Emergency lights are self-contained units that are wired into the mains, but have the benefit of battery backup which enables them to remain on should the mains power fail. The batteries can either be carried within the body of the individual light or accessed by lights via an independent wired circuit. The batteries are kept charged via the mains.
The testing regime
In-house weekly
A flick test to make sure the emergency light activates record in the Fire Alarm Log Book.
Annually
Engineer visit to undertake a full 3hr test and to report faults and certificate findings, and submit quotes for repairs if any. Where possible this test should be carried out, outside of normal operational hours allowing the units time to recharge once they have completed their drain down.
All of our emergency lighting systems conform to the recommendations in BS 5266. With Churches Fire, we guarantee to advise on the best quality products that adhere to British Standards.
Since 2005, and the introduction of the Fire Regulation Reform Order, the legal imperative for installing emergency lighting systems is the same as for fire alarm systems and fire fighting equipment.
What the test includes
- 3 hours Emergency Lighting Test drain down test
- Lighting Level Assessment
- Inspection of Emergency Lighting Luminaire lamps and batteries
- Cleaning of Emergency Lighting Luminaires
- Inspection of Emergency Signage
- Maintaining Emergency Lighting Log Book
- Emergency Lighting Test Certificate
Our Emergency Light Testing service will highlight any concerns or defects that need to be rectified, so that you can keep your property, employees and customers safe.
The Emergency Light Testing service, will ensure your system is BS 5266 compliant, we provide annual inspections and duration testing, as well as monthly examinations and ad-hoc checks, no matter how big or small your business and property is.
How long will it take to complete the test?
An Emergency lighting test drain down will take up to 3 hours if all standby batteries are working and correct, this is in line with regulations.
Will all my lights go off?
This will be dependent upon test key facilities are your site, a lot of sites have fish key switches allowing our engineer to leave your main lights on during the test, however if there is no test facility the lighting ring will need to turned off at the fuse board, which we will require access to.
How often do I need to test the lights?
A full emergency light drain down test is required once a year this will be certificated, however the responsible person should perform a flick test every week and 30 minute test once a month.
How long do the batteries last in my lights?
This can depend upon the size of the lighting unit and how frequently the battery back up has been used, it is recommended that batteries in Emergency lighting last 3 years and will then require replacement.
