Published: 24 February 2014
Category: Q&A
Melvyn asks this question, which is about whether art gallery emergency lighting test switches that have had access compromised meets the regulations. It has been answered by the NICEIC (Theme – Lighting):
This Q & A is one of thousands posted in our Technical Expertise area, and answered on a daily basis by our Voltimum Experts.
Question: I maintain a building that includes an art gallery, and to add more wall space, the gallery staff have boarded over the bank of light grid switches, which includes the emergency light test switch. They then cut an access gap to the side so as to be able to slide your hand in to turn on and off the light switches for the gallery.
I am unable to test the emergency lights now via the test switches because I cannot get the key into the switch (I cannot see them and I have to feel to know were the switches are).
I can turn off the supply at the distribution board to test the emergency lighting, but does the fact that the light switches now have very limited access contravene BS 7671:2008?
Answer: In the first instance, the installation was originally installed and complied with the requirements of the standards. At this stage, a person without adequate knowledge and understanding has put provision in place to impede the access to the functional switching arrangement, which is not there for isolation or emergency switching.
However, the requirements of BS 5266 asks for a means of switching the emergency lighting that is not for general use. This may have an influence on the integrity of the installation for compliance with both standards,
Even so, this is not a design issue or a problem of omission on the part of the competent person.
Duty of care should be expressed to the building owner that, because of this use of the environment, to make essential arrangements for the functional use of both systems has been compromised by others – and that this may be an issue of accessibility to switchgear.
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