Emergency lighting - Auto Test system

[Tom Sutton]

There are over 4000 emergency light fittings in a large premises each one employs Auto Test system. Check out Controls and Emergency Lighting then Explorer Vision and then Explorer SelfTest, at http://www.thornlighting.co.uk/gb/en/res_product_brochures_f.htm. The units automatically perform the required BS Testing and indicate the pass or failure of the test by means of a coloured Led’s.
 
The BS states that the Monthly / Yearly test should be recorded, but obviously there is no way determining exactly when these tests are carried out (tests are mainly carried out of hours, as the unit determines when the lights are switched off).  Therefore, is it acceptable to carry out a visual monthly record of the LED status of each light and would it satisfy statutory requirements?  If not, it would seem to defeat the objective of utilising self test ballasts.

How would you experts respond to such an enquiry?

[Galeon]

B S updates might make comment on this newer technology , what I would do is ask the manufacturer if you are about to specify his kit on a job (which you may have in the future ) how do they meet the said requirements.

[Tom Sutton]

Firstly I am not practising fire safety professional I simple try to answer basic FS question that are asked of me through my website.

The first thing I noticed they had installed an automatic system designed for one unit and not 4000 units, I expect, cost cutting without considering the cost of the monthly and yearly inspections for recording the results of the tests. Considering a conservative estimate at basic hour rate then they are looking at 2.5K+ a year.

Checking BS EN 50172:2004/BS 5266-8:2004 it appears to meet the criteria because it doesn’t say FULLY automatic system and this system is a combination of auto testing and manual recording.

Would a FA installer or a FRS auditor consider this system accecetable?

[nearlythere]

There are over 4000 emergency light fittings in a large premises each one employs Auto Test system. Check out Controls and Emergency Lighting then Explorer Vision and then Explorer SelfTest, at http://www.thornlighting.co.uk/gb/en/res_product_brochures_f.htm. The units automatically perform the required BS Testing and indicate the pass or failure of the test by means of a coloured Led’s.
 
The BS states that the Monthly / Yearly test should be recorded, but obviously there is no way determining exactly when these tests are carried out (tests are mainly carried out of hours, as the unit determines when the lights are switched off).  Therefore, is it acceptable to carry out a visual monthly record of the LED status of each light and would it satisfy statutory requirements?  If not, it would seem to defeat the objective of utilising self test ballasts.

How would you experts respond to such an enquiry?

What exactly is the auto test testing?

[Tom Sutton]

What exactly is the auto test testing?

It tests the EL system automatically when nobody is there using a CPU and records the results, in this case led’s are used but it can be a control unit or a computer were the results are recorded. Checked out the link above for more details.

A point I failed to mention was the premises is a hospital and with fire code this could make a difference.

[Wiz]

TW, surely the need to 'record' the tests is just to provide a written record that the tests have been carried out. If there was not such a written record, then anyone, on being interrogated, could say 'yes, that test was carried out' when, maybe, it hadn't been!.

If the automatic testing carries out the appropriate tests and at the intervals required then this would appear to be sufficient to meet BS recommendations.

If the automatic testing does not generate a written record then it causes a problem.

If however the automatic testing equipment, for example, had some sort of display that confirmed that all fittings tested o.k. (or not) then surely a written record/summary of the 'findings' of the automatic testing could be easily produced and therefore meet the recommendations. Something like ' The automatic testing system carried out a monthly test on the 1/1/10 and indicated that 237 fittings tested o.k.. It also highlighted that fitting No. 7 (main staircase second floor) and fitting no. 139 (3rd floor corridor outside room 320) failed the monthly test.

[nearlythere]

The BS is only a recommendation and should be taken as such.
Technological progress must not be hampered by outdated written guidance and outdated is what 5266 and most other BSs are.
The next time 5266 is revised it may very well include auto testing in the servicing section.
If the auto testing process fulfills the general principles and aims of the manual user testing then fine by me.

[Tom Sutton]

Thanks Wiz I am in full agreement with you.

NT the latest BS EN 50172:2004/BS 5266-8:2004 does include automatic testing and the above system IMO meets those recommendations.

To those in the know does the Firecode agree with the BS unfortunately I do not have access to them?

[FireDave]

Firecode document:-
"Firecode – fire safety in the NHS Health Technical Memorandum 05-02: Guidance in support of
functional provisions for healthcare premises"

states

"Guidance on emergency lighting is contained within BS 5266-1. For hospital buildings, this is supplemented by Health Technical Memorandum 06-01 – ‘Electrical services: supply and distribution’ and the CIBSE guide – ‘Lighting guide LG2: hospitals and healthcare buildings’, "

Bear in mind the last revison on Firecode was published in 2006 and as has been mentioned previously guidence is often technologically slow by the very nature of the time it takes to produce.

Most Hospital Fire Advisors would use the latest standards available for a new installation, but have to revert to the older standards for existing equipment.