There is no way around it, exit sign testing is a crucial part of the process when it comes to making sure that your commercial business or residence is safe and secure. Why do we say this? Well, exit signs are important because they act as the exit guide for anyone who might be in the process of leaving, such as a fire exit sign, and the signs must be able to withstand a lot of strain. They should be able to maintain their shape and not bend or break. In addition to this, the exit sign must also be able to alert people to an emergency and at the same time make them aware that other exit signs will direct them to other directions, such as an emergency exit ramp.
Why should exit light testing be necessary? Simply put, if your exit sign breaks into two or more pieces, then it could potentially endanger anyone who might be crossing it. If they happen to fall, they could hit their heads on something soft or solid and possibly even die. This could prove to be extremely problematic if there is another load of people streaming out of an exit door, and you don’t have any exit signs to warn them about the stairs and other exits in case someone gets trapped. You also need an exit sign that can take people directly to the next exit, rather than have them walk all the way around.
What are some signs that need exit sign testing? Well, there are many, and here a few to start with: * An exit sign that does not match up to the exit sign that is mounted on the building. You see, exit signs get mounted on the building and then screwed onto the building walls. If the exit sign is screwed onto the wall instead of the building material, then it is very difficult to read and understand, and you’ll likely make lots of mistakes as you find your way out. Do yourself and your employees a favour and get your exit signs aligned so that confusion doesn’t become a factor and you have fewer lost leads in the process.
An exit sign that isn’t easily readable from more than a few feet away. This will happen if you have multiple exit signs mounted on multiple walls. If you are trying to mount an exit sign on a single wall, then you know what I’m talking about. Either the exit sign won’t be easily readable, or it just doesn’t fit well. If you aren’t going through a lot of moving around or are getting rid of an exit sign after installation, then you may want to consider a different exit sign company.
An exit sign that doesn’t match up to the actual exit sign that is on the building. Again, if you are installing an exit sign, then you already know that fact. However, if you are just installing a new exit sign onto a new building, then this can become a big problem. Make sure that the exit sign that you choose fits the building perfectly, and is easily readable from more than a few feet away. This will save you a lot of frustration down the road!
The exit sign isn’t positioned properly. Some companies like to test out their exit signs by putting them up one at a time. Then, they mark the position of each exit sign and go back over it to make sure that everything is square. The problem with this is that it makes it very difficult for an exit sign to “see” an exit and have it “act” correctly. So, make sure that you mark the location of your exit sign and then move it. You can always change the positioning later.
Your exit sign isn’t in a place that your customers are going to see it. You need to be able to see the exit sign from several feet away. When you have exit sign testing done, don’t just look at it from a few feet away. You need to walk up to it and point it out. This will let you see exactly where your customers are going to be and will help them to plan their route easier.
While exit sign testing is a process that you shouldn’t take lightly, it can save you problems down the road. Don’t take the risk of your exit sign not working in a crisis. By doing simple exit sign testing, you can avoid these potential problems before they become serious.
Emergency lighting is a vital and common element in any building construction. It also provides essential protection to personnel and building occupants when there is a threat of fires or injuries due to defective service equipment, wiring, or similar reasons. Buildings and facilities must be regularly inspected and tested to ensure compliance with emergency lighting testing regulations. This will ensure that emergency lighting works as designed and is not vulnerable to short-circuit or fire accidents.
Testing Objectives
There are two main objectives of emergency lighting testing: protecting life and preventing loss of life. General information on emergency lighting testing is available from the Canadian Society of Fire Engineers and British Standard EN 5000. The most basic duty of the testing facility is on the property of the occupier/owner of the building. In this capacity, the testing facility is responsible for checking all emergency lighting systems and for conducting routine maintenance checks on emergency lighting appliances. Monthly emergency lighting testing (for central and emergency backup systems only)
Requirements
There are many different types of emergency lighting requirements. For a commercial or office building, the most common requirement is for an emergency exit system with a clear path to the exit; this emergency lighting must be visible throughout the day and all night. Compliance with this standard requires that emergency lighting, including emergency exit, be visible from the exterior of the building. There are other requirements for offices and commercial premises such as emergency lighting at reception and emergency lighting along with doorways and hallways.
In offices and commercial premises, the most important requirement is for compliance with the Standard EN 508: Safe Work Practice for the Installation of Self-Contained Emergency Lighting (SCEN). This requirement requires that the central battery pack shall be installed per the manufacturer’s instructions and that the duration of each charge should not exceed three hours. For an office or commercial premise, the longest duration of charge is three hours. The purpose of the requirement is to provide businesses and offices with an extra level of safety for employees when emergency lighting is required.
Installation and Testing
All offices and commercial establishments are required to install emergency lighting. An inspection of the location of the emergency lighting system and its connection points is a primary part of the procedures during the installation process. Per British Standard EN 508, the installation of the central battery pack shall be located at least one meter from the point of operation. This distance shall be followed for a maximum of five years. There are times when the distance is increased from six meters to ten meters.
For premises that are not located near the emergency source, the installation procedure shall also involve two steps. The first step involves checking the minimum duration for which the lighting system can operate during power outages and darkness. This test shall be conducted using a remote control. Once this is done, the second step in the process will involve checking the duration for which the lights can operate even if there are no power cuts. If the test results in the minimum duration being achieved, the system shall be left in its place and not replaced.
Lighting systems shall be left in their original position with all controls intact and in a normal working condition. They shall also be attached to the ceiling in a manner that they cannot be pulled up or pushed by anybody. If they are attached to the ceiling, the inspectors will need to inspect any loose connections. In any case, where the installation is not completed correctly or is found to be incomplete, it is recommended that the equipment is inspected by authorized personnel for any defects.
It is mandatory to test any high-risk task area lighting system that has been installed in any building to check its functionality under emergency lighting conditions. The process of emergency lighting testing shall start once the building’s electrical power has been restored. The inspectors shall inspect all areas of the facility that require illumination. These places include emergency egress routes, emergency stairwells, emergency exits, emergency lighting control units, emergency lighting fixtures and fittings, emergency exit signs, emergency lighting sensors and lighting controls. All these parts of the facility shall be tested one at a time with a maximum period of three hours in each section.
