| The revision gives recommendations and guidance for electrical emergency escape lighting systems |
The code of practice for emergency lighting, BS 5266-1 was revised and then reissued in November 2011. To help installers and specifiers keep up with these requirements, Prysmian has published a guide, the latest in its series of FP guides to British Standards.
BS 5266-1:2011 is a full revision and it replaces the 2005 edition of BS 5266-1. The revision gives recommendations and guidance on the design, installation and wiring cable selection for electrical emergency escape lighting systems. This brings it more closely in line with the British Standard for fire alarms, BS5839-1:2002.
BS 5839-1:2002 was the first British Standard to call upon ‘standard’ and ‘enhanced’ fire resistant cables and now BS5266-1 adopts this criteria of two performance levels for circuit integrity in the event of fire. Prysmian fire resistant cables FP200 Gold and FP PLUS already meet these criteria and are readily available.
Terry Journeaux, with more than 30 years’ industry experience, continues his work with the BSi committees and he has written this latest guide to help choose the right cable for the job.
The new emergency lighting standard, BS 5266-1:2011, recognises that the vital functions of emergency lighting systems are to illuminate clearly manually operated locations of fire alarm call points and fire fighting equipment, but, in particular provide effective illumination of escape routes and muster points.
It also introduces the concept of two different performance levels for emergency lighting cables for central power supply battery systems. This depends on the building application, aligned with that already established in BS 5839-1.
Key issues for specifiers include:
- A choice between “standard” and “enhanced” emergency lighting cables must now be made for any particular building based upon the recommendations of BS 5266-1 and a fire risk assessment.
- “Standard” cables should satisfy most applications including buildings protected by sprinklers.
- “Enhanced” cables may be necessary for large and complex buildings, particularly if they are un-sprinklered.
- Existing cable types, already well-established in the market, are available to meet the new requirements, such as FP200 Gold® for “standard” applications and FP PLUS™ for “enhanced” applications.
- For arduous conditions requiring a higher level of mechanical protection, armoured cable types such as FP600S may be ideal.
- The use of appropriate non-combustible “fire resistant” methods of cable support and fixing are now required