Today, Richard Wakefield asks a question concerning repaired emergency lighting in a commercial building and subsequent testing. It is answered by the NICEIC (theme - Lighting):
This Q & A of the Day is one of thousands of others answered on a daily basis in our Technical Expertise Area by the Voltimum UK experts.
Question: We are currently engaging in some emergency lighting repairs following a failed three-hour test on commercial premises. Some fittings are being directly replaced on a like-for-like basis and some fittings are having repairs carried out.In either of the above cases, can you confirm that once the repairs / replacements have been carried out, the re-test be of the three-hour duration?
My opinion is that if the fitting is being replaced completely, then surely the new fitting should be tested to prove that it is fit for purpose (rated duration of three hours), and a commissioning certificate should be issued to prove that this has been carried out.
I also believe that this should be the case for battery replacements, but no certificate is required as it is not a new fitting. A colleague has the opinion that as it is a new fitting / battery, it only needs a one-hour retest
Answer: Indeed, the commissioning of the system should provide the confirmation that it is adequate and complies with the regulations. Therefore it would be suitable to do a run down for three hours.
Again, if you maintain a system and change parts, you should be able to confirm that the device will perform as expected. Therefore, it would be desirable to carry out a run down test and record the outcome on a maintenance report.
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