What is Emergency Lighting and Exit Light Testing?
Imagine for a second you are sitting at your desk and all the power was cut to the premises. For people inside your workplace, it could be a frightening or dangerous experience – especially if there were no emergency exit signs or emergency luminaires (lights) to help them evacuate safely.
Emergency systems are often taken for granted. They are an ever-present part of our daily lives and it is very easy to become complacent about their effectiveness. It’s also easy to slip into the assumption that they will work no matter what because surely, they must be designed to be there when all else fails. Well, the reality is that there is a 6-month requirement to engage in exit & emergency light testing in Australia because, like all man-made products, there is always a possibility that they will incur a fault.
Importance of Emergency Lighting
Safety is everything in the workplace. Over the years, your building will see hundreds if not thousands of people pass through its doors, which will include staff, guests, prospective clients, and potential new hires, as well as maintenance crews.
As such, should a disaster strike at any point, it is absolutely necessary that those who are caught up in the moment can orient themselves and find their way out, particularly where their vision is impaired by smoke or fire. An emergency light test switch is an effective way to simulate power being cut and allows you to determine the effectiveness of the systems in place.
Here at Jim’s Test and Tag, we have heard many stories over the years about the psychological benefit the presence of emergency lighting had on those caught up in an unexpected and sudden incident. Even though they were well versed in terms of where the doors and exits closest to them were, the lights served as effective guides to their safety and enabled them to navigate the compromised area with greater ease. What’s more, rescue teams will depend on them to orientate themselves in unfamiliar surroundings.
We believe that prevention should be the priority, as we all can fully appreciate that you don’t want your emergency lights or signs to fail when they are needed the most. They are a crucial piece of equipment for any building because they very often make the difference between life and death. As such, those that believe they are overdue testing the exit signs in their building are encouraged to contact our team here at Jim’s Test and Tag to access a free quote and discuss what we could do for you.
Lighting the Way
Regardless of whether you run a large business or a small fledgling enterprise with only a couple of employees, it is your responsibility to prepare for possibilities nobody really wants to face. Failure to prepare could result in fines as well as the potential of prison sentences, and so when there are effective ways to protect your business and the public from harm coming to them, it makes sense to put measures in place now, instead of having a potential disaster on your hands.
At Jim’s Test and Tag, we are here to ensure that your safety measures are up to scratch, and our free reminder service affords you the luxury of not having to track when exit & emergency light testing is required. So, contact us for a free quote today and let us light the way to a safer future.
Why is it important?
Even if you know where all the exits are located and all the exit lights seem to be in working order, regular exit light testing and maintenance is the only way to minimise the risk of faulty emergency lighting in an emergency situation, which will ultimately help to increase the safety for employees and clients in your workplace.
Why can’t I simply change the batteries?
All emergency and exit lights must undergo a 90-minute discharge test of the battery every 6 months as stated under the Australian Standard: AS2293.2. Situations may arise where the backup battery fails due to batteries becoming discharged – they do not hold a charge or do not receive a charge from the power converter. With any light failure, it is important to realise that simply replacing the backup battery may not resolve the fault.
The light may in fact function again due to any charge/backup power in the newly installed battery, but it may fail to recharge beyond that due to a faulty power converter. Therefore, the most economical recommendation is to replace the complete unit. During any test, tubes in exit light fittings are replaced and tubes or globes in emergency lights are replaced if the unit fails to illuminate. Any damage to the unit or diffuser constitutes an immediate failure, and the unit must be repaired or replaced.
Exit & Emergency Light Testing by Australia’s Best
Here at Jim’s Test and Tag, we’re here to consult if you have emergency exit signs or lights on your premises and want to ensure that they are in full working condition and fit for purpose all year round. No matter where you hire our team across the country, you can be assured that the specialist technicians who service your premises have undergone rigorous training and continue to participate in ongoing educational modules. This ensures that they understand and can deploy the most current practices in safeguarding you from the possibility of electrical faults.
How can we help?
Jim’s Test & Tag can assist in ensuring your emergency and exit sign lights are working by performing professional exit sign testing to certify these essential signs are in working order. This ensures that your employees and visitors are able to exit a dangerous situation as safely as possible. We make sure your workplace is as safe as it can possibly be when it comes to electricity.
Jim’s Test and Tag provides RCD & Fault Loop testing in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Brisbane, Adelaide, Gold Coast as well as regionals across Australia.