BS5266 standards

This year see’s a revision of the BS 5266 standards to align itself with the European emergency lighting luminous requirement specification standard, BS EN 1838:2013. The changes provide guidance on the practice and application of emergency lighting and include the following additions to the existing standards.

  • Risk assessments are needed for all premises, and that the risk assessment must identify the risk to people entering a premises and that a safe means of escape for all people including those with disabilities and visual impairments must be measured and identified.
  • Illumination to be provided by covered high risk task lighting for people involved in potentially dangerous situations or processes and to enable proper shut-down procedures for the safety of the operator and other occupants within the premises.
  • Guidance on the implementation of requirements and solutions, particularly around suitability and energy usage.
  • Guidance on election and planning the scheme of required equipment.
  • Reference to development of new system types.
  • Guidance on illumination of external ‘open balcony’ approaches to flats/maisonettes within blocks.
  • Swimming areas and swimming pool illumination guidance.
  • Additional guidance on installation process, testing and commissioning.

The standards were created to provide detailed guidance on the application and practice of emergency lighting and to encourage uniformity of application. As well as to provide a wider understanding of emergency lighting systems and give guidance on how these different systems can be used within varying premises and with varied requirements.

The standards have been produced for Lighting Engineers and Electrical Contractors to protect building occupants from hazards identified by risk assessments and also for ‘responsible persons’ for the following types of premises, and also include common access routes within blocks of flats or maisonettes.

  • Hotels, guest homes, hospitals, care homes, colleges and boarding schools, where occupants will be sleeping.
  • Recreational, non-residential premises such as exhibition halls, cinemas, theatres, pubic houses and restaurants.
  • Non-residential premises used for teaching, training, research, offices, laboratories, schools and colleges.
  • Public premises, non-residential such as libraries, shops, shopping centres, museums and art galleries.
  • Sports Stadiums.
  • Covered car parks.
  • Manufacturing, processing or storage facilities.

The standard covers recommendations and guidance on factors to be considered during design, installation and wiring of electrical emergency escape lighting systems and gives recommendations for lighting areas with fixed seating (stadiums, concert halls, football and sports grounds)

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