Linsheng , Emergency Escape Lighting: What To Test?

The Government Guide (Fire Safety Risk Assessment: Offices and Stores, page 101) stipulates that all emergency escape lighting systems should be regularly tested and properly maintained to the appropriate standard (ie BS 5266 – Code of Practice for House Emergency Lighting). Traditionally such tests have been performed manually, but as noted above, emergency luminaires can be equipped with self-checking facilities.

Depending on the type of installation, trained employees should be able to perform most of the routine testing themselves. Since the test method will vary, there may be some doubts, in which case it is recommended to seek advice from suppliers or other qualified personnel.

A typical test is a key operated switch located near the main fuse board or adjacent to the adjacent light switch. This is also known as the “key” switch because it is designed to test emergency lights while preventing unauthorized operation of the test switches.

linsheng    stated that the test usually includes the following:

If a central power supply system with subordinate luminaires is installed, the central control is visually inspected daily;

Monthly functional testing by operating the test facility for a period of time to ensure that each emergency light is illuminated; and

Full discharge test every year to ensure that the lamp is lit during the entire discharge (usually 3 hours) and the battery is being recharged

Special care is required after a full discharge test. The battery typically takes 24 hours to recharge and should not reoccupy the house until the emergency lighting system is fully operational, unless other arrangements have been made.

It is appropriate to record all tests in the fire safety log.

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