Minimum requirements for installing emergency lighting.

[Thomas Brookes]

I have been asked this  question today and I want to run it past you knowledgable people.

My Thought are this.

to install emergency lighting, the wiring must be installed to BS7671  (17th Edition wiring Regs) and BS5266 Emergency Lighting standards, the installer must be City & Guilds 2381 (17th Edition) qualified.

If the lights are in a domestic setting then they may also come under part P.

what do you think.

[AnthonyB]

Assuming the design, & location had already been done (or you are just replacing old stuff like for like) & you are following a sped that told you this and which circuit to wire into then I would say that whatever you would need to have to be able to legally wire in ANY light fitting to a premises would suit - I would only consider a need for more skills (such as in BS5266) if you are having to decide on number, location, type, circuitry etc.

[kurnal]

I would agree with you Thomas.
I would further wish to clarify that contrary to common practice the lights must be configured to operate on local subcircuit failure as prescribed in 5266. Many electricians interpret BS7671 as over riding BS5266 and insist on wiring the emergency lights back via their own circut and MCB on the distribution board thus rendering them useless apart from a general area power cut. I wager that  66% of all emergency lights are wrongly wired in this way.

[Thomas Brookes]

Hello Anthony,

Thanks for answering

We are talking going from nothing in the building  to a fully wired emergency lighting system, this also may include going into consumer units etc. so the full bag of monkeys.

Imagine this building 100m long 30m wide warehouse, with a office block at the front, with corridors inner rooms etc etc.

What qualifications would that man need.

[John Dragon]

Hello Anthony,

Thanks for answering

We are talking going from nothing in the building  to a fully wired emergency lighting system, this also may include going into consumer units etc. so the full bag of monkeys.

Imagine this building 100m long 30m wide warehouse, with a office block at the front, with corridors inner rooms etc etc.

What qualifications would that man need.

As the install doesn't fall under part "P" he needs no qualifications.
How he would prove competence in the event of a mishap is another matter though.

[Thomas Brookes]

What would he need to prove competency

[GregC]

A technical qualification , 236 isnt it

[AnthonyB]

I'd insist on a qualified electrician (but how is that defined legally these days?) with a good knowledge of BS5266.

Looking at the project I'd ignore general electrical contractors and only get quotes from firms specialising in the design and installation of EL

[Thomas Brookes]

I totally agree with you Anthony, I have been a qualified electrician for quite a while, how ever I did all my electrical qualifications so I could install fire alarms & emergency lighting. Also to be the qualified supervisor with the ECA for my company I need it.
I am one of those people who like to be the best I can be, and not one who does the minimum to get by.

Its just I heard something I thought was quite disturbing recently and was trying to get other peoples feelings on if you should be a qualified electrician or not, sometimes because I ensure Im well over qualified to prove competency i think everyone should be.

[Galeon]

You would be amazed how many so called sparks I have worked with , who 'dont do mineral , and dont ask about traywork.   

[Thomas Brookes]

Tray work?.

Is that the metal thing that sparkys pile up loads of wires on and some where in that you will find the fire cable.