the trade name used by a
additional facilities. former major supplier, BICC (British Insulated Copper Cables).
X 0 **** 180
For new central systems in a standard application, power feed cables are required
In the modes of operation, we generally only see the first three types commonly in the to meet PH 60 in BS EN 50200: 2006: Method of test for resistance to fire of
UK. A combined luminaire has two lamps, one which is for the emergency function unprotected small cables for use in emergency circuits. This is a higher specification
only. This type is also referred to as ‘sustained’. A compound luminaire has the facility than that for standard fire alarm cables, PH 30, which is not suitable for emergency
to supply additional emergency luminaires from its batteries. A satellite luminaire is the lighting applications. For central systems in complex buildings, especially those
type whose power is supplied from the compound unit. where fire engineering standards are applied, PH 120 cables should be used.
20 21
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Figure 7: A typical central
TYPES OF EMERGENCY LIGHTING PRODUCTS | Central battery systems

TYPES OF EMERGENCY LIGHTING PRODUCTS | Slave luminaires

panel, like this one, is relatively Owners of buildings with a central building management system (BMS) computer have
small and can be specified with a further option available. Self-contained units with on-board monitoring circuits can be
powerful processing capabilities wired into the data bus of the BMS and report their status centrally. This gives most of
the advantages of a separate central battery system except for the battery life. At the
same time it avoids the cost of additional, expensive fire-grade wiring.
These guidelines are the same as Another innovative product uses its parent company’s smoke detector bases for
those used for a fire alarm system in quick install of compact LED luminaires and wafer style signs, which are all interlinked.
a complex building and similar criteria The central panel has addressable processing, but does not require fire grade
should trigger its choice, such as wiring, as all connected devices have three-hour duration batteries and are fail-safe if
building height or delayed evacuation. communication is lost.
A number of manufacturers make both
types of cable, mainly in a ‘soft skin’ Most self-contained units have a shrink-wrapped cell cluster of Ni-Cad or Ni-MH, termed
format using a combination of silicone a ‘stick’ as their emergency power supply. Although these sticks are modest in price,
rubber insulation and inert spacers such the labour cost to replace them can be considerable on a large site, as they rarely deliver
as glass fibre strand. A number of users their full duration after five years. Again, potentially hazardous multiple trips up and down
with higher potential for mechanical

Array Trading, Greece

ladders are needed. There are also fully automatic testing panels available to add to an
damage to cables still specify mineral older type central or self-contained lighting system.
insulated cables, but installation costs
are usually higher.
3.5 Slave luminaires
Central system control boxes have The range of slave luminaires has been greatly increased for a variety of design and
undergone similar dramatic changes to performance requirements. Slaves differ from self-contained luminaires in that they do
fire alarm panels. Most dramatic is the not have the indicator LED as no battery or charger is present. Slaves for harsh and
drop in size, along with clean, sealed and small battery packs. Some units have powerful hazardous environments have been available for a long period, as these industries where
processing ability to control and monitor the system. Some manufacturers have their such environments may be present had central battery systems at an earlier stage and
‘slave’ luminaries wired in loops to gain the same advantages as analogue addressable continue to use them in many buildings.
fire alarm systems. The slave can be monitored for the integrity of its lamp. Monitoring
panels can also display any fault very quickly, just as with a fire alarm panel, with the Central power sources Self-contained
relevant address so that prompt action can be taken. On a system comprising self-
Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages
contained luminaires, it may be up to a month before some faults are discovered during
routine testing, as this is when at least the lamp operation should be checked. Less expensive Separate wiring Ease/speed of Limited lamp power
installation
The compact battery unit that powers the system can be maintenance free for some Long battery life if Regular battery Flexible, extendibility Operation limit to
cell types or alternatively offer a life of up to 25 years with some lead batteries, if maintained maintenance battery operation
charged correctly. Servicing can be highly automated on the latest equipment, as temperature
some monitoring/testing panels can switch on lamps and an optical sensor in the slave Fewer temperature Loss when central No battery room Shorter life batteries
housing can inform the panel the lamp has lit. Self-discharge cycles and subsequent effects system in fire required
testing is also programmable to any required standard. Easier/automatic Battery cabinet often No regular battery Not suited to harsh
testing required maintenance or hazardous
On a larger building or refurbishment project, these newer central systems offer many environments
advantages including lower cost and drastically reduced maintenance cost. The more Real time monitoring Limited flexibility No loss of total Cost of periodic
complex wiring of the panel to monitor the building’s lighting circuits can be justified in system testing greater
most cases. The main battery box would likely be sited in the electrical intake room, but Table 2: Advantages and disadvantages of centrally controlled and
the monitoring/testing panel can be at the reception or security office. The payback time self-contained power sources
for such systems is often only a few years, so clients should ask designers for ‘lifetime’
costs, rather than simple capital outlay, where self-contained luminaires may initially
appear cheaper. Some manufacturers offer an upgrade of their self-contained luminaries
to an addressable type, via a new panel, data bus and insert board.
22 23
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3.6 Wayfinding systems
4
TYPES OF EMERGENCY LIGHTING PRODUCTS | Wayfinding systems

SYSTEM DESIGN
In very confined escape conditions, such as aircraft, wayfinding lights set in the floor have
been provided for many years. This is to assist with finding exits if crawling along the floor

System design
to avoid smoke at higher level in a fire. Emergency lighting and signage in buildings has
been somewhat harshly criticised for being sited at higher level, which is where smoke will
accumulate as it leaks from the room of fire origin. No smoke should be encountered by
most persons as they escape from a building, so it is more useful to mount signs at high
level so they can be easily seen. It would be ideal to also install low level wayfinding as well
if money was no object, especially an electrical type, as in aircraft.

As the cost of photoluminescent tape and signs has been steadily decreasing, a number
of building owners have chosen to install them as an additional feature. Conventional
emergency lighting will still be needed under current philosophy. Guidance on such
arrangements has been available under BS 5266 for many years:
• BS 5266-6: Emergency lighting. Code of practice for non-electrical low mounted
way guidance systems for emergency use. Photoluminescent systems.
• BS 5266-5: Emergency lighting. Specification for component parts of optical fibre
systems.
• BS 5266-2: Emergency lighting. Code of practice for electrical low mounted way
guidance systems for emergency use.

A particular advantage with tape is that nosings of stairs can be perfectly highlighted.
This is very difficult with standard luminaires, as the position is bound to favour some
steps more than others.

Following the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York in 2001, the city now requires
a tape or paint wayfinding system in all high-rise blocks. Some countries use
photoluminescent footprints or arrows on the floor to indicate direction.

Lotfi Mattou – Fotolia.com

Another innovative product available as an intermediate arrangement is slim electrical
trunking embedded with bright LEDs which is fitted at the height of a dado rail, about
1m from the floor.

For buyers with large budgets or high-risk environments, carpets embedded with
controllable LEDs are available. These are principally targeted at aircraft makers.

A
Figure 8:
s with fire alarm and sprinkler systems, the emergency lighting standard is
Photoluminescent
divided into sections covering design, installation, verification and completion,
tape used on
plus ongoing servicing of completed systems. Design is the key stage where all
stairs
the specific requirements of the building should be considered to get the correct layout
of components.

4.1 Building assessment

BS 5266-1: Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises
recommends consultation between all parties involved in the project at the earliest stage.
This is particularly useful, especially if it is to be a large installation, or where the building
itself is only at the design stage. As uses of areas and location of certain features may not
be agreed on until a later stage, time and effort could be wasted in a preliminary design.
24 25
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4.2 Emergency lighting duration All the classes of building use in the list below are considered as needing a three-hour
SYSTEM DESIGN | Emergency lighting duration

SYSTEM DESIGN | Drawings

Table 9 in Approved Document B to the Building Regulations 2000 for England and Wales duration system by BS 5266-1. Any designer or risk assessor ignoring this advice would
and the equivalent documents for Scotland and Northern Ireland list various purpose probably be challenged by building control staff or inspecting officers from the local fire
groups and the minimum requirement for areas which should have emergency lighting. and rescue service.
This degree of coverage might only satisfy the building control department as it does not • Premises used as sleeping accommodation: This class includes such premises
specify the degree of detail which would normally be required for commercial premises as hospitals, care homes, hotels, guesthouses, certain clubs, colleges and
and refers to the withdrawn 2005 edition of the standard. boarding schools.
• Common access routes within blocks of flats or maisonettes: Special group as it
serves sleeping accommodation.
Purpose group of the
building or part of the • Non-residential premises used for treatment or care: This class includes such
building Areas requiring escape lighting premises as special schools, clinics and similar premises.
1. Residential All common escape routes(1), except in two-storey flats • Non-residential premises used for recreation: This class includes such premises
as theatres, cinemas, concert halls, exhibition halls, sports halls, public houses
2. Office, storage and a. Underground or windowless accommodation
other non-residential and restaurants.
b. Stairways in a central core or serving storey(s) more than
18m above ground level • Non-residential public premises: This class includes such premises as town halls,
c. Internal corridors more than 30m long libraries, shops, shopping malls, art galleries and museums.
d. Open-plan areas of more than 60m2
3. Shop and commercial a. Underground or windowless accommodation The following are given as examples which would usually only require a one-hour
and car parks b. Stairways in a central core or serving storey(s) more than duration system:
18m above ground level • Industrial premises used for manufacture, processing or storage of products:
c. Internal corridors more than 30m long This class includes such premises as factories, workshops, warehouses and similar
d. Open-plan areas of more than 60m2 establishments.
e. All escape routes to which the public are admitted(1) • Non-residential premises used for teaching, training and research and offices:
(except in shops of three or fewer storeys with no sales This class includes such premises as schools, colleges, technical institutes
floor more than 280m2, provided that the shop is not a
restaurant or bar) and laboratories.
Any mixed use building or where escape routes serve both one-hour and three-hour
4. Assembly and All escape routes(1), and accommodation except for:
recreation a. Accommodation open on one side to view sport or categories, the duration should be set at three hours minimum.
entertainment during normal daylight hours
5. Any purpose group a. All toilet accommodation with a floor area over 8m2
b. Electricity and generator rooms 4.3 Drawings
c. Switch room/battery room for emergency lighting system When the duration has been resolved, then good plans or at least those with layout and
d. Emergency control room dimensions of the building and key features will be needed. Apart from determining the
escape routes themselves, full plans will assist in discovering the location of other key
Notes: (1) Including external escape routes
features which have to be illuminated as part of the design process. An inspection visit
Table 3: Provision for escape lighting (from Approved Document B, to the premises will always be useful to a designer to confirm positions, or understand
2000, Volume 2) any oddities of layout. Scale drawings will also assist in the assessment of which spaces
form larger ‘open plan’ areas, as well as the layout and spacing of each luminaire within
each space.
BS 5266-1 states that premises should have the type and duration of emergency
lighting system decided by a risk assessment. It does give guidance on the expected The ceiling height of each area is also needed, as higher output luminaires are required
arrangements in a range of typical premises in section 9.3. These range from for higher ceilings. If a number of areas need high output luminaires, this might trigger the
one to three hours as before. As three-hours’ duration is easily achieved due to choice of a central battery system. The layout of normal lighting units and feed circuits will
technological improvements, most premises should only consider this type. Any cost assist designers and installers at the next stage.
saving in using lesser duration would be minimal and not allow for any unforeseen
circumstances, or prolonged power outage, where three hours would be very useful. One factor listed independently for needing an emergency light is where loss of one normal
Early re-occupation of the building after an evacuation can be made, even before normal light would place people in total darkness. However, such areas would usually be covered
lighting is restored, with this level of duration. by guidance on other locations.
26 27
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4.4 Siting and light levels
SYSTEM DESIGN | Siting and light levels

SYSTEM DESIGN | Siting and light levels

Transverse Transverse Axial Axial
The first areas to be covered by the designer are normally all escape routes. These to wall spacing spacing to wall
comprise corridors and staircases, plus all other through routes needed to access exits,
such as lobbies, reception areas, atrium spaces, shopping malls and the foyer of a theatre
or cinema. These are termed ‘circulation spaces’ in many fire safety guides. The access
room from an inner room arrangement should also be considered as an escape route.
Where the escape route is ‘defined’ such as in a corridor less than 2m wide, the general
minimum level of emergency lighting is different from that in the circulation spaces and
open areas.

BS EN 1838: 1999: Lighting applications. Emergency lighting requires a level of at least

one lux (1 lx) along the centre line of a defined escape route with a central 1m band Transverse to axial
illuminated to at least 0.5 lx. However, the UK had previously negotiated a variation from (50% transverse +
this level within those allowed in harmonised European standards. A figure of 0.2 lx on 50% axial spacing)
the centre line could be used in ‘defined escape routes’, if no obstructions were to be
encountered by escaping persons, or these were separately illuminated. This figure arose
from the Fire Precautions Act before the first edition of BS 5266 and required stair nosings
to be highlighted in compensation for the low light level. The newest BS 5266-1 no longer Figure 10: Terminology for siting and layout of bulkhead luminaires
recommends this lower light level and further suggests that existing buildings which used
that level are assessed in future to ensure it is still suitable.
Usually a zero reflectance surface has to be assumed, so a standard ceiling luminaire
The minimum emergency lighting level is very low compared to normal office working has to achieve the required levels by direct output. In the case of a dark brown painted
levels (300 lx to 500 lx). However, in most buildings, light coloured wall and ceiling pub corridor, or night club interior in matt black, the reflected light is almost nil. These
decoration is used, so the level that would be encountered is much higher than the are the conditions that manufacturers have to use to measure the emergency level a
minimum. This is due to the way we see most objects, by a mixture of direct and scattered luminaire provides.
light reflections. The standard quotes a figure of up to 60% contribution by indirect light
where decoration to the premises is in normal light colours. Emergency lighting designers Each space covered must now have at least two emergency luminaires, so that in the
are not allowed to take this mixed effect into account unless unusual uplighters are used. event of one failing to illuminate, some level of lighting will still be available. All good
Even then, only the first reflection is counted. manufacturers supply spacing tables which give the positions that luminaires should be
sited in relation to walls and other luminaires for a number of ceiling heights, typically from
2.5m to 4m.

If spacing tables are not available, generic data is produced for various luminaire types.
If an older system is being assessed, these are very useful. Otherwise, the BS requires
accurate measurements to be taken in situ. This involves competent use of an accurate
light meter.

The coverage of rectangular luminaires is usually greater if placed with the long sides facing
1 lux to wall each other. This is termed ‘transverse’ as in the modern way of siting engines under a car
bonnet. In a corridor, this can look strange, so some designers place them the other way
around or ‘axial’, even though more luminaires will be required. Most of the light from the
1 lux minimum between luminaires fluorescent tube is emitted sideways, although clever design of the diffuser lens maximises
(0.5 lux from each luminaire) the spread ‘axially’.

Unfortunately, acting as a negative influence on our perception of light levels, is the

1 lux minimum on the time taken for our eyes to adjust to the lower lighting levels given in emergency
centre line of escape route mode. A study carried out by the BRE Trust (Technical Information Paper 9/97)
found that a minimum level of 3 lx would be useful in some applications, such as
care homes for the elderly.
Figure 9: Escape routes compliance
28 29
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SYSTEM DESIGN | Siting and light levels

SYSTEM DESIGN | Siting and light levels

Final exit: to provide Junctions: install within Corridors: install within Escalators: should not Toilets: install in all Lifts: to provide
illumination of escape 2m of escape route 2m horizontal distance be used as an escape toilets exceeding 8m emergency illumination
routes junctions of a change of direction route, but require the area or where natural in all lifts
in an escape route same illumination to light is not present
protect users on it when
the supply fails

Stairways: install within Final exits: install Alarm areas: Fire Control rooms: Motor Open areas: rooms Hazardous area: high
2m horizontal distance externally within 2m alarms, first aid generator, control either with a particular risk areas should be
of change in floor level horizontal distance of points and firefighting and plant rooms for hazard, an escape route illuminated to 10% of
or stairs (each tread to any final exits. equipment – install essential and safety passing through or normal lighting or 15 lx,
receive direct light) within 2m horizontal services larger than 60m2 whichever is greater
distance

Figure 11: Recommended minimum initial siting provision for all buildings When the designer has sited luminaires to achieve these minimum lighting levels, the next
(based on ICEL information) task is to ensure various ‘points of emphasis’ have a luminaire close to them, ie within 2m:
a) at each exit door intended to be used in an emergency;
b) near (within 2m) stairs so that each flight of stairs receives direct light;
c) near any other change in level;
To ensure the emergency light level is evenly distributed, a maximum ratio of 40:1 d) mandatory emergency exits and safety signs;
from the dimmest to the brightest spot is allowable. Another potential problem is glare e) at each change of direction;
from the luminaire making the route and its features more difficult to discern, especially f ) at each intersection of corridors;
as those escaping are also adjusting to a much lower level of light. Data from the g) outside and near to each final exit;
manufacturer will assist the designer and installer in this task and the technical details h) near each first aid post; and
are given in Table 1 of BS EN 1838. Lamps used in luminaires must also render colours i ) near each piece of fire fighting equipment and call-point.
they illuminate to a given technical standard, BS ISO 3864-4: Graphical symbols.
Safety colours and safety signs. Colorimetric and photometric properties of safety Positions denoted as (h) or (i) if not on the escape route, nor in an open area, shall be
sign materials. illuminated to 5 lx minimum on the floor.
30 31
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4.5 Additional locations 4.8 Covered car parks
SYSTEM DESIGN | Additional locations

SYSTEM DESIGN | Covered car parks

• Outside buildings near exits; The pedestrian escape routes from these structures needs to be assessed and agreed.
• From exits to a place of safety; Typically, ‘pedestrian lanes’ can be assigned, which would be illuminated as defined
• Inside lift cars; and routes. There is signs layout guidance for covered car parks in BS 5499-4: Safety signs,
• Moving stairways and walkways. including fire safety signs. Code of practice for escape route signing.
For the first two above, street lighting may be used if it will be on for all the hours of
darkness when the building is in use. It should be noted however that some external
lighting is on timers and in recent years more local authorities are switching off lights to 4.9 Specific locations
save money and reduce their carbon footprint. A number of locations are given in Annex D of BS 5266-1: 2011: Emergency lighting.
Code of practice for the emergency escape lighting of premises. These were formerly
specified in BS 5266-10: 2008: Guide to the design and provision of emergency lighting
4.6 Toilet facilities to reduce the risks from hazards in the event of failure of the normal lighting supply,
• All disabled facilities – at least one luminaire; now withdrawn, as the contents were incorporated into BS 5266-1: 2011. These are
• Any facilities without borrowed light – at least one luminaire (excludes en-suite examples of where a normal to medium, rather than a high risk task area needs special
bathrooms); and consideration if normal lighting fails:
• All facilities over 8m2 – illuminated to ‘open area’ guidance. • kitchens – isolation of gas and electrical items to leave the area safe
while unattended;
• first aid rooms – completion of simple procedure before leaving;
4.7 Motor generator, control rooms, plant rooms and switch rooms • examination and treatment rooms – completion of a more complex procedure,
These areas would often have no borrowed light and so would also need emergency such as a minor operation;
light under risk assessment. Luminaires need to be positioned next to the control panels • refuge areas for people with mobility impairments – 5 lx is suggested as refugees
for normal and emergency lighting within these areas. Those that serve motor generators will need to be able to use the emergency voice communication system as well
should be self-contained, so that no delay is experienced during their start-up period. as feel re-assured in the space. Designated staff may need sufficient light to assist
Such areas might also be assessed as ‘high-risk task areas’, for the extra safety needed persons out of wheelchairs into evacuation sleds;
at these times. • plant rooms, switch rooms and emergency winding facilities for lifts – in a fire
situation, lifts should not normally be used. However, in the event of a power supply
failure to lifts in a non-fire situation, maintenance engineers will need to access these
plant areas to begin rescue or restoration of power. Use of a portable self-contained
emergency lighting unit may be helpful;
• inspection of the condition of fire alarm control and indicating equipment and
repeater panels – 15 lx is recommended in order to:
a) enable displays to be read accurately;
Height = b) enable staff to locate the source of the fire;
100mm c) operate controls.
This light level will need to be in the vertical plane of the panel and zone map. Many
panels have backlit liquid crystal display or LED which assists with reading under low
light or lack of emergency lighting;
• reception area – 15 lx is also recommended so that a call to the emergency
services can be made quickly and without error. This would also apply to a
dedicated control room if properly assessed;
• panic bars and pads or security devices at exit doors – 5 lx is recommended in
the horizontal plane, to make use of various devices at doorways easy in emergency
eg a break glass manual release control, instructions; and
• surrounds of swimming pools and diving platforms or flumes – 5 lx
recommended for these areas that need to be cleared safely and impact accidents
avoided. Extra hazard of slipping is also taken into account.

Figure 12: Maximum viewing distance for internally illuminated signs

32 33
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SYSTEM DESIGN | Location and identification of escape route signs

SYSTEM DESIGN | Maximum delay times

Sign Examples of Meaning (as viewed from
use/locations the front of the sign)
• Suspended in corridor • Progress forward from
leading to door here (indicating direction
• Suspended in open areas of travel)
• Suspended in front of • Progress forward and
door through from here (when
• Positioned above door sign is sited above door
• Suspended at foot of – indicating direction of
stairs or ramp
travel
• Progress forward and
up from here (indicating
change of level)
• On corridor walls • Progress to the right
• Suspended adjacent to, from here (indicating
and to the left of, the exit direction of travel)
• Suspended at change of
direction Figure 13 (left): Internally

xyno – iStockphoto.com
illuminated signs have a greater
distance of viewing than...

• On corridor walls • Progress to the left from Figure 14 (above): An externally

• Suspended adjacent to here (indicating direction illuminated, wall-mounted fire
exit of travel) exit sign
• Suspended at change of
direction 4.10 Maximum delay times
In order to reassure persons in the building that the emergency lighting is working at
the point the normal supply fails, the lighting levels in most situations should reach 50%
of the given values within 5 seconds and full brightness in less than one minute. The
5 seconds figure can be extended to 15 seconds in some circumstances, especially if
• Suspended at head of • Progress down from
members of staff who are familiar with the building are the main occupants, rather than
stairs or ramp here (indicating change
the general public. This delay may also occur when generators are used for emergency
• Suspended at change of of level)
power supplies. However, a few critical areas must be fully illuminated to a higher lighting
level
level and within half a second:
• kitchen work surfaces including switches and cut-outs – 15 lx/0.5sec;
• surrounds and diving areas of swimming pools – 5 lx/0.5sec; and
• medical treatment areas – 50 lx/0.5sec.

• On wall or suspended at • Progress down to the This speed of response cannot normally be achieved with luminaires containing
head of stairs or ramp right (indicating change fluorescent lamps, unless already in maintained mode. Other variations needed are given
• On half landing wall or of level) in Table D.1 in BS 5266-1.
stairs (Similar signs may be
• Suspended at change of seen indicating down to
the left and up to the right
level
and left) 4.11 Signs
Signs which are used to indicate final exits, or the route towards them, need to be
particularly prominent. To achieve this, signs are mounted vertically, usually above doors
or on walls and at a conspicuous height of between 2m and 2.5m. Signs can be in the
Table 4: Location and identification of escape route signs form of a self-adhesive sticker or plate and will need to be ‘externally illuminated’, ie a
luminaire will need to be positioned nearby to highlight them.
34 35
 4 4
This still applies to photoluminescent signs, although they are considered a better option
SYSTEM DESIGN | Signs

SYSTEM DESIGN | Open areas

in most situations. Signs illuminated by radioactive tritium are also available. This has
been used for watch face illumination, as well as a radioactive marker for research.

Alternatively, the sign can be ‘internally illuminated’, ie the graphic of the sign forms
a translucent face of a luminaire with the specific purpose of highlighting the sign. It
has long been recognised that internally illuminated signs stand out better than those
externally illuminated and therefore a greater distance of viewing is accepted. This is
designated as 200 times the height of the characters, compared with 100 times for
characters of externally lit type within the guidance from BS EN 1838.

Now that BS ISO 7010: Graphical symbols. Safety colours and safety signs. Registered
safety signs has been introduced and specified in BS 5266-1, the anomalous ‘Euro-sign’
is no longer the correct choice for new installations. The UK originally produced signs to
the ISO format under BS 5499-1: Graphical symbols and signs. Safety signs, including
fire safety signs. Specification for geometric shapes, colours and layout and these were
allowed to be left in existing installations. However, the EU required the use of a different
sign in the original directive for all new installations, despite agreements in the past to
preferably choose an existing ISO sign which was available at the time.

The new BS ISO 7010, in effect, revives the BS 5499-1 appearance. Reputable sign
suppliers will have compliant versions for building owners and installers. If a sign has
an arrow added to indicate direction to nearest exit, the graphic figure and arrow must
point in the same direction. Signs with an arrow pointing directly upwards indicate that
persons should proceed ahead, just as those for traffic in a one-way system. They can
also be used at the exit, but a graphic character without an arrow is normal. Where
persons are being directed up a staircase, as in a basement, the arrow should be at 45°
pointing up the flight, not vertical. Most persons would travel down flights during escape,
so arrows should point downwards at 45°, not vertically down. Figure 16: Areas with machinery may require a higher level of emergency
lighting than normal open areas

4.12 Open areas

Open areas, also termed ‘anti-panic’ areas, require emergency lighting coverage as escape
towards an exit is not ‘defined’ as in a corridor or stairway. Occupants will have to take an
indirect route around room features and furniture. Before 1999, designers had to make
calculations for the coverage in these areas, as the standard used to specify an average
lighting level. Since then, just as for defined escape areas, the figure is a minimum level.

The ‘core area’ of each room assessed as needing coverage should be lit to at least
0.5 lx at floor level. This ‘core area’ ignores a zone comprising of a strip 0.5m wide
around the perimeter of the room. This is typically where mainly furniture and equipment
are placed, other than door thresholds. This lighting level should negate any panic by
occupants in the room as they can safely proceed towards an exit, or exit route, while
avoiding any obstructions which might be in the room.
0.5 lux covering
the core area Open areas are any circulation spaces or through routes to an escape route or exit, plus
any room exceeding 60m2 in area. Lift cars are also required to follow this guidance,
as per BS EN 50172: Emergency escape lighting systems, although it is presumed the
Figure 15: Open area compliance border area exclusion does not apply.
36 37
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The fixed seating areas of theatres and cinemas are not treated as ‘open areas’. The
SYSTEM DESIGN | High-risk task areas

SYSTEM DESIGN | Design – Declaration of conformity

Serial number:....................
ceilings are very high which would make such a light level expensive. However, all Design – Declaration of conformity
occupants’ eyes are already adjusted to a low light level. The rows naturally direct
System conforms
people to the aisles which should be treated as ‘defined escape routes’. Emergency BS 5266- (if No, record
lighting along the seat rows should be at least 0.1 lx at 1m from the floor, which is 1: 2011 a deviation)
approximately seat back level. clause
reference Recommendations Yes No N/A
D1 Accurate plans available showing escape
4.13 High-risk task areas 4.2 routes, fire alarm control panel, call-points and fire
extinguishers
This term first appeared in the 1999 edition of the standard and in essence codifies a
common sense approach where a building has hazardous machinery or similar processes D2 Fire safety signs in accordance with
in place. BS 5499-4, and other safety signs in
5.4
accordance with BS ISO 7010, clearly visible and
adequately illuminated
In the event of loss of normal lighting, whether from an electrical fault or fire, such machinery
or processes may need to be manually shut down. Persons moving through these areas 6.7 D3 The luminaires conform to BS EN 60598-2-22
need to avoid the hazards which are presented. This will require a higher level of emergency D4 Luminaires located at following positions:
lighting than normal ‘open areas’. The standard requires a minimum of 10% of the normal Note: Near means within 2m horizontally
a) at each exit door intended to be used in an
lighting level is achieved by the emergency luminaires within half a second, or at least 15 lx.
emergency
b) near stairs so each tread receives direct light, and
Some of the hazardous processes or machinery may have rotating parts. This rotation near any other level change
6.6
must not be ‘frozen’ by the stroboscopic effect of any emergency lighting, so that c) near mandatory emergency exits and safety signs
persons cannot see such a hazard moving. Tungsten/halogen lamps or LEDs would d) at each change of direction and at intersections of
corridors
normally be needed to achieve this and the fast illumination time.
e) outside and near to each final exit
f) near each first aid post
g) near firefighting equipment and call-points
4.14 Additional requirements and considerations D5 At least two luminaires illuminating each
Basement areas, internal stairs and corridors without borrowed light, which are specified 6.3
compartment of the escape route
in Approved Document B and its equivalents, are not highlighted in BS 5266-1:
D5 Additional emergency lighting provided where
Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises. This falls needed to illuminate:
to the risk assessment and would be picked up by the Building Control process for new
and refurbished premises. 6.6.3 a) lift cars
6.6.4 b) moving stairways and walkways
The risk assessment should also identify any other hazards or objects which need c) toilet facilities larger than 8m2 floor area or without
highlighting to assist or warn escaping persons. This might include low beams and 6.6.5
borrowed light and those for disabled use
doorways, large centrally placed handrails or other unusual features, especially in older
6.6.6 d) motor generator, control and plant rooms
or historic buildings.
6.6.7 e) covered car parks
When all specific siting positions have been decided, luminaires to meet the required 9.1 D7 Design duration adequate for the application
levels should be plotted accurately on the design drawings. Errors of just 500mm could D8 Operation and maintenance instructions and a
cause the system to be non-compliant. A declaration of design conformity should 10.6;10.7;
suitable log book produced for retention and use by
Clause 11
be produced in line with the model certificate in Annex F of BS 5266-1. The designer the building occupier
should also provide instructions for operation and servicing of the system in the form of a D9 Illuminance. Escape routes for any use: 1 lx min
manual for handover to the user. on the centre line
5.1; 5.1.2
Open areas above 50m2: 0.5 lx min anywhere in the
core area

Table 5a: Design – Declaration of conformity

38 39
 4 5

5
Deviations from standards
SYSTEM DESIGN | Design – Declaration of conformity

SYSTEM INSTALLATION
(to be entered on Completion Certificate)
Clause number Details of deviation

System installation

Signature of person making design conformity declaration...........................................

For and on behalf of.......................................................... Date.................................

Table 5b: Design – Declaration of conformity

Christian42 – Fotolia.com
A
ll the electrical work needs to be carried out or supervised by ‘competent
persons’ as defined by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Connections to
the lighting circuits should follow BS 7671: 2008 + A1: 2011: Requirements for
electrical installations. IET Wiring Regulations. Seventeenth edition, commonly known as
the IET Wiring Regulations. Installers must have a copy of the designer’s drawing before
starting any installation. Otherwise any errors found later will be their responsibility.

5.1 Self-contained luminaires

These should be wired with the same type of cable as the local lighting circuit, usually
PVC coated twin and earth. The manufacturers’ guidance must be followed for correct
operation. The electrician will need to set the luminaire to ‘maintained’ if specified on the
drawing. It is most important to align luminaires on the correct axis, unless they give an
equal coverage in both directions, such as luminaires based on 2D type fluorescent lamps.
Electricians should also check the luminaire has the correct duration for the purpose.
40 41
 5 5
Depending on the test method decided, key switches should be specified for manual Serial number:....................
SYSTEM INSTALLATION | Central power systems

SYSTEM INSTALLATION | Installation – Declaration of confiormity

testing of a number of luminaires on each floor. These can simulate the loss of supply to Installation – Declaration of conformity
the luminaires and should not be operable without a tool. The commonest type is the ‘fish’ BS 5266- System conforms
key switch. It might be argued that, as these keys are so commonly available, their security 1: 2011 (if No, record
from misuse is partly compromised. clause a deviation)
reference
Recommendations Yes No N/A
IN1 The system installed conforms to the agreed
5.2 Central power systems Clause 5
design
These installations can be quite complex, so installers should have reasonable product
IN2 All non-maintained luminaires fed or controlled
knowledge to complete a competent installation. This can be viewed in a similar way to
6.1 by the final circuit supply of their local normal mains
competency in installing an analogue addressable fire alarm system. lighting
6.4 IN3 Luminaires mounted at least 2m above the floor
The process will have two distinct parts. One covers the panel installation, which will
normally be in the main electrical intake room, unless it is purely a data monitoring panel IN4 Luminaires mounted at a suitable height to
with self-contained luminaires. Monitoring devices will need to be fitted to every final avoid being located in smoke signs in accordance
6.4
with BS ISO 7010, clearly visible and adequately
lighting circuit so that any local lighting failure can be detected. These may be inside the illuminated
panel, so feeds from each circuit can be wired directly.
IN5 Fire safety signs in accordance with BS 5499-4,
5.4 and other safety signs in accordance with BS ISO
The second phase involves the siting of all the slave luminaires and wiring these back 7010, clearly visible and adequately illuminated
to the panel. Again, accurate placement of each slave as per drawings is important and
alignment as needed. Slaves must be checked for compatibility with the panel, as several IN6 The wiring of central power systems has
8.2
adequate fire protection and is appropriately sized
supply voltages are used, as well as working with any test and monitoring facilities. Each
zone fed by a particular lighting circuit must have all the slaves connected to the circuit or IN7 Output voltage range of the central power system
circuits which the panel will power on failure of this supply. is compatible with the supply voltage range of the
8.3.5
luminaries, taking into account supply cable voltage
drop
The fire characteristics of the cables to slaves should have been determined at the
IN8 All plugs and sockets protected against
design stage and should not be less than 1.5mm2 in conductor cross section area. Joints 8.2.12
unauthorised use
should be avoided, but if needed, careful marking with ‘emergency lighting’ and ‘may
be live’ is required as cables will appear dead in most conditions, except during testing. IN9 The system has suitable and appropriate testing
8.3.3
facilities for the specific site
Routing and segregation guidance in BS 5266-1: Emergency lighting. Code of practice
for the emergency lighting of premises should be followed. Where additional mechanical IN10 The equipment manufacturers’ installation and
Clause 11
protection is required, both BS 7671: IEE Wiring Regulations and the lighting standard verification procedures satisfactorily completed
should be consulted. Test switches will not be required around the building as with Clause 8 IN11 The system conforms to BS 7671
self-contained systems because this is normally provided on the panel and is one key
advantage of central power systems. Deviations from standards
(to be entered on Completion Certificate)
After installation, a declaration of conformity should be provided in line with the model Clause number Details of deviation
certificates in Annex F of BS 5266-1: Emergency lighting. Code of practice.

Signature of person making design conformity declaration............................................

For and on behalf of.......................................................... Date...................................

Table 6: Installation – Declaration of conformity (from BS 5266)

42 43
 6 6

6
VERIFICATION AND COMPLETION OF INSTALLATIONS

VERIFICATION AND COMPLETION OF INSTALLATIONS | Verification – Declaration of conformity

Serial number:....................
Verification – Declaration of conformity
System conforms

Verification and completion

BS 5266- (if No, record
1: 2011 a deviation)
clause

of installations
reference Recommendations Yes No N/A
4.2 V1 Plans available and correct
V2 System has a suitable test facility for the
8.3.3
application
V3 All escape route safety signs and firefighting
equipment location signs, and other safety signs
5.4
identified from risk assessment, visible with the normal
lighting extinguished
V4 Luminaires correctly positioned and oriented as
Clause 5
shown on the plans
6.7 and V5 Luminaires conform to BS EN 60598-2-22
Annex C
V6 Luminaires have an appropriate category of
protection against ingress of moisture or foreign
12.3
bodies for their location as specified in the
system design
V7 Luminaires tested and found to operate for their
12.3
full rated duration
V8 Under test conditions, adequate illumination
provided for safe movement on the escape route and

Günter Menzl – Fotolia.com

the open areas. Note: This can be checked by visual
12.3
inspection and checking that the illumination from the
luminaires is not obscured and that minimum design
spacings have been met
12.3 V9 After test, the charging indicators operate correctly
V10 Fire protection of central wiring systems
8.2
satisfactory

U
V11 Emergency circuits correctly segregated from
8.2.6
nlike fire alarm and sprinkler systems, there is no process formally termed other supplies
‘commissioning’, but verification is not optional. The verification recommended V12 Operation and maintenance instructions
is very similar to commissioning in other systems. For larger or more complex 10.6;
together with a suitable log book showing
10.7;
systems, the client may wish the verification process to be completed by a verification test provided for retention and use by the
Clause 11
third party not involved in the design or installation. A verification certificate in line with building occupier
the model certificate in Annex F of BS 5266-1: Emergency lighting. Code of practice Additional recommendations for verification of an existing installation
should be issued afterwards. V13 Building occupier and their staff trained in
10.7 and suitable maintenance, testing and operating
Clause 12 procedures, or a suitable maintenance
6.1 Completion contract agreed
Handover is included within this train of events. The responsible person or their in-house V14 Test records in the log book complete and
Clause 11
engineer should be trained in the use and servicing of the system, including checking of satisfactory
any automatic testing. If a new system, partial system, or major alteration to an existing V15 Luminaires clean and undamaged with lamps in
system is undertaken, then a completion certificate should be issued to the client, together Clause 12
good condition
with the log book. There is a special version of the completion certificate for small
systems, defined as those with up to 25 luminaires.
44 Table 7a: Verification – Declaration of conformity (from BS 5266) 45
 6 6
efficient to mount the luminaire on the ceiling somewhere within 2m of the door. A sign can
VERIFICATION AND COMPLETION OF INSTALLATIONS | Re-certification of existing systems

VERIFICATION AND COMPLETION OF INSTALLATIONS | Common errors in design and installation

System conforms
BS 5266- (if No, record be fixed above the door, so the luminaire now covers both features. A fire alarm call-point
1: 2011 a deviation) will also be illuminated and possibly some fire extinguishers, so three or four points are
clause
reference Recommendations Yes No N/A covered for the price of one.
V16 Original design still valid. Note: If the original Many competent electrical installation companies, accredited by a third party electrical
Clause 6 design is not available, this needs to be recorded
as a deviation organisation for their competency in electrical work, undertake emergency lighting
installation on a casual basis which is sometimes called ‘supply and fit’. The electrical
Deviations from standards company may not have a designer with good knowledge of emergency lighting
(to be entered on Completion Certificate) standards, or even go through any formal design process. Siting and type of unit are
Clause number Details of deviation agreed on an ad hoc basis, as a fitter walks around a building with the client or foreman.
The end result is that the system is unlikely to comply with BS 5266-1 and the client will
not have the required certificates at handover.

Companies taking over existing installations have frequently reported finding fire-rated
cable feeding the supply to self-contained luminaires, especially in public sector buildings.
This might seem to be better than recommended by BS 5266-1. However, it could
prove to be worse than using normal cable. A fire may damage the supply to normal
lights without damaging the supply to the emergency luminaires. The normal lights then
Signature of person making design conformity declaration............................................ fail, but the emergency lights would not come on. Equally problematic is the wiring of
For and on behalf of.......................................................... Date................................... an independent feed from the distribution board to power luminaires, even if only run in
standard cable. This arrangement would also not comply with the guidance and may
Table 7b: Verification – Declaration of conformity (from BS 5266) have similar problems to a fire rated circuit albeit for a shorter time.

Many systems are not fitted with any test facilities. Engineers arriving to service the
6.2 Re-certification of existing systems system for the first time are told by the building owner or manager that this has been
Many premises do not have the correct documentation, if any, for their emergency done previously by switching off the lighting supply at the distribution board. BS 5266
lighting system. This would need to survive critical scrutiny by an auditor, or the fire and has required test facilities for many years, and without these a system is not in
rescue service, particularly after a fire or injury. compliance. If the supply to a lighting circuit is interrupted to make a test possible, an
Even those with existing certificates should consider a full review for a number of reasons: accident could be caused for which the engineer may be blamed. Anyone opening an
• ageing system installed many years ago; electrical distribution panel to operate circuit breakers or remove fuses should also be
• open areas and high risk task areas not covered as certified before 1999; electrically ‘competent’.
• taking over premises from another owner;
• changing the use and layout to a different purpose; and
• review of fire risk assessment recommends it.

BS 5266-1 allows use of a combined checklist and report, Figure G2 in Annex G, for the
verification of the systems above. This can also be used as a completion certificate for
small systems. Figure 17:
This ceiling
luminaire has
6.3 Common errors in design and installation been incorrectly
Luminaires are frequently fitted to walls rather than ceilings, even when they are not mounted above a
acting as signs. Data is not normally available for the coverage provided. Also, more door with an exit
glare may be produced locally, depending on height of mounting. Glare normally only sign stuck on.
occurs if the luminaire is viewed straight on, such as when wall mounted, or at angles
less than 30° out of direct sight.

A luminaire is sometimes placed above a door with an exit sign stuck on it. It then only
acts as a sign, rather than covering the area around the exit. It would be more useful and
46 47
 7 7
7.1 Daily
7
ROUTINE TESTING AND MAINTENANCE

ROUTINE TESTING AND MAINTENANCE | Monthly

Central power panels, or repeat/mimic panels, should be checked to spot any faults
indicated so that corrective action can be taken.

Routine testing Before 2004, when the current guidance was first published, servicing was covered by
BS 5266-1. It was previously recommended to also check if all self-contained luminaires

and maintenance in ‘maintained’ mode were lit. The European standard removed this requirement. This
former requirement was potentially quite onerous for systems containing larger numbers
of maintained luminaires. However, if an area with no natural light has a local lighting
failure, there could be no emergency lighting available either. Maintained luminaires run
their lamps continuously, so may fail at an earlier date than one fitted in a non-maintained
luminaire.

If managers of buildings can incorporate checking by security staff on rounds, or by local

staff awareness training, serious accidents or worse could be avoided. Safety consultants
have reported dealing with injuries on staircases and in basements where just such
failures occurred among their clients. In these cases, large compensation payments were
subsequently paid.

7.2 Monthly
Where automatic testing is available it is
essential that test results are recorded. Fire Protectio
Newer systems may be able to retain this n Associatio
THE UK
’S NATI
ONAL F
n
data for a considerable time and relay it IRE SAF
ETY OR
GANISA
TION

to a building management system (BMS)

or network server. For self-contained
luminaires, key switch devices which
WORKPLACE
simulate the loss of power supply should Fire Safety L
be triggered for a brief period only. These og Book
tests are to determine if the luminaire
functions correctly in the emergency
mode. The duration of the battery is not
being assessed.

All luminaires and internally illuminated

A
dequate testing and maintenance are vital to keep any life safety system in good signs should be checked and cleaned.
order. Even without budget constraints, these measures can often be forgotten The number of luminaires controlled
or carried out at infrequent periods in buildings without a assigned maintenance by each test switch will determine the
contract. As the monthly tests do not involve electrical work unless a failure occurs, it time they are left in emergency mode. Fire Protectio
n Association
is often assigned to a member of staff who may not keep rigorous timing or records. Insufficient test switches will cause
BS 5266-1 now requires that servicing must be guaranteed to occur, by specifying an regular heavy discharging of batteries Figure 18: The FPA’s
automatic test facility where there is any doubt that time intensive manual testing may which could further shorten their Workplace Fire Safety Log Book
not be fully carried out. already limited life. may be used to record test results

Emergency lighting should be checked on a daily basis, and there is a requirement After testing, any repairs or replacement lamps and batteries should be arranged as
for monthly and annual testing and maintenance too. BS 5266-1: Emergency lighting. soon as possible. As some aspects of the work may be subject to the Electricity at Work
Code of practice has Clause 12 covering servicing and refers us to Part 8 for guidance Regulations, only suitably competent persons should be employed. Risk assessments
(BS EN 50172: Emergency escape lighting systems). and suitable measures should be in place for any work carried out on platforms
or ladders.
48 49
 7 All charge indicators should be checked to see if they return to normal when the power 7
is restored after tests or repairs. If generator sets are involved in power for luminaires, the
ROUTINE TESTING AND MAINTENANCE | Annually

ROUTINE TESTING AND MAINTENANCE | Automatic testing systems

guidance in ISO 8528-12: Reciprocating internal combustion engine driven alternating
current generating sets: Emergency power supply to safety services should be followed.
A periodic inspection and test certificate should completed during the sequence and a
copy issued to the occupier for the log book.

7.3 Annually
Previous requirements for six month testing were removed by the current guidance.
These involved partial discharge of batteries dependent on rated duration. Annual testing
is required for every luminaire every year after installation. There is no exemption for one-
or two-year old luminaires or any battery. This avoids the complex tracking required for
the previous arrangements. Again, automatic test results must be recorded.

For manual procedures, test each luminaire as in the monthly procedure, but remove
the power for the full required duration, either one or three hours. Note that if three-hour
fittings are installed in a one-hour occupancy, the full duration should still be tested.

Normal lighting failure might occur during or just after such a test. Therefore, it is advised
to carry these out at periods of lower risk, such as when there will still be good natural
light for some time after completion. This will give time for repairs and some recharging
to occur. Many chargers are able to restore 50-60% of full capacity in only an hour or
two. Full capacity must be achieved within 24h.

Control Universal
The annual test is to establish battery stamina as well as luminaire function. Faulty
or badly blackened lamps should be replaced. When the time has elapsed, any
batteries which fail to illuminate their lamp should be replaced with a new, date marked
battery. As before, systems should be checked they have returned to normal charging
mode afterwards.
Figure 19: This emergency lighting testing system provides central automatic
testing for self-contained and central battery unit emergency lighting systems
BS 5266-1 carries an additional paragraph, clause 12.1, just for battery servicing. It
mainly applies to wet batteries found in large, central power installations, rather than the
short life sealed batteries in self-contained luminaires. The manufacturers’ instructions analysis of large systems should also flag this option. The equipment should meet the
are cited and advice on leak checking and topping up is given. requirements of BS EN 62034.

Again any generators involved should follow ISO 8528-12 and an inspection and As stated earlier, another advantage of modern central power systems is that many
certificate completed and issued. offer an option to easily add auto testing at purchase. Retrofit test systems can
also be provided. These can be added to either type of system, but may be slightly
easier for an existing central power system, or in a building containing a BMS.
7.4 Automatic testing systems This might be worth considering where a self-contained luminaire system has grown
A very important new requirement in BS 5266-1 advises that automatic testing to unmanageable numbers. One factory visited by the author had grown to 5500
systems should be incorporated where the responsible person is unable to ensure self-contained luminaires over decades of expansion. The capital cost of an automatic
that manual testing will be carried out. If a system is comprised of a large number of system may well be soon paid off by the previous annual bill for manual servicing.
self-contained luminaires, it is highly likely that a small number at least will be missed out
during servicing. The options for the testing schedules can be extremely flexible to fit in with the use of the
particular building. Annual tests can be scheduled at Christmas, Easter or any known
Whereas every device in a commercial fire alarm system is constantly monitored for shutdown period to allow full recharging and minimum disruption. The slave luminaires
certain critical faults, self-contained luminaires are fully stand-alone. An excessive failure can be wired so that half are on two identical circuits, sometimes from a split battery
rate is possible in these conditions. This should steer designers and specifiers towards arrangement. As each space now requires two emergency luminaires, one is provided
auto test systems where any large number of luminaires will be needed. Any cost/benefit from each circuit. Testing will always leave one fully functional luminaire in place.
50 51
 7
ROUTINE TESTING AND MAINTENANCE | Emergency lighitng inspection and test certificate

FURTHER INFORMATION
For systems designed to BS 5266-1 and BS EN 50172/BS 5266-8
Warning: Full duration tests involve discharging the batteries, so the emergency lighting
system will not be fully functional until the batteries have had time to recharge. Always carry
out testing at times of minimal risk, or only test alternate luminaires at any one time
System manufacturer Further information
Contact phone number
System installer
Contact phone number
Competent engineer responsible for
verification and annual tests British Standards
Phone number • BS 5266-1: 2011: Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency escape
Site address lighting of premises
• BS 5266-2: 1998: Emergency lighting. Code of practice for electrical low mounted
Responsible person
way guidance systems for emergency use
Date the system was commissioned • BS 5266-5: 1999: Emergency lighting. Specification for component parts of optical
Non-maintained fibre systems
• BS 5266-6: 1999: Emergency lighting. Code of practice for non-electrical low
Non-maintained
luminaires, mounted way guidance systems for emergency use. Photoluminescent systems
Details of the system
mode of operation maintained signs • BS 5499-4: 2000: Safety signs, including fire safety signs: Code of practice for
escape route signing
Maintained
• BS 7671: 2008 + A1: 2011: Requirements for electrical installations IET Wiring
Other Regulations. Seventeenth edition
Is automatic test • BS EN 1838 1999/BS 5266-7:1999: Lighting applications. Emergency lighting
Duration of system ..................hours Y/N
system fitted? • BS EN 50172/BS 5266-8: 2004: Emergency escape lighting systems
Details of additions or modifications to the system or the premises • BS EN 50200: 2006: Method of test for resistance to fire of unprotected small
since original installation cables for use in emergency circuits
Addition or modification Date • BS EN 60598-2-22: 1998 + A2: 2008: Luminaires for Emergency Lighting
• BS ISO 3864- 4: 2011: Graphical symbols – safety colours and safety signs:
Colorimetric and photometric properties of safety sign materials
• BS ISO 7010: 2011: Graphical symbols. Safety colours and safety signs. Registered
safety signs
• BS EN 62034: 2006: Automatic test systems for battery powered emergency
escape lighting
Action to be taken on finding a failure • ISO 8528-12: 1997: Reciprocating internal combustion engine driven alternating
• The supplier of the system or a competent engineer should be contacted to rectify current generating sets: Emergency power supply to safety services
the fault.
• A risk assessment of the failure should be conducted; this should evaluate the
people who will be at increased risk and the level of that risk. Based on this data
and, if necessary, advice from the fire authority, the appropriate action should be
taken.
• Action may be:
to warn occupants to be extra vigilant until the system is rectified;
to initiate extra safety patrols;
to issue torches as a temporary measure; and
in a high risk situation, to limit use of all or part of the building.
Note: Test programmes for identifying early failures can reduce the chances of failure of
two adjacent luminaires at the same time.
Figure 20: Emergency lighting inspection and test certificate
52 53
 drinks or entertainment licence 6 K
INDEX

INDEX
duration, emergency lighting 24 key switch device 47
kitchen 31, 33, 52
E

Index
Kitemark 11
ECA (Electrical Contractors Association) 12
emergency escape lighting 7, 9-10, 31, L
 35, 46, 51 laboratory 25
emergency exit 7 LED cluster 14
England 8-9, 24
LED conversion 11
escalator 28
LED indicator 19
escape route
LED luminaire 16, 21
defined 26
sign 31-32, 51 legislation
A C
Euro-sign 34 ATEX directive 16
alarm areas 28 CE mark 17
European directives 3, 9 Building Regulations 8, 17, 24
annual tests 46, 48-49 CIBSE (Chartered Institution
‘anti-panic’ areas, see open areas of Building Services Engineers) 13 evacuation 11, 20, 24, 31 Construction Products Directive 9
Approved Document B 24, 36 TM12 document 13 examination and treatment room 31 Dangerous Substances and Explosive
approved product 11 cable 11, 19-20, 40, 51 exhibition hall 25 Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 16
art galleries 25 call-point 29, 45 Electricity at Work Regulations 39, 47
atrium spaces 26 car park 3, 31 F EU trading law 11
audit 13, 19 care home 25, 27 F mark 17 Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 8
automatic testing systems 48 central power system 7, 40, 46, 48 factory 25 Fire Precautions Act 1971 8
charge indicator 47 final exit sign 33 Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 9
B charger 14-15, 17, 21 fire alarm control and indicating equipment 31 Fire Safety Regulations (Northern
BAFE (British Approvals Fire Equipment) cinema 19, 25-26, 36 fire risk assessment 44 Ireland) 2010 9
SP 203-4 scheme 12-13 circuit breaker 45 first aid post/first aid room 29, 31 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)
BICC (British Insulated Copper Cables) 19 circulation space 26, 35 flat or maisonette 25
Order 2005 8-9
BMS (building management system 21, 47-48 City & Guilds 13 fluorescent tube 14-15, 27
Work at Height Regulations 15
BRE Trust (Building Research C&G 2382 13 low voltage compact 14
Workplace Directive 89/654 EEC 9
Establishment) 27 C&G 2391 13 four box identification label 18
Workplace Regulations 8-9
base guidance document 10-11 clinic 25
basement area 36 club 25, 27 G library 25
battery 11, 14-21, 24-25, 47-50 college 25 generator set 47 lifetime costs 20
lead 20 common access route 25 glare 19, 29, 44 lift 28, 30-31, 35
lithium ion (Li-ion) 14 common errors in design and installation 44 guesthouse 25 light diffuser 15
nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cad) 14, 21 completion 23, 31, 38, 41-42, 44, 48 light level 16, 26-27
nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) 14, 21 computer server 11 H Lighting Association 11
rechargeable cells 14 concert hall 25 hazardous environment or area 16, 21, 29 Lighting Industry Association 11
boarding school 25 control room 29-31 high-risk task area 30, 36 Lighting Industry Federation 11
borrowed light 6, 30, 36 conversion kit 19 historic building 36 lobby 26
British Standards conversions of mains lighting luminaire 19 hospital 25 log book 42, 47
BS 5266 9-11, 22-26, 31, 33-34, corridor 6, 16, 26-29, 35-36 hotel 25
 36, 40-46, 48, 51 M
BS 5499 31, 34, 51 D I MICC (mineral insulated copper cable) 19
BS 7671 13, 39-40, 51 daily test 46 ICEL (Industry Committee
maintained operation 15
BS EN 1838 7, 10, 26, 29, 34, 51 Declaration of conformity 37-38, 40-41, 43-44 for Emergency Lighting) 11-12, 17, 29
maintenance, routine 20
BS EN 50172 7, 10, 35, 46, 51 Design 37-38 ICEL scheme 1010 12
BS EN 50200 19, 51 Installation 41 material time 7
indicator lamp 17
BS EN 60598-2-22 7, 10, 16, 51 Verification 43-44 industrial premises 25 maximum delay time 33
BS ISO 3864 29, 51 definitions 7 ingress protection (IP) ratings 16 maximum viewing distance 30
BS ISO 7010 34, 51 diffuser 15, 27 installation 12-14, 20, 23, 39-42, 44-45, 48 minimum lighting level 29
family of standards 11 disabled facilities/ invertor 17 monthly test 46-48
building assessment 23 people with mobility impairment 30-31 motor generator 29-30
distribution board 45 J museum 25
downlight 19 junction/intersection 28-29
drawings 25, 36, 40
54 55
 N slave luminaires 21, 40, 49
INDEX

NICEIC (National Inspection Council for sleeping accommodation 25

Electrical Installation Contracting 12 smart self-contained luminaire 15
NSI (National Security Inspectorate) 13 spacing tables 27
non-maintained 7, 15, 18, 47 special school 25
non-residential premises 25 sports hall 25
Northern Ireland 9, 17, 24 spotlight 19
staircase 26, 47
O standby lighting 11
open area 26, 29, 35-36, 44 stroboscopic effect 36
operation, categories of swimming pool 31, 33
combined 18 switch room 30-31
compound 18 switchover device 15
‘M’ maintained 18 system design 23
markings 18 system installation 39
‘NM’ non-maintained 18
satellite 18 T
sustained 18 technical institute 25
testing, routine 46
P theatres 25, 36
panic bar/pad 31 thermoplastic requirements 17
payback time 20 third party approved product 11
petrol filling station 16 third party approved service 12
photoluminescent sign/product 22, 34, 51 toilet facilities 30
photometric data 19 town hall 25
pigmy bulb 14 transverse 27
place of safety 6-7, 30 Twin Towers in New York 22
plans 25
plant room 29-31 U
points of emphasis 29 uninterruptable power supply 11
public house 25 uplighter 26
Pyro (Pyrotenax) 19
V
R verification (and completion) 23, 42
re-certification of existing system 44 verification certificate 42
reception area 26 voice communication system, emergency 31
reflectance surface 27
refuge area 31 W
remote handset 15 Wales 8-9, 24
repeat/mimic panel 46 warehouse 25
restaurant 25 wayfinding system 22
workshop 16, 25
S
SLL (Society of Light and Lighting) 13
SLL Lighting guide 12: Emergency
lighting design guide 13
school 25
self-contained luminaire 12, 15, 17,
 19-21, 39-40, 45-49
self-contained power source 21
self-discharge cycle 20
servicing 13, 17, 20, 23, 36, 42, 46, 48-49
Scotland 9, 17, 24
shops and shopping mall 25-26
signs, escape route and final exit 31, 51
siting 26-27, 29, 36, 40, 45
56
Emergency Lighting Handbook

As a comprehensive introduction to emergency lighting, this Handbook will help

readers develop knowledge and awareness of:

• Legislation, regulations, current standards and code of practice

• Different types and system design of emergency lighting
• Installation
• Testing and certification
• Maintenance

This guide is suitable for any worker whose role requires them to have an
appreciation of the installation and operation of emergency lighting systems
including facilities managers, architects and specifiers, fire officers, building
control officers and building services engineers.

ISBN 978-1-902790-78-7

Fire Protection Association

London Road
Moreton in Marsh
Gloucestershire GL56 0RH

Tel: +44 (0)1608 812 500

Fax: +44 (0)1608 812 501