MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Every emergency lighting system installed in a building must be maintained and be inspected by a competent person at least once yearly. The routine inspection must be documented, and records kept on-site where the emergency lighting is installed.
Overview of Emergency Lighting Maintenance Services
The system must also be tested monthly by the occupier and all lighting points tested over a 12-month period. These tests must also be well documented, and any failures rectified as soon as possible. If any building works is instigated a review of the emergency lighting system must be undertaken by your fire risk assessor and the recommendation implemented within a reasonable time. Third-party accreditation is also widely recommended and advised in the fire safety order. The standard of system installed must be determined by your fire risk assessor not your emergency lighting engineer, as too many times there is an over-provision recommended. A point to consider is that any fire safety measures recommended, must have a cost versa risk on a proportionate scale.
Frequently Asked Questions about Emergency Lighting Maintenance
Below you will find answers to commonly asked questions.
Annually by a competent electrician and monthly visual by the occupier to ensure lighting units are working correctly
Workplaces where there is no borrowed light require emergency lighting to all escape routes to BS 5266.
A maintained system is where the lights remain on permanently, these systems are usual in places in entertainment premises such as clubs, theatres, cinemas, pubs etc. Non maintained is where the lighting units are off until the mains electrical supply is cut off.
Some systems have a ‘fish’ key which is inserted in an electrical switch close to the units. Emergency lighting points can usually be identified with a bright green or red illuminate inside the unit that shines permanently.