Emergency lighting batteries

[Fras999]

Hi all,

A manager of a company I know disagrees with me when I say that emergency light batteries are to be renewed every 4 years, am I correct in saying this, I can not find anything in the bits of BS5266 I have read. He wrote

" If they are working at present I don't think we need to replace them in order to get our certificate? I appreciate that there is a risk that they will cease to work within the next year, the risk to staff I would consider to be small as all the other lights are working and even if they do start to fail they are still likely to work for the 5 minutes which is all we would need to evacuate the building.

This guy carries out his own risk assessment and decides he only needs emergency lighting for five minutes. Can anybody point me in the right direction of some documentation.

Thanks

F

[fulcheredwardsltd]

Unfortunately there is nothing in the BS standards relating to the length of time of emergency lighting batteries. However if you look at the manufacturers recommendations on battery life it shoul indicate how long that particular type will last.

5 minutes of emergency lighting is not acceptable and allowances always need to be made for the Fire Brigade coming into the building as they require the use the emergency lighting to do there job.

I hope that helps you.

Regards

Fulcher Edwards Ltd
(Electrical Services)

[Fras999]

And in my opinion also. However at the moment all we have to offer is opinions and no set guidelines or documented codes of practice etc.
I would imagine that in an emergency or fire situation the office manager would be bought to task should a fatality occur. however I am trying to stop the situation progressing that far down the line.

Thanks for your input.