if the emergency lights need to be tested, only the supply to the emergency lights needs to be interrupted.

MK Grid Plus 20A Secret Key Switch Module - Toolstation

Life expectancy will vary depending on the make of the battery – with some makes it is four years, some five years. When the life expectancy date expires the batteries should be changed. It is a good idea that when a battery is changed the date of installation is written on the battery for future reference. Safelincs supply spare batteries. The occupier/owner of the premises should appoint a competent person to supervise the testing of the system. This person shall be given sufficient authority to ensure the carrying out of any work necessary to maintain the system in correct operation. Competent can be defined as someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities that allow them to maintain the system properly. The level of competence required will depend on the complexity of the situation and the particular help that is required. A test for the full duration (usually three hours) of the emergency lights must be carried out once a year. The emergency lights must still be working at the end of this test. The result must be recorded and, if failures are detected, these must be remedied as soon as possible. I have to wire some lighting in an office. I am putting 4 6' flo fittings in each office (there request). I was going to make on of them a combined emergency fitting and normal light. The supply will be looped in at the switch, is the correct way to wire it - power in to the fish switch (are they DP?) then via a 1 way switch to the fitting in 3 core taking permanent, switched and neutral.The longevity of emergency lights is better if lamps are changed before they are fully failing. However, this recommendation probably only applies if an organisation has a contractor for the maintenance of emergency lighting and the costs of a call-out were to be substantial. In such a case pre-emptive maintenance (changing while the light is still working) makes sense. In my humble opinion the switch should be of "simulation" status IE cutting power (as it would if in a power cut, fire, etc.) and illuminating EL only. The SL322 from ESRs S-Line Range is a 10 Amp 2 Way key operated switch. In a white finish with smooth curved edges, this switch will blend into any modern building with ease.

Wiring up/Testing of Emergency Lighting - Emergency Lighting Wiring up/Testing of Emergency Lighting - Emergency Lighting

The room I'm re-wiring has 3x 6ft Flourescents and (at the moment) 2x EL Exit lights. I'm going to see about adding a couple of other EL's, but for the moment I just need to connect up the existing fittings, which all seem to work. It's all wrong. EL fittings are meant to be on the same circuits as the normal lights, otherwise they won't come on unless you get a complete power outage (local circuit failure is common).The current BS 5266 Pt 1 2011 states, a test facility should simulate a main failure and not interrupt the normal lighting supply. So we have two wiring systems 1 the old and 2 the new and you have the both in one building. Should you update the EL system then that depends on whether you can carry out the testing satisfactorily without interrupting work processes and the EL is effective, this is a decision you will need to make when you conduct your FRA. An emergency lighting system should be installed by an electrician who specialises in emergency lighting.

DP Key Operated Fused Spur with Neon Metal Clad 13A DP Key Operated Fused Spur with Neon Metal Clad

They would need to be conversant with BS 5266-1- 2011 Emergency lighting-Part 1: Code of practice for emergency lighting of premises. At the moment the only areas in use are reception and workshops/classrooms on ground floor (which are the areas refurbed).Yes if you are testing/servicing on the discharge test then no lights would be a problem for persons working in those areas and so this would need doing when unoccupied - so I can see the logic behind the key switches not shutting off power - but that would only be for green LEDs and not red LEDs that would be difficult to visually see - similar if 3 tube lighting is working and one of the tubes is the EL light you wouldn't know if that EL unit was working if the main lights are still being powered... It's swings and roundabouts in the building as some areas the key switch shuts off the power to the lights (per room, location) and illuminates the EL. The new refurbished areas the key switch does not cut power to the lights, and with some EL units being part of the main lights this poses a problem to actually see if they are working or not. Yes they have green LEDs in them but you have to look closely to see if they are actually coming on as required.