At Day & Knight, workplace safety and delivering tailored electrical solutions are at the heart of what we do for our commercial clients. As all offices and industrial premises differ, we work with our clients to create bespoke solutions to keep employees, clients and visitors safe.
Recently, TopCashback asked for our help and expertise in designing and upgrading their emergency lighting system at their headquarters in Stafford. As the UK’s leading cashback site, they have a large number of employees based at the site, making it vital to have reliable emergency lighting in case of a power failure, emergency or evacuation.
Emergency Lighting at TopCashback’s HQ in Stafford
Located within Stafford’s Technology Park, TopCashback’s headquarters is spread across three buildings to house all of their operations. Each building has its own layout and contains different types of equipment and appliances to meet the needs of the different teams based there.
Not only that but the buildings themselves have offices and meeting rooms of varying sizes spread across multiple floors. With this in mind, we designed the new commercial emergency lighting installation tailored to each building’s layout, usage and power requirements.
Below is an image of the emergency lighting design we completed for TopCashback in one of their buildings:
As part of this design, we installed the following emergency lighting products:
- Ansell ARAP/1/W 3W LED twin spots located on stairs
- Ansell APLED/3M bulkhead lights installed above doors
- Ansell AE3LED/3M/W exit sign LED 2.5W installed to the ceiling
- Knightsbridge LUS 4LT single emergency spots installed in ceilings
- Knightsbridge 14W LED tri-colour emergency bulkhead
All of the above products installed have a three-hour rated emergency operating duration to ensure escape routes, stairways, corridors and emergency exits are adequately illuminated in an emergency.
Why Is Emergency Lighting Important in Commercial Premises?
In an emergency, normal lighting can fail if there is a loss of electrical supply or a power failure to the building due to fire or a flood (as an example). Emergency escape lighting helps to illuminate escape routes so occupants inside can identify and navigate their way to a nearby exit and leave the building safely.
We’ve summarised key factors as to why all commercial premises should ensure they have an emergency lighting system installed:
- Safe evacuation – Illuminates designated escape routes and exits when normal lighting fails so people can exit the building safely
- Reduced risk of accidents – Provides visibility along stairways, corridors and floor level changes to reduce the likelihood of slips, trips and falls
- Fire safety compliance – Helps businesses and workplaces meet the relevant fire safety legislation and standards, including BS 5266
Why Should Commercial Emergency Lighting Be Tailored to Each Building?
Because each of the three buildings at TopCashback are different, the workplace safety and fire safety requirements need to be assessed and provided for individually due to:
Building layout and size
Each building has different floor plans, stairways, corridors and exit locations, so taking a standardised approach would not make the install safe or fit for purpose
Building usage
Different activities and working environments can influence the type, positioning and level of emergency lighting and illumination required in an emergency and it is important to review this individually
Occupancy levels
Similar to building usage, the number of people using the building, their familiarity and any additional evacuation needs should be considered as part of the emergency lighting design
Where Should Emergency Lighting Be Installed?
Emergency lighting needs to be positioned in places that help illuminate escape routes and emergency exits. This is so they are a genuine aid to people and can help them safely navigate their way out of the building in an emergency.
Below are some suggested locations of where we would expect to see emergency lighting installed:
- Illuminating escape routes and emergency exits
- All stairways and any changes in floor level
- Changes of direction and corridor intersections
- At final exits and immediately outside them
- Surrounding fire alarm points and fire-fighting equipment
Establishing where emergency lighting should be installed isn’t as simple as installing a few illuminated signs as they need to be fit for purpose. Building layouts, fire safety requirements and appropriate lighting levels must all be considered, which is why emergency lighting design and installation should be completed by qualified professionals.
What Are the Emergency Lighting Requirements for Commercial Properties?
At Day & Knight, we design and install commercial emergency lighting systems with relevant fire safety legislation and British Standards in mind to keep customers and colleagues safe. Emergency lighting requirements vary depending on the premises and its fire risk assessment.
We’ve briefly summarised the technical standards and legislation that may be applicable and need to be considered when designing a commercial emergency lighting installation:
BS 5266-1 – Emergency Lighting
- This is a British Standard and is a technical standard that provides guidance on the design, installation and maintenance of emergency lighting systems
- This standard helps ensure that the emergency lighting installation is appropriately designed based on the building’s layout and usage
- Find out more on this here
BS EN 1838 – Lighting Applications (Emergency Lighting)
- This is another British Standard that specifies the technical lighting specifications including illumination and visibility
- This technical standard helps professionals determine sufficient lighting levels, positioning across escape routes and emergency exits
- Read more on this here
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- This is the fire safety legislation for England and Wales that requires a responsible person to implement fire safety measures
- As part of this legislation, it does explain that escape routes and exits should have suitable illumination should normal lighting fail
- More fire safety regulations information
How Often Should Commercial Emergency Lighting Be Tested?
Ongoing maintenance and testing of emergency lighting equipment are key in ensuring that you can safely exit a building in an emergency. Failing to conduct regular testing risks compromising the safety of the building’s occupants should a flood or fire occur.
We strongly recommend to all our commercial clients that they complete both types of emergency lighting testing. These are also recommended under the BS 5266 British Standard, and all test results and faults should be recorded in an emergency lighting logbook.
The recommended testing intervals are:
Monthly functional testing
- A short test that simulates a normal lighting failure to ensure the emergency lights switch on
- This helps to check the equipment for any faults, broken parts, or battery issues early and before a real emergency occurs
Annual testing
- This test is a longer test that checks to see if the emergency lighting systems remain illuminated for the full rated duration
- It can also identify any issues, faults and batteries in need of replacing
- Annual testing should be carefully planned, as emergency lighting batteries need time to recharge following a full-duration test, so a brief downtime period needs to be considered
Commercial Emergency Lighting Electricians in Stafford
Whether you operate an office, industrial unit or other commercial premises, Day & Knight can provide tailored emergency lighting design and installation services to meet your building’s requirements.
Our experienced and qualified commercial electricians can guide you through the entire process, from initial emergency lighting design to installation, maintenance and testing, taking relevant British Standards and fire safety requirements into consideration.
Based in Stafford, we provide commercial electrical services to businesses throughout Stafford and the surrounding areas. Alongside emergency lighting, our team can assist with commercial electrical inspections, LED lighting upgrades and other electrical installations.
Looking for commercial emergency lighting electricians in Stafford? Contact Day & Knight today for a free, no-obligation quotation using our Quick Quotes form below, or speak directly with our team.
Get your fast & Free quote hereOr give us a call on:
Phone: 01785 661199
Mobile: 07792 913566
Prefer to send an email? You can reach us on:
Email: dayandknightdavid@gmail.com