We are pleased to make available for download the following document, issued by the Local Government Association, entitled “Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats”. It’s an excellent document, aimed at helping housing providers, landlords and managing agents to understand their responsibilities regarding the provision of adequate fire safety.
<< Click to download “Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats” document as a PDF >>
Key points relating to emergency lighting
The following excerpts are taken from the guide and relate specifically to lighting:
“Adequate artificial lighting and, where necessary, emergency escape lighting should be provided in common escape routes, such as corridors, lobbies and stairways, to enable residents and visitors to make their way safely out of the building.”
“Emergency escape lighting should conform to the recommendations and requirements of the relevant parts of BS 5266. It should provide illumination for three hours in the event of power failure.”
“One or more test switches should be provided, so that the emergency escape lighting can be tested every month by simulating failure of the normal power supply to the luminaires without the need to isolate normal lighting circuits.”
“Unless the emergency lighting is of the self-testing type, there will be a need to test each fitting periodically. In most cases, the testing involved comprises the following.”
“A monthly, functional test using a suitable test facility – the purpose of this is simply to establish by switching from the normal to the standby supply that the fitting has not failed. This is a quick, simple test that can easily be undertaken by, for example, housing officers, or indeed as part of value added service from contractors who visit regularly.
“A full duration discharge test once a year – the purpose of this is to confirm that the batteries are still capable of supplying the fitting for long enough.
“Care should be taken not to leave a building entirely without escape lighting while batteries recharge after a test.”
The “hidden cost” of emergency lighting
What is made perfectly clear in the guide is the requirement for
emergency lighting, and also that it is regularly tested. Testing is a “hidden cost” in the provision of emergency lighting, which can cost a borough or housing authority thousands of pounds a year in labour.
The last point, that a building should not be left without escape lighting while batteries recharge after a test, can be particularly onerous as most emergency lighting systems offer only three hours emergency illumination – what should you do? Evacuate a building?
Commulite – simply smarter
The Commulite system has many advantages to offer registered social landlords, being as it is the ONLY communal and emergency lighting system that was designed specifically for social housing. You can read more about the energy savings of the ultra efficient lighting, the versatility of the system, the zero-maintenance guarantee and more on our website, but there are two key features that are worth mentioning here:
Remote testing
Our optional remote monitoring system enables you to both test and control the system without even visiting the site. It will also data log all tests for emergency light testing compliancy, and send text alerts or emails to your nominated personnel in the event of any change in status.
Full compliance – guaranteed
The Commulite systems provides
emergency lighting for over nine hours instead of the normal three, meaning you always have spare emergency capability, even after a full three hour test.
The best advice we can offer social landlords regarding communal and emergency lighting? Call Commulite! 01277 600300 or email us.
