Electricians and electrical contractor for fire alarm, data & security installation & repair in Fife Scotland

BS 5266, like most British Standards, is not a legal requirement.  However it can acquire legal status by being adopted as part of the bye-laws.  Although most enforcing authorities quote BS 5266, many modify the conditions. e.g. they may insist on a higher luminance.  In addition to this legal requirement, many organisations have their own more onerous standards.

Therefore, the designer must thourghly investigate the standards that apply to the building.

Marking the route: All exits and emergency exits must have exit or emergency exit signs.  Where direct sight of an exit is not possible, or there could be some doubt as to the direction, then direction signs with an appropriate running man pictogram and the words exit or emergency exit are required.

The idea is to direct someone who is unfamiliar with the building to the exit.  All of these signs must be illuminated at all reasonable times so that they are legible.

The minimum illuminance along the centre line of a clearly defined escape route should be 1 Lux.  The emergency lighting must reach its required illuminance 5 seconds after failure of the main lighting system.  If the occupants are familiar with the building, this time can be increased to 15 seconds at the discretion of the enforcing authority.

Exits and changes of direction - Luminaires should be located near each exit door and emergency exit door and at points where it is necessary to emphasise the position of potential hazards, such as changes of direction, staircases, changes of floor level and so on.

Fire Equipment - Fire fighting equipment and fire alarm call points along the escape route must be adequately illuminated at all reasonable times.

Door closers -  Door closers are required to aleviate the spread of fires in large corridors and specigic areas forming part of the escape route .

Large open areas - Offices, supermarkets, dining halls, churches, conference rooms, laboratories, multi-purpose rooms - these places will not have defined routes and the layout of furnishings may change from time to time.  The average horizontal luminance over the whole area on the unobstructed floor should not be less than 1 Lux.

Special areas - Emergency lighting luminaries are required in all control rooms and plant rooms.  In toilets of over 8 sq. metres gross, emergency lighting should be installed to provide a minimum of 1 Lux.

High Risk Areas - Areas containing rotating machinery, etc.  In these areas emergency lighting should be provided at 10% of the normal luminance level or 15 Lux, whichever is the greater.

Exit signs - BS 5266 specifies the use of the plain EXIT legend, however, European legislation now calls for 'running man' pictograms.  During the transitional period, up to Jan 1996, there was no requirement for the UK to change all installed exit boxes, however any additionally required exit signs within the same building must be of the same format.  After this date the running man pictogram is now mandatory, with the requirement of a global change in all buildings.

The level of inspection and testing required varies according to the risk of the appliance becoming faulty, which is dependant upon the type of appliance and the environment in which it is used.  PAT Testing forms an important part of the Safety at Work Act (1974).

Increasingly the insurance industry is requiring that PAT Testing is carried out prior to the renewal of an insurance policy.  This is because over 1,000 work place accidents involving electric shock are reported to The Health & Safety Executive each year, many of which are fatal! Most of the reported accidents involve portable appliances. The Electricity at Work Regulations place a legal responsibility on employers and self employed persons to take reasonable practical steps to ensure no danger results from the use of any electrical appliances.  This requires the introduction of a systematic and regular programmed schedule of maintenance, inspection and testing.  The Safety at Work Act places such an obligation in the following conditions:-

• Where appliances are used by employees.
• Where the public may use appliances in establishments such as hospitals, schools, hotels, shops, etc.
• Where appliances are supplied or hired.
• Where appliances are repaired or serviced.

RB Grant can supply an appliance repair service for any faulty appliance found .