Emergency lighting and smoke alarms

[Mfctitch]

Morning Gentlemen

Question we are replacing a consumer unit for a landlord and he's been advised by another company to fit
EI164RC smoke alarms and the wireless bases, but I've been told these are being discontinued so we are fitting the AICO EI3024 MULTI-SENSOR FIRE ALARM with the smartlink module. Plus they advised the fitting of emergency lighting, so as this is and old house and the tenants tend to leave the hall and landing lights on we are fitting collingwood WL9212CCS LED BULKHEAD 12.5W with microwave sensor in place of the existing pendant lights.

My questions are

Do I have to do separate paperwork for the lights and the smoke alarms, as well as for the board change or can I include them all as one job on the test sheet?

So that we can test the emergency lights we was thinking of installing 2 grid key switches in line with the upstairs and downstairs lighting circuits I know this would mean all the lights go out during the test but the as the test would be carried out in the daytime I can not see a problem but just checking as of course I'm looking for the easy option.

As for the smoke alarms we are installing a WI412 remote control switch so should be fine there.

As per usual thanks in advance for all and any replies

 

[westward10]

All the necessary requirements and certificates are shown in BS5226 and BS5839:6.

 

[Mfctitch]

All the necessary requirements and certificates are shown in BS5226 and BS5839:6.

Cheers for that I'll look it up
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All the necessary requirements and certificates are shown in BS5226 and BS5839:6.

Just Googled both numbers and neither say that you can or can not use the wiring for the emergency lighting in such a way that when testing, the whole lighting circuit is shut off.
BS5226 just suggests that if you cannot add a key switch then you can just turn off the MCB.

 

[Vortigern]

I think the big problem with testing is the annual test for three hours on EM. lights. If in line with lighting that could be a problem. Usually the convention is to have them turn off on their own as a general principle due to the above. Again with the certificates, they are all different systems. Lights and replacing like for like will attract an MEIWC. Emergency lights require lux testing, or, the data supplied by the manufacturer (photometric data) as to the correct lumens being achieved on the escape path. So you would have to hire a lux meter and note that on a separate cert. for the EM. lights. Smoke alarms such as AICO come with their own cert. So in essence you will issue separate certs. for each system which is again fairly normal. You can get self testing emergency lights. Turning off the MCB would of course switch off all the lights again so back to square on there.

 

[telectrix]

So you would have to hire a lux meter

There's a free app. (or several) for lux meter for your phone. i have one and it compares closely with a professional meter.

 

[Mfctitch]

I think the big problem with testing is the annual test for three hours on EM. lights. If in line with lighting that could be a problem. Usually the convention is to have them turn off on their own as a general principle due to the above. Again with the certificates, they are all different systems. Lights and replacing like for like will attract an MEIWC. Emergency lights require lux testing, or, the data supplied by the manufacturer (photometric data) as to the correct lumens being achieved on the escape path. So you would have to hire a lux meter and note that on a separate cert. for the EM. lights. Smoke alarms such as AICO come with their own cert. So in essence you will issue separate certs. for each system which is again fairly normal. You can get self testing emergency lights. Turning off the MCB would of course switch off all the lights again so back to square on there.

Thanks for your reply as the Lights are Emergency lights I'd assume that the lux level would be correct but failing that I have a LUX app on my phone.
I can't see there being a problem with turning off all the lights as this would be done in the daytime when the tenants were at work so no disruption there. My question was is there a problem or reg saying that I can't do it this way?

 

[westward10]

Cheers for that I'll look it up
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Just Googled both numbers and neither say that you can or can not use the wiring for the emergency lighting in such a way that when testing, the whole lighting circuit is shut off.
BS5226 just suggests that if you cannot add a key switch then you can just turn off the MCB.

Where exactly in BS5226:1 does it state that. You cannot ad hoc a safety system and hope for the best.

 

[Mfctitch]

Where exactly in BS5226:1 does it state that. You cannot ad hoc a safety system and hope for the best.

Monthly emergency lighting checklist
All emergency lighting tests require the mains supply to be switched off, so it is important to plan ahead to avoid disruption.

The monthly check can be conducted by following these steps:

• Switch off the mains to your lighting system.
• Use the specialist key switch to test lighting.
• If you do not have access to a key switch, use the fuse box instead – it should be clearly labelled.
• Go through and check that all emergency lighting is working.
• Once all lights have been checked, restore the mains supply and check that the green LED light is illuminated within the light fittings.
• All lights should be cleaned if dirty or obscured.
• With fluorescent lighting, check for significant areas of black on the lamp and replace if needed.

All fire safety tests should be logged in the fire safety logbook with any further actions required reported. Learn more in our Monthly Check of Emergency Lighting video below.

 

[westward10]

Not sure where that comes from but it isn't BS5226:1. Unless you are installing these systems to specification then you must have and be conversant with the relevant standards. Never ceases to amaze me that electricians have BS7671 but assume they can specify and install safety systems with zero knowledge of the relevant standards.

 

[Vortigern]

I am not sure a lux app on your phone will meet requirements for lux testing of emergency lights. I suggest you use the photometric data from the manufacturer instead if you can't use a properly calibrated lux meter.
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I am not suggesting it is over complicated, but being a safety system it does require, like BS7671, a standard to install, test and cert for. The problem being the cost of those standards at the BSI institute. And you need several of them giving you not much change out of £1k. @telectrix I am not sure about the validity of an app for lux measurement.

 

[Mfctitch]

Not sure where that comes from but it isn't BS5226:1. Unless you are installing these systems to specification then you must have and be conversant with the relevant standards. Never ceases to amaze me that electricians have BS7671 but assume they can specify and install safety systems with zero knowledge of the relevant standards.

Fully understand what you are saying but the smoke alarms and the emergency lights were requested by an outside company who were brought in to advise on the type and position, and in both cases specified equipement of a lower standard than those of which we are installing plus we are installing more lights than the company suggested.

So I'm not concerned about the quality of the fittings that we are installing only as to whether or not there is a reg stating that we can't shut the whole light circuit down when testing the emergency lights. because as stated the test will be carried out at a time so as not to inconvenience the tenants, and just to add this is a 1930's house with 5 tenants not a hotel. so if no one can help us find a reg or come up with a reason why we can't implement the system as I've stated the just purely for the ease of installation and the cost we will put an inline key grid switch in place.

 

[westward10]

That's fine, so they must have given you specification. All you need to do is install and provide certification in compliance with BS5226:1.