The Importance of Testing Your Emergency Lighting
Emergency lighting protects your business should your main lighting system fail. It will help to prevent panic in an emergency, helping staff and customers to see and find their way out of the building if necessary. Installing emergency lighting is the first step, but your lighting also needs to be maintained to ensure it's there for you when you need it most. Testing your emergency lights regularly will give you the reassurance that they are working and ready to come on if your main lights experience a problem. BS 5266-1: 2011 standards say that emergency lighting systems should be tested monthly.
When and Why Emergency Lighting is Required
Emergency lighting may be needed in a variety of different situations. If there is a power outage, a fire, or any other emergency situation, people need to be able to see and find their way to exits and assembly points. If there is not adequate lighting, it could lead to panic, accidents, and injury, or people getting lost or even trapped. Emergency lighting can highlight emergency exits and the best paths to reach them and should be bright enough to help people see where they're going. Public premises are legally required to have emergency lighting that meets British Safety standards of illumination.
How Often Should You Test Emergency Lighting?
The general rule for testing emergency lighting is that systems should be tested monthly and annually and that inspection records should be kept. Tests can be carried out manually or automatically, although the results should be recorded even when the system is tested automatically. Monthly tests are short functional tests that should be carried out in line with BS EN 50172 / BS 5266-8. Annual tests of emergency lights must test the full rated duration off the lights. At the end of the duration, the lights should still be working. Any failures need to be remedied as soon as possible.
The Benefits of Regular Emergency Light Testing
Of course, the primary benefit of emergency lights testing and maintenance is that it keeps your business safe at all times. You will always be prepared for an emergency, ensuring there is adequate lighting to keep everyone safe. Additionally, it will mean that your business is in compliance with the relevant British Standards and that you are meeting your obligations where fire safety and other health and safety procedures are concerned. Working emergency lights will reduce your liability in the event that anything does happen, showing that you have taken the necessary steps to make your business as safe as possible.
Regular testing of your emergency lighting not only checks that they are working at all but also ensures they are working well. In an emergency situation, the light needs to be bright enough and shouldn't drain the battery too quickly. If an emergency exit light is too dim, it may not be serving its purpose. Monthly and annual testing will pick up on problems like these so that they can be addressed.
Testing your emergency lighting should be part of your regular maintenance to prepare your business for emergencies.
What to Take Away
Ensuring the safety of your employees and customers is paramount; this is why ensuring that you have emergency lighting in place within your business premises is essential. Find out more about the importance of emergency lighting by contacting a member of our team today on 0121 271 0149 or email us on sales@macsecurity.co.uk. Alternatively, you can get in touch via the contact form below. We look forward to hearing from you.