Generator instead of emergency lighting?

[Guest ColinB]

Re BS5266-1:2005

Would the fact that we have a generator to power all amenities should we suffer a power failure, that kicks in within seconds cover us for the emergency lighting APOC.

Colin

[Garry Webster]

A generator is treated a little bit like a central battery system with slave emergency luminaires. You would need to use maintained slave luminaires in the building and the power cables to the lights would have to be fire resistant. The generator would have to be properly maintained. If you would want to use non-maintained slave luminaires you would also have to monitor the different circuits to ensure that fuse blows would not render the system in-operable.

It is important that you assess the entire building system and also carefully consider the maintenance procedure for the generator.

I hope this helps

Cheers

Garry

[Tom Sutton]

Emergency lighting is regarded as a generic term and is divided into a number systems and yours is most likely to be a standby lighting system. It is unlikely to meet the requirements of BS 5266 Pt1, Pt7 and Pt8 and therefore it cannot be consider meeting the standards as emergency escape lighting and/or escape route lighting system which is what you require.

I agree with Garry, his solutions is most probably the best course of action and should employ the services of a specialist in designing emergency lighting systems to conduct a survey.

[Guest ColinB]

Thanks, but could you clarify for me is the BS5266-1 Absolute legislation or (ACP) Approved code of Practice?

[Garry Webster]

Neither, it's not Absolute Legislation nor Approved Code of Practice; it is simple a code of practice. ACoP's are a HSE thing but Codes of Practice are regarded as best practice and if an employer/individual faces criminal prosecution under fire safety law, and it is proved that the recommendations of the Code of Practice has not been followed, a court may regard it as evidence of guilt unless it is satisfied that the employer/individual has complied some other way.

The legislation says you may need a emergency escape lighting. BS 5266 - 1 tells you how to install it.

[Guest BernardDou]

We have a customer whose emergency lighting has failed due to faulty mains failure generator. The installation is 20 plus years old but functional. Can we replace the generator with new without up dating the whole system?

Regards

Bernard

[Tom Sutton]

Is the emergency lighting, standby or emergency exit lighting?

[Guest BernardDou]

Good Morning Tom,

Many thanks for answering my query, the situation is our customer has what I would call emergency lighting. Which was powered by a standby mains failure generator, located outside of the building? The generator failed and is beyond repair and needs a replacement. The whole system is some 20/30 years old but was tested regularly. The lighting illuminated corridors entrances and exits although I am doubtful whether they were marked as such, which we can sort out later. What I really need to know if legally we can supply and connect up a new mains failure generator on to an old existing emergency lighting system, which was designed and installed just to supply safe exit lighting in case of an electrical mains failure. Or would we required to install a complete new (Standby exit and entrance lighting system) your advice would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards

Bernard

[Tom Sutton]

Hi Bernard

First let me define the two types of emergency lighting. Standby lighting is emergency lighting to enable normal activity to continue substantially unchanged. Emergency escape route lighting is that part of emergency escape lighting provided to ensure that the means of escape can be effectively identified and safely used at all times when the premises are occupied.

I would think that a generator is the only way to provided standby lighting, but using it for emergency escape route lighting, is accepted by the standards, but has many problems to meet the appropriate standards.

1. The generator has to be run up to its required output within 5 seconds.

2. Emergency escape lighting shall be activated not only on complete failure of the supply to the normal lighting but also on a localized failure such as a sub circuit failure. If a sub circuit fails will the generator start up?

3. Also the costs of correctly servicing & maintaining the generator (on top of the lighting testing) reasons at some sites have moved to self-contained luminaries.

I would suggest you conduct a risk assessment or get somebody to do it for you, to check what is needed to bring the existing system to modern standards. There is a possibility that a system could be designed that would use a generator combined with central batteries but more than likely self-contained units would be the best solution. I think you need somebody who specialises in emergency escape route lighting to look at all the possibilities.

[Guest simon]

Hi I have been asked if a factory with no emergency lighting through out the offices and warehouse areas , has to have emergency lighting fitted if the factory has a fully backed up mains supply via a standby generator. If so or not what regulation do I quote.

Thanks

[Guest IanKni]

I have a school where they have chosen a fitting which is a sealed LED.
We need to keep them in line and 15 of them need to be emergency backed up.
Am I able to wire them to a suitably sized UPS, stand alone unit used for computers.
5amphour battery will sustain the lamps for 4.40 hours.
I just wondered what the rules on using a ups

[Tom Sutton]

Simon - Emergency escape lighting has to come up to full luminance within 5 seconds most generator cannot achieve this but there is a tolerance up 15 seconds if the enforcing authority accepts it (Fire and Rescue Service)

Check out BS 5266-1:2011 Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency escape lighting of premises.

[Tom Sutton]

Ian - It is unusual idea but it would operate similar to a central battery system and would have to be installed in accordance with BS 5266-1:2011 Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency escape lighting of premises. I would suggest you talk to the Fire and Rescue Service who are the enforcing authority and see what they think.

[AnthonyB]

Most buildings are moving away from their generators for EL as they can't meet the changeover and local circuit failure requirements and are retrofitting self contained fittings.

Modern developments have generators purely as standby lighting and also install self contained EL fittings or addressable loop EL as well