In Ireland and worldwide, emergency lighting systems are needed and required by law to protect lives and people’s safety during power outages or emergencies by providing crucial power when the normal lighting system fails. Emergency lighting requirements are informed by current legal requirements and health and safety guidelines (Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, Irish Standard for Emergency Lighting IS 3217: 2023 and Irish Statutes for Building Regulations on Fire Safety).
Trained Electricians Required
While daily, monthly or quarterly checks of the emergency lighting maintenance can be done by trained staff on premises and entered in to the required log book, all annual or periodic inspections should be carried out by trained electricians such as those with the PAT Group, who are registered with accredited bodies such as Safe Electric, the Register of Electrical Contractors of Ireland (RECI) and the Electrical Contractors Safety & Standards Association (ECSSA). With over thirty years of collective experience as electricians in Ireland, the PAT Group is well versed and knowledgeable with emergency lighting systems in schools, residential spaces, large office spaces and industrial settings.
Emergency Lighting System Life Span
Emergency lighting systems have varied time spans, with non-LED systems typically being shorter in duration and less energy efficient, as fluorescent lamps have an average life of 6,000-10,000 hours and LEDs have from 30,000-50,000+. Likewise, battery packs and system fittings which last between 3-7 years in non-LED systems can be prolonged through LED efficiency to 4-15 years, as they have higher testing reliability, better energy efficiency and fewer failures overall.
Emergency Lighting Installation and Placing
Werhn installing emergency ligthing it is important to consider the placing of it, as lights must be visible but not easily accessible, to ensure constant functionality without being subjected to damage, tampering, or obstructions. By placing lighting which is either mounted at a high-level or recessed, lights can avoid inadvertent hazards, contact or vandalism – and having lighting in a direct line of sight is essential to ensure that all escape routes are visible from any angle of approach. Any lighting placed in high-risk or public areas are fitted with tamper proof screws and for schools or community settings, it is worthwhile to install self-contained sealed units to avoid any accidental access.
Energy Efficient Emergency Lighting Installation
As emergency lighting is essential to everyone’s safety, it is important to maintain annual testing with a registered electrician, and keep consistent record of monthly checks by trained staff members in the log book. Similarly, as systems age or with new builds, it is worthwhile to consider upgrading to or installing energy efficient solutions like LED to prolong the life and cost-efficacy of emergency lighting systems. Consider the importance of emergency lighting and give us a call now on 01-9602636 or contact us online as there is no better time than the present to schedule or review your annual testing services.
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