BS 5266 Part 1 2005 ~ emergency lighting

[Shaun Doyle]

On the basis of not re-inventing the wheel and saving some time, has anyone a summary of the differences between 1999 and the 2005 versions?

Any information would be grateful.

[kurnal]

Seems hard to find info on this- short of buying the BS!!
I was told by an engineer yesterday that the levels of illumination had been increased in some areas- eg to 2 lux in toilets where there is a shiny floor? Sounds odd to me.

[AnthonyB]

Unlike the last revision of BS5839-1, which listed the key changes, BS 5266-1 doesn't in detail. the only stuff I could find without goingthrough every section was in the foreword:

This part of BS 5266 has been prepared by Subcommittee CPL/34/9. Together
with BS EN 50172:2004, it supersedes BS 5266-1:1999, which is withdrawn.
It also supersedes CP 1007:1955, which is withdrawn.
The 1999 edition of this standard no longer covered the levels of illumination
required as these are dealt with in BS EN 1838:1999 (also numbered
BS 5266-7:1999). References to BS EN 1838:1999/BS 5266-7:1999 are made at
the relevant points in the text.
The standard has now been revised again to remove recommendations and
guidance on the characteristics of emergency lighting systems that are now
specified in BS EN 50172:2004 (also numbered BS 5266-8:2004). References to
BS EN 50172:2004/BS 5266-8:2004 are made at the relevant points in the text.
This part of BS 5266 has thus become a base document, which, in addition to
giving basic guidance on emergency lighting, provides a guide to navigation of the
other parts of the BS 5266 series.
This revision of BS 5266-1 is applicable to cinemas, and also to other premises
used for entertainment, some of which were excluded from the 1999 edition.
BS EN 50172:2004, 4.1 specifies compliance with the wiring rules given in
HD 384/HD 60364. The UK applicable parts of HD 384/HD 60364 are
implemented in the IEE Wiring Regulations (BS 7671).
This revision of BS 5266-1 incorporates changes necessitated by the publication
of BS EN 50172. It does not represent a full review or revision of the standard,
which will be undertaken in due course.

[kurnal]

Thanks Anthony
Its all getting very messy and probably time we in the UK went over to theBSEN approach throughout. The BS documents are becoming so fragmented it appears to me that its done to make money rather than to improve standards.
Bottom line is it soesn't sound like BS5266 pt 1 is worth buying but I probably need bs5266 pt 8 and BSEN 50172.

[fred]

There are two comprehensive articles in the Fire Prevention / Fire Engineers journal April 2006 - one by an FPA consultant and one from industry, which throw some light - sorry - on the changes.

Personally I find it rather confusing.  Emergency lighting , then escape lighting and now emergency escape lighting. BS's that are also published as BSEN's and BSEN's not published as BS's - each of them legitimate in their own right.

I'm just thankful I'm not an electrician.

[AnthonyB]

Plus the Standards are revised in Europe to try & achieve a higher level of lighting and then the UK get a cop-out clause to keep the old lesser lighting levels to confuse further!