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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Technical Advice => Topic started by: Davo on May 20, 2009, 04:09:44 PM

Title: EL- how old is this fitting?
Post by: Davo on May 20, 2009, 04:09:44 PM
Ladies and Gents

The following spotted in lots of our premises
Genlite GG/8W/3NM

looks old, bulky, light grey oblong plastic cover cuts out a lot of light

Would I be right to recommend gradual replacement of such, say five year plan? ???

davo
Title: Re: EL- how old is this fitting?
Post by: nearlythere on May 20, 2009, 04:14:56 PM
Ladies and Gents

The following spotted in lots of our premises
Genlite GG/8W/3NM

looks old, bulky, light grey oblong plastic cover cuts out a lot of light

Would I be right to recommend gradual replacement of such, say five year plan? ???

davo
Do they pass 6 monthly and annual user tests and servicing?
Title: Re: EL- how old is this fitting?
Post by: Graeme on May 20, 2009, 04:44:16 PM
Most will work but how long for is the one to look for
Title: Re: EL- how old is this fitting?
Post by: AnthonyB on May 20, 2009, 07:21:44 PM
Photo would help - on older fittings the diffusers get more opaque & even browned with age - just because it lights up on the monthly & annual tests (no 6 month test anymore since 2004) doesn't mean it's producing the lighting output it should any more - suggest a light meter and out of hours test.

If it doesn't do the job then phased replacement unless the risk left by the fittings is such a faster action plan time scale is required
Title: Re: EL- how old is this fitting?
Post by: kurnal on May 26, 2009, 10:58:37 PM
You are welcome to borrow my lightmeter Davo if you want to conduct a realistic test. But which standard would you apply?
And whilst the BS5266 (Which edition?) sets the benchmark standard to which you should aspire - how is the building used, by whom, at what time and what are the lighting conditions?  Is the level of illumination reasonably even along the route? Are points of emphasis covered?

Since you can expect 20% of batteries to fail every year a 5 year plan is eminently reasonable- the trouble is you may end up just replacing old units by similar in the same positions with the same problems ( sub circuit control, lack of test switches, siting to the old 0.2 Lux standard) rather than the newer approach of idenifying and covering the points of emphasis then filling in to an even 1 lux standard.