FireNet Community
THE REGULATORY REFORM (FIRE SAFETY) ORDER 2005 => Q & A => Topic started by: hrr on April 11, 2008, 01:54:05 PM
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I have read conflicting info as to whether it should be checked monthly, 6 monthly and 3 yearly , and other info saying the 6 monthly test is now not needed , which is correct ?
Also can anyone be nominated as the responsible person to do the 3 yearly tests? or do they need specific qualifications ?
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I have read conflicting info as to whether it should be checked monthly, 6 monthly and 3 yearly , and other info saying the 6 monthly test is now not needed , which is correct ?
Also can anyone be nominated as the responsible person to do the 3 yearly tests? or do they need specific qualifications ?
Emergency Lighting Testing & Maintenance
You must ensure that regular checks and periodic servicing and maintenance is carried out whatever the size of the premises and any defects put right as quickly as possible.
You, or a competent person nominated by you, can carry out certain checks and routine maintenance work. A competent person is someone who has the necessary training or experience, access to the requisite tools, equipment and information, and is capable of carrying out a defined task.
Maintenance may need to be carried out by a competent service engineer.
Where contractors are used, third party certification is one method where a reasonable assurance of quality of work and competence can be achieved.
It is recommended that checks and tests are carried out as follows.
Daily Check
All safety lighting units will have a visual indicator, usually a small red lamp, which, when functioning normally, will be illuminated. This indicates that the unit battery is receiving a constant electrical charge from the mains. This indicator lamp should be checked daily for operation. This simple check can be undertaken by staff who routinely work in a particular area for units in that area.
Any defects should be reported immediately for remedial attention.
Monthly Check
Switch on in the emergency mode by operating the unit’s test facility. If an integrated test facility is not provided then the sub circuit (not the mains supply) for that particular area should be interrupted for a period sufficient for all units to be checked that they are present, clean and functioning correctly.
At the end of the test the supply should be restored and a final check of each unit to ensure that the mains supply indicator lamp is operating normally.
The date and results of the test should be recorded and any defects reported for immediate remedial attention.
Six Monthly Check
Each unit should be tested as for the monthly check except that the period should be 1 hour for a 3 hour unit and 15 minutes for a 1 hour unit.
The date and results of the test should be recorded and any defects reported for immediate remedial attention.
Annual Check
Each unit should be tested as for the monthly check except that the period should be as per the full battery duration of the unit. This can be between 1 and 3 hours.
The date and results of the test should be recorded and any defects reported for immediate remedial attention.
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how do you tell what the battery duration of the unit should be ?
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Nearlythere
Didnt the 2004 update to BS5266 eliminate the 6 monthly checks (even the special arrangements for new installations) and just leave a monthly check test and an annual full duration test?
That was my understanding- but I may be wrong.
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As far as I am aware the only tests now recommended are the monthly functional test, and the annual discharge test.
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Ricardo, how long is the annual test ? 1hour ?
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Ricardo, how long is the annual test ? 1hour ?
hrr, I dont have a copy of the BS at hand at the moment, but as I recall, all luminaires should be tested to their "full rated duration" on an annual basis, therefore a one hour emergency lighting unit would be tested for one hour, and a three hour EL, would recieve a three hour test.
I am sure the BS 5266-8 states that care should be taken to ensure that full duration tests are carried out at a time that any risks to occupants of a premises is minimised. Ideally the test should be carried out at a time when the premises can be devoid of emergency escape lighting for 24 hours (recharge time of the batteries)
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Thanks but how do you tell if its rated at 1 hour or 3?
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The six monthly test is indeed now defunct except in the eyes of maintenance contractors who can't be bothered to keep abreast of guidance changes, contractors not wishing to loose the income from the test & E/L manufacturers who can't be bothered to update the booklets they include with their fittings.
Fire Protection contractors wishing to screw as much out of customers as possible often do three monthly duration tests when doing fire alarm service visits
Old pre 2004 intervals:Daily visual, Monthly function, Six monthly partial duration, Full duration on third year after install, then annually thereafter
Current intervals:Daily visual, Monthly function, Annual full duration
In theory all the tests could be done 'in house' with an electrician only required if a unit fails, but whilst this is simple for the daily & monthly tests, it's not often time practical for the annual one to be done by site staff.
Despite references in guidance, most fittings now in service are of the 3 hour duration, regardless of whether the application requires this.
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Thanks but how do you tell if its rated at 1 hour or 3?
you would have to physically look at all the units and look for a sticker that will tell you. Most fittings are 3hr so will need a 3hr duration test once a year.
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The six monthly test is indeed now defunct except in the eyes of maintenance contractors who can't be bothered to keep abreast of guidance changes, contractors not wishing to loose the income from the test & E/L manufacturers who can't be bothered to update the booklets they include with their fittings.
Fire Protection contractors wishing to screw as much out of customers as possible often do three monthly duration tests when doing fire alarm service visits
Old pre 2004 intervals:Daily visual, Monthly function, Six monthly partial duration, Full duration on third year after install, then annually thereafter
Current intervals:Daily visual, Monthly function, Annual full duration
In theory all the tests could be done 'in house' with an electrician only required if a unit fails, but whilst this is simple for the daily & monthly tests, it's not often time practical for the annual one to be done by site staff.
Despite references in guidance, most fittings now in service are of the 3 hour duration, regardless of whether the application requires this.
AnthonyB, I've noticed from many of your posts that it seems that you don't think much of contractors. Was you bitten by one as a small child?
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Thanks but how do you tell if its rated at 1 hour or 3?
Quite often the part number might give you an idea i.e it might include: 1M or 1NM or 3M or 3NM (1= 1hour, 3= 3hour, M=maintained, NM= non-maintained)
p.s. to older members - Whatever happened to good old Sustained?
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........Despite references in guidance, most fittings now in service are of the 3 hour duration, regardless of whether the application requires this.
The only difference for a manufacturer between a 1Hr unit and a 3Hr unit is the standby battery size and cost. The difference in cost these days would only be a £1 or £2. Having just a 3Hr version saves on stocking requirements for manufacturers/distributors/installers and the extra stocking costs for two versions would wipe out the minimal battery cost saving. Obviously it doesn't matter if you install a 3Hr version in a 1Hr application. I've seen approved 3Hr non-maintained units for less than £10 each!
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Despite references in guidance, most fittings now in service are of the 3 hour duration, regardless of whether the application requires this.
AnthonyB, I've noticed from many of your posts that it seems that you don't think much of contractors. Was you bitten by one as a small child?
LOL! It would seem that way!
Sadly it is because in a substantial numbers of premises we inspect we find contractors giving out of date advice or requiring uneccessary maintenance checks - if it was only once in a blue moon it wouldn't be as bad.
Now if the occupier took a risk based decision to go over & above the recommended norm then thats fine, but that is so rarely the case I've only seen it once.
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Nearlythere
Didnt the 2004 update to BS5266 eliminate the 6 monthly checks (even the special arrangements for new installations) and just leave a monthly check test and an annual full duration test?
That was my understanding- but I may be wrong.
No, you are not wrong, I am just a pratt. Fell for the glossy brochure instead of reading the white paper.
The 6 monthly is kaputt. Anyway, good to see you are reading my posts.
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Hi guys,
Can I just add that in respect of New Installed Systems, the BS5266 1999 and the updated 2004 made a more robust certification process of the E/L system, I feel it is worth pointing out that any certification of installation paperwork of a new system, (or indeed any add-on to existing) is also kept with the record of testing in the dedicated fire log book for scrutiny etc by any interested parties, (FRS etc), its also worth keeping to confirm the type or standard of E/L system installed in your building, battery duration of the units etc, its also handy for any manufacturer or installers defects at a later stage, apologies for distorting the original question a tad..
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Sadly it is because in a substantial numbers of premises we inspect we find contractors giving out of date advice or requiring uneccessary maintenance checks - if it was only once in a blue moon it wouldn't be as bad.
You are obviously getting current experience of this sort of problem.
In the days that I did this sort of work, we prided ourselves in keeping in touch with current requirements, even if it did mean we could offer the customer a potential reduction in servicing costs.
The strange thing was that most of our customers would actually say 'let's keep it as it is and do more than the minimum. We've budgeted for it anyway and the accountants won't praise us for having money left over at the end of the financial year. And if we have unspent money, they'll only reduce our budget for next year anyway.'
You can probably guess from this that most of our customers were local authorities and it was 'only' council tax payers money that was being spent!
In the end we could only just shrug our shoulders and do what you were told. However, someone looking at the situation from the outside, would rightly say that more than necessary servicing was being carried out. However this was actually not the contractor's fault.
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If the customer decides to deliberately 'gold plate' their PPM regime that's great & not a problem - as long as it is a correctly informed choice, which is the problem.
Some places do deliberately overdo it to be on the safe side - a hospital I've just FRA's has basic services on extinguishers every quarter even though they know the minimum is only annual as it's important the kit works fully
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Wiz
Sustained is still going strong, but nowadays it's called "combined non-maintained".
Each emergency light should have label iside which gives the duration.
On the subject of the daily check, if you read the BS carefully, it only applies to central battery systems.
Self-contained emergency fittings do not need a daily check.
(BS 5266-8:2004 7.2.2. says "DAILY: Indicators of CENTRAL POWER SUPPLY shall be visually inspected for correct operation")
This is because the central battery is very critical - lose that and you have no emergency lighting at all. Lose one emergency light and you have lost 1 out of the total.
Chris
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Wiz
Sustained is still going strong, but nowadays it's called "combined non-maintained".
Each emergency light should have label iside which gives the duration.
On the subject of the daily check, if you read the BS carefully, it only applies to central battery systems.
Self-contained emergency fittings do not need a daily check.
(BS 5266-8:2004 7.2.2. says "DAILY: Indicators of CENTRAL POWER SUPPLY shall be visually inspected for correct operation")
This is because the central battery is very critical - lose that and you have no emergency lighting at all. Lose one emergency light and you have lost 1 out of the total.
Chris
Most of our central battery units , were linked to the fire alarm , to monitor fault conditions
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Can someone just clarify the situation for me.
I am not a qualified electrician but have been a fire alarm engineer for many years and have always tested emergency lighting.
I now understand that I only need do the monthly check and a full duration anual test.
Am I qualified under BS, being, I suppose, a competant person to sign a completion certificate for the full duration test.
I am under the impression that this can only be done by a qualified electrician, or am I mistaken and this only refers to a new install.
Dave
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Can someone just clarify the situation for me.
I am not a qualified electrician but have been a fire alarm engineer for many years and have always tested emergency lighting.
I now understand that I only need do the monthly check and a full duration anual test.
Am I qualified under BS, being, I suppose, a competant person to sign a completion certificate for the full duration test.
I am under the impression that this can only be done by a qualified electrician, or am I mistaken and this only refers to a new install.
Dave
The monthy and annual user tests can be done by an appropriately trained competant person as it does not involve going into the bowls of the units. This is different to inspecting and repairing unit components which should be undertaken by a person with the appropriate level of competancy and this to me means an electrician. With the cost of lighting units nowadays it is probably more cost effective to replace the unit than try and identify a problem.
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Daily Check
All safety lighting units will have a visual indicator, usually a small red lamp, which, when functioning normally, will be illuminated. This indicates that the unit battery is receiving a constant electrical charge from the mains. This indicator lamp should be checked daily for operation. This simple check can be undertaken by staff who routinely work in a particular area for units in that area.
Any defects should be reported immediately for remedial attention.
Lets have a bit of realism here, a daily check of units may well be included as a disclaimer by manufacturers, installers or compilers of standards but is not reasonably practicable and would not stand up in court as such. Did you check your units in your workplace today?.....No.
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Daily Check
All safety lighting units will have a visual indicator, usually a small red lamp, which, when functioning normally, will be illuminated. This indicates that the unit battery is receiving a constant electrical charge from the mains. This indicator lamp should be checked daily for operation. This simple check can be undertaken by staff who routinely work in a particular area for units in that area.
Any defects should be reported immediately for remedial attention.
Lets have a bit of realism here, a daily check of units may well be included as a disclaimer by manufacturers, installers or compilers of standards but is not reasonably practicable and would not stand up in court as such. Did you check your units in your workplace today?.....No.
A disclaim of what zimmy?
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Problem is the you can't always see the led on some units, depending on how and where they are installed.
These regululations always apply ok to a small unit of a few luminairs but get very complicated in a large manufacturing building where the numbers can run into the hundreds, a daily check could take all day!
Dave
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Does anybody have the specific extract from the latest version of Part 8 which states that the 6 monthly test has been dispensed with?
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Not sure it's says its despensed with, it just isn't there. But happy to confirm that when inspecting I don't expect to see 6 monthly.
Biggest problem is that some companies aren't telling building operators and still coming out 6 monthly and charging for unnecessary work.
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The six monthly test was removed in the 2004 edition of the standard and prior to that it applied only to new fittings in the frist couple of years to ensure batteries did not develop memory effect. This has become less of an issue with more modern battert tecnology, NICAD batteries are less common now.
If you dont want to buy the standard you can look it up free of charge in your local library, alternatively ICEL do a free concise guide available for download. Many companies have made a killing by over testing emergency lighting for years, though to be fair some do present their reasons for doing so and point out it exceeds the BS recommendations.
http://www.icel.co.uk/files/docs/icel-1006-emergency-lighting-design-guide-hyp-10-1-2013-pdf-1360669544.pdf
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Thanks for the above link Kurnal, one question I have relates to the positioning and type of test facility. I recently was asked about testing frequencies and during the chat noticed the test switches were all normal light switches and all mounted next to the lamp above doors.
They have to stand on steps on the other side of the door opening and hope no one comes through as some "couldn't be wedged".
Ignoring the obvious crazy safety issues, my question is what are the requirements for test key switches (i.e. switch type) and their location - is there a standard that must be adhered to? I always assumed they must be accessible and correct test key switch type.
I advised her there were issues and to get them seen to asap as judging from what was in view there were potentially wiring issues to be dealt with too but I'd like to know how I can back up my opinion.
Forgive my ignorance but it's not my field!
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Daily Check
All safety lighting units will have a visual indicator, usually a small red lamp, which, when functioning normally, will be illuminated. This indicates that the unit battery is receiving a constant electrical charge from the mains. This indicator lamp should be checked daily for operation. This simple check can be undertaken by staff who routinely work in a particular area for units in that area.
Any defects should be reported immediately for remedial attention.
Lets have a bit of realism here, a daily check of units may well be included as a disclaimer by manufacturers, installers or compilers of standards but is not reasonably practicable and would not stand up in court as such. Did you check your units in your workplace today?.....No.
No wonder people get confused - on the DAILY maintenance checklist in the guides one of the questions is: 'Is emergency lighting and sign lighting working correctly?'!!!!!!!!!!!! (See page 114 of Offices/Shops guide) :-X
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I thought the daily visual check of the LED had gone? How is this practical when you have a large premises with thousands of units to be checked every day? ???
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Daily. The indicators of a central power supply shall be visually inspected for correct operation. This is a visual inspection of indicators to identify that the system is in a ready condition and does not require a test of operation.
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Daily. The indicators of a central power supply shall be visually inspected for correct operation. This is a visual inspection of indicators to identify that the system is in a ready condition and does not require a test of operation.
"Central Power Supply" implies that this only relates to the status indicators on the battery & charging cabinet of a Central Battery EL system.