emergency lighting

[amesbury druid]

emergency lighting is relatively cheap to install and is really useful during a power cut. I have them installed in my personal garage and workshop as well so that I can find emergency equipment without having to grope around for a torch.

[Raincliffe1]

As part of a total rewire of the whole premises we have installed emergency lighting in all letting rooms, public areas and escape routes plus 3 way sounder/heat/smoke detectors - yes it can be expensive but decent customers appreciate the investment in their safety. Emergency lighting and hardwired fire systems are there for a reason - what price do you put on your own peace of mind and that of your customers? Remember it will also be a plus when you come to sell your build as the incoming owner will not have the expense.

[imported_Sandy]

I have had emergency lighting installed in my B and B at the same time as having fire alarm system to comply with the new regs and I did not find the emergency lighting particularly expensive but I do find it very convenient especially in the event of a power cut.

[joyful]

I have just had all my Fire Reg stuff done and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, either getting it all done or paying for it. All tax deductable I trust. I felt a bit more confident doing it all after reading members comments over the general forum so I hope this gives confidence to other accommodation providers to take a deep breath and do it. My whinge is if we have done all the measures there is nothing to say or prove we have. I think a proper certification process is needed to clarify it has all be done correctly and our accommodation is now safe(r) as a result of it all. Self assessment - personally I couldn't self assess feeding the cat - so I took professional assistance. Emergency lighting that can be left on all the time, particularly over the stairway is most helpful to everyone, including me, at all times (if a guest needs to creep outside in the night or come in late - there is always a good light on 24/7 and no worries about guests finding the landing switch/or me having to leave a light on all the time "just in case" etc.).

[_Sharpe]

We bought our bed and breakfast in 2003 and had the fire department in to give advice. We put in the reccommended alarms, lighting etc only to have to replace it last year with "slightly" louder alarms and more lighting to comply with the new 2006 regulations. As we only have three rooms, they also now wanted fire doors but our heritage doors meant that we had to spend a great deal of time and money to fireproof them. And yes, we have no certificate saying that we have complied.

Now that the credit crunch is on us, a lot of our neighbours have opened up their own B&B's without having notified the local authorities. They pay no business rates, have no alarms, lighting or food hygiene certificates. Subsequently, they can afford to offer lower rates than us. Doesn't seem fair really.

[Manors]

=d> We have just completed a complete rewire and during that upheaval had the fire alarm system totally renewed, including emergency lighting (the whole fire system cost £1300 for our 14 bed hotel). As previous posters have said, no written certificate to say we are all mod cons - just hope in a few months' time the powers-that be don't come up with something else. During our rewire we had PIRs installed so the problem with leaving lights on does not arise - the hallway and landing lights activate on movement and then go off after a certain time period which you can choose.They weren't too expensive (£40 each and we installed 7). Our electrician said they could be fitted to any lights - so worth thinking about with the price of electricity and also environmental issues!

[Raincliffe1]

I am in total agreement with you Sharpe. To be honest, these double standards have been going on long before the credit crunch. I would not bother contacting the Tax Evasion Hotline or the area Valuation Office because nothing is done - so all those people who are not complying by paying the right insurance, licences, inspections, business rates and tax rest easy... keep pocketing the money...

I'm afraid there is a total apathy from all the bodies which enforce the above; in my opinion they have neither the willpower or means (in terms of man hours and funding) to investigate ANYTHING. I often write 'what a total joke' at the bottom of my quarterly VAT return (the bit where it states 'giving a false declaration... etc etc').

Katherine

[Starchip]

I am a newcomer to this business - so take what I say with a pinch of salt.

However, I am of the opinion that the fire itself will provide sufficient "emergency lighting".

Otherwise, that is a very poor fire. Call yourself "four-star"?

I have been providing fires to the tourist industry for many years and not one - not one mind you - was invisible. Even at night.

Why pay extra?

[Martin_Sach_CE_EASCO]

It is compeltely wrong to imagine that a fire would provide emergency lighting! Fire comes with smoke - the big killer, and may affect your electrics in the whole building, without conveniently lighting your exit route. Emergency lighting is important in all larger premises.

[joyful]

We bought our bed and breakfast in 2003 and had the fire department in to give advice. We put in the reccommended alarms, lighting etc only to have to replace it last year with "slightly" louder alarms and more lighting to comply with the new 2006 regulations. As we only have three rooms, they also now wanted fire doors but our heritage doors meant that we had to spend a great deal of time and money to fireproof them. And yes, we have no certificate saying that we have complied.

Now that the credit crunch is on us, a lot of our neighbours have opened up their own B&B's without having notified the local authorities. They pay no business rates, have no alarms, lighting or food hygiene certificates. Subsequently, they can afford to offer lower rates than us. Doesn't seem fair really.


Sharpe: Its not fair and I quite agree with you! The Fire Regs are barmy and even our local MP has taken up the points about certification with the Minister (well, if there is still one there) concerned. Lots and lots of B&Bs are not complying with ANY of it. The only good side is hopefully those of us that have made the spend will be OK should there be an insurance claim against us. Peace of mind is worth everything.

[joyful]

Starchip is just being flippant. He won't be so flippant when the Fire Authority come to check him out and perhaps even close him down if he hasn't complied.

[joyful]

Martin Sach is the Chief Executive of the English Association of Self Caters Organisation in case any one else was wondering by the way. Good of him to contribute as I am sure you speak for your large list of members. Emergency lighting was a requirement in my B&B house with only 3 bedrooms at the top of the stairs by the way, and outside lighting as I am the country with no "borrowed" lighting from street lights. This is what I had to have put in on expert advice!! This is what many are unaware of - the FULL remit of the new Fire Safety Reform Act of 2005 now in force is in fact enormous. I had to have fire doors (up and downstairs) internlinked smoke alarms, extinguishers (checked annually) fire safety lighting (report made monthly), PAT testing and I am ONLY a 3 bed first floor B&B!!!!!

[joyful]

Our local paper says that 473 Notices have been issued to non-domestic properties in Devon and Cornwall stating they had fallen short of legislation (Fire Safety Reform). The Fire Service is coming along inspecting obviously.

[Raincliffe1]

People would be wise to imagine the scenario if a fire did happen on your premises and one of your guests (or your family) was hurt. If you had cut corners with an 'it will do' mentality in terms of anything to do with fire detection systems or electrical safety, how would you really feel? Where would you stand legally? When we extended our hotel and owner's accommodation the building inspector insisted on emergency lighting and 3 way hardwired detectors throughout our flat aswell as the hotel; it makes sense really.

Katherine

[greenbarncottages]

For reasons of local planning, the conversion of our barn into three Self Catering holiday cottages was classified as a commercial building, hence interlinked fire/smoke detector/alarms and emergency lighting were required, period - plus fire doors throughout.
If it had been a matter of choice we would have done well to follow Raincliffe's advice:

People would be wise to imagine the scenario if a fire did happen on your premises.....

In fact, more than wise, as this should constitute a major part of the fire risk assessment that we are all required to perform. Having identified and minimised the risk of fire starting, it is then essential to consider worst case and ask what people would do if a fire did start. Here is where you put yourself in the position of the guest who has been in your property for but a few hours. Do they know how to get out? Nope. So you have signs leading to the exits. Now it's night, dark and there's a power cut. No lights. Can you find the exits? Nope. This is a key point with emergency lighting - it's intended to light the way to the exits, so it's over the stairs and the final exit routes.

If, as part of this risk assessment, you can honestly state that anyone unfamiliar with the layout of the building would be able to find their way to an exit, in an emergency and in total darkness, then you have demonstrated a case for not needing emergency lighting and can sleep well at night.

If you do decide it's necessary, and install emergency lighting, then you have at least demonstrated that you have considered and minimised a realistic risk - and if somebody does get injured regardless, you have made best endeavours. (Here is the very simplest form of a Risk Assessment - "What If?")
Oh, and don't forget to test it. A while back I did the first required full discharge test, and found four of the units didn't stay alight for the minimum specified period (one died after less than ten minutes!!) On monthly checks I've found more than one dud tube to replace.

One downside - one of the cottages has french doors leading out from a bedroom, so that qualifies as an emergency exit, so it has an emergency light over it. One day we're going to get a power cut in the middle of the night and the guests in that bedroom will be de-lighted (sorry!) to have three hours of light whilst they're trying to sleep. No sir, you may not install an override switch on an emergency light....... Can't win, can we? ](*,)