BS 5266-1:2011 Code of practice for the emergency escape lighting of premises

[AnthonyB]

BS 5266-1:2011 Code of practice for the emergency escape lighting of premises is now available and replaces earlier standards.

Quite a few changes and a lot of emphasis on the FRA being a major source of input into the design.

So the generic comment (for those using it) in the FRA of "Ensure the site is provided with emergency lighting to BS5266-1" is defunct as the EL designer is meant to refer to the FRA when placing some of the new additional fitting locations! (you don't need to design it yourself just be specific about supplementary locations beyond the usual escape route and open area anti-panic provision)

[DavyFire]

Thats great news!
Purchased a copy of the now 'old' standard a few months ago and was using it. I suppose I will need to fork out again.
I do take the point that a fire risk assessor needs to be more elaborate in his / her fra than just stating it needs to comply with BS whatever.
This is also important in the sense that a lot of installers that I have come across haven't much of a clue when it comes to standards and expect the fr assessor to spell it out for them
DF

[Bill J]

Thats another £180.00 I will have to sweet talk out of the Boss.

Is anyone aware of a summary of changes as yet, is it much differant from the draft format?

Thanks in advance to the knowledgeable ones.....

Bill

[AnthonyB]

I don't think it differs much from the draft, although I haven't done a side by side comparison.

[Bill J]

Thanks Anthony,

There is little point comparing the draft to the published version if you have the correct version.

Can I ask if the clause 6.3 still exists, requiring 2 lights in every space, including escape routes? This was in the previous version, but I have never seen anyone actually put 2 lights in every compartment.

Not sure we will be able to ignore it anymore, seems a pity to have a variation on every certificate before we start!

[AnthonyB]

Looks like it!

6.3 Failure of emergency escape lighting luminaire

The risk of occupants being in total darkness in the event of failure of individual emergency escape lighting luminaires should be minimized by ensuring that illumination from at least two luminaires or emergency exit signs is visible in each room (open areas) requiring emergency lighting, and in the escape route.
This should be determined on the basis that all doors will be shut; however, glazed panels allowing adequate illumination from an adjacent part of the escape route are acceptable.

NOTE System integrity is specified in BS EN 50172:2004, 5.3.

[Bill J]

So if I have read that correctly, 2 emergency lights in every compartment.

Ouch.

I do wonder sometimes.

[Tom Sutton]

It appears the old NM or M with the duration in hours has be replaced with a these emergency lighting classifications,

Consists of an elongated box divided in to four compartments.

1st Type - X or Y - self contained or central battery

2nd Mode of operation
0 Non-maintained
1 maintained
2 combined non maintained
3 combined maintained
4 compound non maintained
5 compound maintained
6 satellite

3rd Facilities
A including test device
B including remote test device
C including inhibiting mode
D hig risk task luminaire
(These are added as applicable at the time of installation.)

4th Duration in minutes. 10, 60,120 or 180

Appartently it folows the method used in BS EN 60598-2-2:1998+A2

[John]

On page 28, Table D.1 specifies minimum illuminance for specific locations.  Now as we all know, british Standards are published in many shades of grey, and are open to interpretation, and also misinterpretation.

Here is an example.  Page 26 of the standard defines examination and treatment rooms as follows: -

The illumination needs to be sufficient to enable complex procedures to be completed, e.g. minor operations.

NOTE Operating theatres are outside the scope of this standard.

Would you consider a dental surgery where a patient may be undergoing root canal treatment, to be a treatment room?  If so, they now require a minimum illuminance of 50 lx within 0.5 seconds, horizontally on the working plane.  Im my opinion, 50 lx is a lot, it's probably more than they would have under normal lighting conditions.

I also wonder if it could be an error on the table.  

[kurnal]

I have not bought the document yet so am speaking blind but

Is this an issue for the fire risk assessment?
Should we mainly concern ourselves with escape lighting rather than emergency lighting?

50 Lux is minimal; and if my dentist was trying to complete my root canal treatment under 50 Lux lighting conditions I would rather be standing in the car park with the job unfinished than sitting in his chair in the gloom whilst he drilled through my tongue.

Most dentists and minor ops would rely on local task lighting.
 

[John]

Kurnal,

Thank you for your reply.

I have not bought the document yet so am speaking blind 

No pun intended I take it 

Is this an issue for the fire risk assessment?
Should we mainly concern ourselves with escape lighting rather than emergency lighting?

I believe the clue is in the title, and as it has been renamed since the 2005 edition which was Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises.

Generally, emergency lighting levels are 1 lx for the centre line of escape routes, which is why I said in my previous post that 50 lx seems a lot.

In replying to my post, you did not answer the question, would you consider a dental surgery to be a treatment room ?

[kurnal]

Yes I would but thats without reading the new standard. The bottom line in all these things is down to common sense , in all such medical situations patients have to be able to be patched up well enough to be able to walk or be wheeled out of the building if an evcuation is required. This does not mean "I have started so I will finish" however.

They may need some light to be able to do that safely but whether 50 lux is enough depends on what procedure is being undertaken. The ACOP to the workplace regs sets out lighting levels for a range of occupancies and I cant remember them off the top of my head but they greatly exceed 50 Lux even for a conventional office. Looks like I shall have buy the standard and read it for myself but if I find I have paid out  more good money for another new standards that is full of errors and that has been unfairly influenced by one industry sector over common sense then it will make me grumpy all over again.

[Tom Sutton]

They have divided Emergency Lighting into Emergency escape lighting (EEL) and standby lighting. Then EEL is divided into, Escape route lighting, Open area lighting and High risk task area lighting. I think the higher lighting levels are for, possibly, Open area lighting and the High risk task area lighting which is defined as,

Open area lighting (in some countries known as anti-panic lighting) – That part of Emergency escape lighting provided to avoid panic and provide illumination allowing people to reach a place where an escape route can be identified.

High risk task area lighting – That part of emergency escape lighting that provides illumination for the safety of people involved in a potentially dangerous process or situation and to enable proper shut down procedures for the safety of the operator and other occupants of the premises.

If not, then hopefully one of our experts should put me right.

[Davo]

Prof

Minimum levels of lighting is 100 lux, offices are recommended to be 300-500 lux.

In my vast experience  nearer 300 is the more acceptable to most people.

For levels where minute detail is critical (your dentist?) up to 1000lux may be required.

Outside levels in daylight can be measured at over 10,000 in summer


regards

davo


ps HSE has a free lighting guide, you can put your wallet away

[nearlythere]

Without seeing the BS I would not have thought dental treatment as being a high risk task requiring emergency lighting to enable the patient to be patched up urgently before evacuation. Probably stopping drilling might be a good control measure and it is one I would insist on if I was in the chair if the lights went out.

By the way has something happened to require a review of the BS or were the scribes at a loose end one day? Maybe BSI saw their coffers dwindling a little.