We will go over emergency lighting testing requirements, as well as what happens when you don’t test your lights.
When was the last time you tested all of your emergency lighting? For many business owners, they can’t answer this question. This likely means it’s been too long. Emergency lighting is vital for guiding people out of dangerous situations, and it shouldn’t be taken for granted. If you don’t meet emergency light test requirements, you put everyone in your building at risk, and you violate many safety codes that are meant to prevent failure of your emergency lighting. It’s imperative that you get testing done for your emergency lights if you want to preserve the safety of your staff and your business. We will go over emergency lighting testing requirements, as well as what happens when you don’t test your lights.
Emergency Lighting Testing Requirements
No matter what size your facility is, you have to perform one 30-second test monthly and an annual 90-second test. For testing, you cut all power to your emergency lighting units to simulate a real emergency. While these tests sound simple, many facilities struggle to complete them. Testing every individual emergency fixture can take a lot of time, especially for larger buildings that have a large number of fixtures to test. Some of them are also in hard-to-reach places, meaning you’ll need a ladder or lift to reach them. This can impact the day-to-day operations of a business while testing is going on.
Risks for Disregarding Emergency Lighting Tests
It’s possible you aren’t aware that your business has testing requirements (unless your business gets regular audits from insurance companies). However, the first time your lights don’t work, and you don’t have any prior testing records, you’ll be staring down fines that can cost you thousands of dollars. Keep in mind that this is only the monetary expense.
A much greater cost for not testing your emergency lighting is that all people occupying your building are put at risk. There’s a high likelihood of getting injured during an emergency, especially in cases when people can’t see where they need to do as a result of losing power. You’ll need your emergency lighting to work in those dire times if you want to avoid more severe problems down the road.
KEEP YOURSELF SAFE WITH ANDERSON FIRE PROTECTION, INC.
Anderson Fire Protection, Inc. has the expertise and skill to help your home or commercial property for all your fire protection needs. We have been working in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, Southern Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. areas for over 25 years. We are known for our top-notch customer service and high-quality results. If you are ready for fantastic fire prevention and protection services, from fire sprinkler installation to fire alarm design and to consult, give us a call at (410) 796-4915 or visit us online.