Eaton’s Anthony Martindale outlines the dangers of emergency lighting compliance falling between the (accountability) cracks

EMERGENCY LIGHTING: EVERYONE’S LIFELINE BUT NO ONE’S PROBLEM?

Anthony Martindale, Field Product Manager, Lighting at Eaton, outlines the dangers of emergency lighting compliance falling between the (accountability) cracks.

An effective and When emergency lighting standards are compliant emergency not met, there are severe consequences. lighting system acts The primary concern is that buildings as a critical lifeline in become unsafe – resulting in loss of life crisis situations. Yet all or injury when disaster strikes. According too often it falls victim to Home Office statistics, fire and rescue to a potentially deadly services attended 153,957 fires in England combination of a ‘fit and between April 2019 and March 2020. forget’ approach with a ‘not my problem’ Sadly, these statistics also include 243 mentality. No one wants to take ownership fire-related fatalities in England during of ongoing compliance checks. this period. Clearly, there is no room The reality is emergency lighting for cutting corners when it comes to compliance is not a one-off tick box exercise. protecting life and property. It needs to be an evolving process. Building Yet in addition to the human toll, there use and safety risks must be revisited on are also severe financial and reputational a regular basis. So, how can electrical consequences. Negative press from an contractors, specifiers, consultants and incident linking a brand with non-compliance complexity profile, what activities take building owners create accountability, ensure when it comes to building safety can be place inside and the profile of building ongoing compliance and avoid the growing huge. Consequences range from damaged users. For example, hospital occupants penalties for falling short of safety standards? brand loyalty amongst customers to a drop are likely to need extra assistance when in share prices. Additionally, while the exiting the building during an emergency. The risks of non-compliance use of fire reduction safety equipment can aid of insurance premiums, it in the can Compar football atively, the facility stadium will have manager at a to consider vast From national fire safety legislation to also have the opposite impact when done numbers of visitors, many of whom may application and product standards for incorrectly. Insurance companies can use not be familiar with their surroundings. emergency lighting luminaires, automatic non-compliance with fire safety orders as a Lifecycle costs and approach to test systems and more, a combination of reason to avoid paying out. maintenance and servicing are additional regulations exist to ensure emergency elements to take into account as part of lighting is fit for purpose and protect building occupants. However, this regulation is only Assess the risks this risk assessment. This step is key to choosing the right emergency lighting Emergency lighting in a building can effective at maintaining building safety standards if steps are taken to ensure to ensure compliance system for a specific building on the path to compliance. and getting quickly fall out of compliance, due to damage, lack of testing and irregular compliance. Unfortunately, emergency lighting in a building can – and does – quickly fall out of compliance, due to damage, lack One key element of the compliance landscape is the EN50172 standard that sets out the requirements for emergency Time to take responsibility maintenance of testing and irregular maintenance. lighting. It highlights that when the supply Sadly, emergency lighting compliance often to all or part of the normal lighting in falls between the accountability cracks. occupied premises fails, escape lighting is For instance, building owners and facilities required to indicate escape routes clearly managers often employ third parties to and unambiguously; provide illumination to test systems – washing their hands of allow safe movement towards and through responsibility for compliance. Yet when provided exits; ensure that fire alarm call disaster strikes and avoidable injuries or points and firefighting equipment can be fatalities occur, who is really responsible? readily located; and permit operations Ultimately, the owner or manager of concerned with safety measures. the building has a moral responsibility This EN50172 standard – which to ensure a thorough risk assessment is also applies to standby lighting used as conducted, acted upon and continually emergency escape lighting – recommends updated. In most countries, the obligation that discussions should be held pre-design to implement such a process is enshrined to establish the areas to be covered, in law. Every building owner has a role to method of operation, testing regime play to ensure that fire fatality statistics and most suitable system type. These don’t go up on their watch. discussions should include the owner or Building owners and facilities managers occupier of the premises, plus the system must do their due diligence and ask the designer, installer, equipment supplier and right questions to better understand the fire authority. fundamentals of emergency lighting. To In fact, every building operator or avoid the consequences of non-compliance, owner is independently required to clear lines of responsibility and a conduct their own risk assessment to proactive approach to maintaining an identify areas for mitigation. These shine effective and compliant emergency a light on specific risks to consider lighting system are vital. when designing an emergency lighting system, including the building’s scale and Eaton, eaton.com

While the use of fire safety equipment can aid in the reduction of insurance premiums, it can also have the opposite impact when done incorrectly