Fire Safety Assessment "Emergency Lighting"
The Need for Formal Documented Risk Assessment
With the implementation of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 in the UK as detailed in the Employers guide to Fire & Safety 1999, there is a requirement to carry out risk assessments of all premises. Emergency lighting is one of the life saving systems required to be provided, where necessary, in premises where people are employed. The requirement for emergency lighting, types and locations all being identified through the risk assessment process.
Owners/occupiers of all premises where people are employed are required to carry out fire precaution risk assessments, even in premises which have a current fire certificate.
For premises where 5 or more persons are employed, duty holders are required by law to document significant findings of the risk assessment together with detailed measures implemented to deal with any risks found.
If artificial lighting is installed in a workplace, some form of emergency lighting is a mandatory requirement.
Surveys/inspections should to be carried out to ensure that emergency lighting installations comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire Alarm Standard BS 5839-1:2002 and also to meet Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requirements specified in BS 8300.
To satisfy this requirement, the following service may be provided: -
Technical Specification
To identify and confirm compliance of the following items:
All maintained and non-maintained emergency lighting including positions of
All system test key switches (where present)
All illuminated signage including positions of
To prepare and provide details of the following items:
Location/Function Details
Table of Equipment detailing description and location of assets and serial No, installation date and date of last inspection. (where applicable)
Schematic diagram showing current and proposed, where applicable, system layout
Confirmation of test status:
To confirm system compliance with current legislation (Unsatisfactory/Satisfactory classification)
To locate copy of current test certificate (if available) and update log book
Where no current certificate is available, to carry out full test of all emergency lighting equipment as detailed below.
Identify and code all system failures in line with agreed PST Priority coding system
Testing of Equipment
To test the following in accordance with the above regulations:
Luminosity of all luminaires.
Standby battery charge life
Functionality of illuminated signage.
Operation of Key switches (where present)
Test labels to be affixed, where accessible, to all luminaires indicating component number and inspection date. Where luminaire is not accessible, label to be applied to the appropriate key switch
To issue a Certificate of Emergency Lighting Test and Report as specified below within 28 days of completion of the test.
Survey Report and Recommendations
Prepare and supply direct to the location Manager, A4 bound hard copy survey report comprising the following:
Provision of all Technical Specification information as set out above
System test certificate
Light fitting Pass/Fail schedule
A3 Schematic diagram showing system layout to include all lights and key switches (Blank site drawings to be provided by client where available)
PST Priority Coded summary of system failures to include type of equipment, serial number, location and failure code rating identifying the remedial works required
Maintenance records and Log book to include requirements for in-house daily, monthly and six-monthly inspections.
In addition, the following items in ‘PDF’ file format can be supplied:
Provision of Technical Specification Information as set out above
System test certificate
Light fitting Pass/Fail schedule
Schematic system layout diagram (as separate PDF)
PST Priority Coded summary of system failures to include type of equipment, serial number, location and failure code rating identifying remedial work requirements
Priority Coding System
All identified Emergency Lighting system failures and non compliances to be classified in accordance with the following Coding categories:
Code 1 Immediate attention required
Code 2 Remedial work to be completed within 6 months
Code 3 Ideally to be completed within 12 months
Code 4 May defer without detriment
Terms and Conditions
Inspections to be carried out and administered in accordance with all relevant British Standards and Regulations specified above
