BS 5266 Pt1

[Nev Roberts]

Would someone like to offer an opinion on the following,

The need to provide a means of simulating a circuit failure on a EL system that is several years old. The system has been out of action, and a new tenant has taken up the lease.There is no means, other that isolator operation, to carry out the test.  However a contractor has supplied a certificate confirming that the system is designed, installed and tested in accordance with BS7671?

Should this system, by now, be fitted with a means of simulating a failure, following the inspection, and, how does one reconcile the information given on the certificate.  Also, the certificate recommends a frequency of inspection of three years?

[Graeme]

Each emergency lighting system should have a suitable means of simulating failure of 240v supply for test purposes.
I.e a 20amp double pole keyswitch etc.

The lights are recommended to be tested to their full duration every three years but you also have Monthly where each one is tested long enough to see it operates and six monthly for 1 hour duration.
also daily which should be done by yourself to make sure all maintained fittings are still lit.
You could do the monthly ones if you had a keyswitch.

[Allen Higginson]

Is it not one hour (or 20 mins if a one hour duration unit))  duration six monthly until three years then full duration tests once a year?

[jayjay]

Regarding the testing You need to check the BS EN 50172:2004  BS 5266-8:2004 document.

This now states the following (my brackets)

ANNUALLY
Each luminaire and internally illuminated sign shall be tested (operated) as for the monthly test but for its full rated duration in accordance with the manufacturer's information.

There is no reference to  three years in this latest standard.

[Nev Roberts]

Thank you all for your help and comments. To add to this, what, in your collective opinion, is a reasonable time in which to expect the simulated failure  (fish key Boxes) to be provided for test purposes, and are these are what is refered to as automatic testing devices in section 7.1 in Part 8.

[Graeme]

The fish keys are MK and they are manual switches.There are timer switches available with an option of 10 mins -3hr tests which will then reset themselves.

Im going by 5266-1 for testing.

[colin todd]

No, automatic testing is a sexy facility whereby the units test themselves automatically, and all you need do is walk round and check the LEDs, or if you want to be really sexy you can bring the info back to a central processor.

[colin todd]

Graeme, in practice, you can use Part 8 now instead of Part 1

[Graeme]

No, automatic testing is a sexy facility whereby the units test themselves automatically, and all you need do is walk round and check the LEDs, or if you want to be really sexy you can bring the info back to a central processor.

like this one

http://www.advancedelectronics.co.uk/AdvelHome.htm

[Graeme]

Graeme, in practice, you can use Part 8 now instead of Part 1

Thanks Colin.

Spent a fotune recently on cop,s and part 8 was not in the bundle.