Are you up to date with the code of practice for emergency lighting? Neil Baldwin, commercial director of ESP Ltd takes a look at the revisions to BS5266-1 2016 highlighting some of the main changes to the standard.
BS 5266-1:2016 gives detailed guidance on the application and practice of emergency lighting. The standard’s recommendations have been drawn up to encourage uniformity of application, based on providing adequate safety to people in the event that normal lighting is interrupted.
The standard aims to promote a wider understanding of the different types of emergency lighting system that can be used and give guidance on how different systems can be correctly applied to different categories of premises with varied requirements.
The standard has been written for two audiences. Lighting engineers and electrical contractors who need to protect building occupants from the hazards identified by risk assessments. The standard gives guidance on both new and existing installations to meet current requirements.
The standard is also designed to give confidence to premises’ owners, landlords and employers that they are meeting their legal requirements regarding emergency lighting. As such it is written for responsible persons for the following types of premises:
- Premises used as sleeping accommodation which includes hospitals, care homes, hotels, guest houses, certain clubs, colleges and boarding schools.
- Non-residential premises used for treatment or care such as special schools, clinics and similar premises.
- Non-residential premises used for recreation such as theatres, cinemas, concert halls, exhibition halls, sports halls, public houses and restaurants.
- Non-residential premises used for teaching, training and research and offices. This includes schools, colleges, technical institutes and laboratories.
- Non-residential public premises such town halls, libraries, shops, shopping malls, art galleries and museums.
- Sports stadia; covered car parks.
- Industrial premises used for manufacture, processing or storage of products such as factories, workshops, warehouses and similar establishments.
The standard also applies to common access routes within blocks of flats or maisonettes.
What does the standard cover?
This part of BS 5266 gives recommendations and guidance on the factors that need to be considered in the design, installation and wiring of electrical emergency escape lighting systems to provide the lighting performance needed for safe movement of people in the event of the supply to normal lighting failing. It also gives recommendations for lighting in areas with fixed seating.
How has the standard changed since the 2011 version was published?
This revision aligns with the European emergency lighting luminous requirement specification standard, BS EN 1838:2013, and extends the scope of the existing standard by:
Providing guidance on the application and practice of emergency lighting. It highlights that risk assessments are needed for all premises. Also that the risk assessment identifies the risk to people entering a premises and that the measures the assessor is required to take include the provision of safe means of escape taking into account the needs of people with disabilities including visual impairment.
-Covering high risk task lighting to provide illumination for the safety of people involved in potentially dangerous processes or situations, to enable proper shut-down procedures for the safety of the operator and other occupants of the premises.
- Providing guidance on the implementation of requirements and solutions, particularly on suitability and energy usage.
- Providing guidance on election and planning the scheme of required equipment.
- Including reference to development of new system types.
- Including guidance on illumination of external 'open balcony' approaches to flats/maisonettes within blocks.
- Including guidance on illumination of swimming areas within swimming pools.
- Adding guidance on the installation process, testing and commissioning.
The update was required to reflect the development and changes of national and international standards, but also to reflect the practice of allowing people to stay in premised in case of power supply failures rather than evacuation them unnecessarily.
Among the most significant changes within the revised standard are the following:
‘Stay Put’ Policy
Whilst emergency lighting recommendations are, primarily, intended to contribute to the safe evacuation of buildings on loss of the normal lighting, for some premises an immediate evacuation of all occupants may not be the most appropriate option in the event of a power supply interruption.
In premises occupied by unwell, infirm or vulnerable people - such as care or nursing homes – evacuation, in case of mains failure, may be difficult and involve safety risks. Therefore the risk assessment may determine that it is more appropriate for the occupants to remain in the building for extended periods on loss of the normal lighting supply. As a result the revised edition of BS5266-1 includes recommendations and guidance for a ‘stay put’ strategy. For some premises, particularly those in locations vulnerable to frequent power supply interruptions, a ‘stay put’ strategy may be the most appropriate option. However, where premises implement such a system, the safety of persons remaining in the premises must not be compromised.
Emergency Safety Lighting
To provide a safe environment for those who remain in the building, higher levels of illuminance and additional signage may need to be provided in particular areas or rooms. Lighting provided for such purposes is defined as Emergency Safety Lighting in BS5288-11 and should satisfy the following recommendations:
It should provide a minimum illuminance of 1 lux over the floor area that people may need to cross, although based on risk assessment, higher levels may be needed.
- Escape route and other safety signs should comply with the relevant clauses in the standard. For example, an escape route sign designated as E001 in BS EN ISO 7010:2012+A5 should be used with the appropriate directional arrow in accordance with Table 1 of BS 5499-4:2013.
Fire Risk Assessment
In the past the relevant fire officer used to issue a fire certificate, but this has now been changed and it is now a legal requirement for the end user to do a full site specific risk assessment. They have a duty of care to ensure full compliance and this is a 5-fold process:
- Identify fire hazards
- Identify people at risk
- Evaluate the risk
- Record all findings
- Keep assessment under annual review
Although BS5266 covers emergency lighting, it should be noted that other documents should be considered such as Approved Document B and Approved Document M, as well as the Equality Act [DDA] and BS9999 (Fire Safety in Buildings). These should be read in conjunction as these documents also cover emergency lighting and fire safety. You should also check the government guidance documents available on www.communities.gov.uk then search fire safety.
Verifying existing premises
Where valid emergency lighting system documentation cannot be provided for an existing installation, such as the original completion certificates, the installation should be inspected for compliance with current emergency lighting standards and a certificate of verification should be completed and supplied to the owner/occupier of the premises. This is designed to provide feedback to the owner/occupier of the premises, on the existing system; identifying any deviations present and recommending the actions necessary to address them.
The completed verification certificate and associated documentation such as the log book and the records of remedial works will then provide a substitute system of documentation that may be used, when necessary, to provide evidence of compliance with current lighting standards.
Article can be found on pages 35 & 36: https://content.yudu.com/web/69r/0A19ww8/EWSept2018/html/index.html?page=34&origin=reader