BS 5266-1:2016 PDF Download

What is this standard about?

BS 5266-1 is the first in a series of Codes of practice on emergency lighting. It gives detailed guidance on the application and practice of emergency escape lighting, with a view to ensuring safety in the event that normal lighting is interrupted. The recommendations have been drawn up to encourage uniformity of application.

Who is this standard for?

The standard has been written for two audiences:

• Lighting engineers and electrical contractors who need to protect building occupants from the hazards identified by risk assessments
• Landlords, employers and any individual with responsibility for premises such as: hospitals, care homes, hotels, guest houses, colleges, boarding schools, day schools, laboratories, clinics, theatres, cinemas, concert halls, sports halls, public houses, restaurants, libraries, shops, museums, sports stadia, covered car parks, factories, workshops and warehouses

Why should you use this standard?

This part of BS 5266 promotes a wider understanding of the different types of emergency lighting systems that can be used and give guidance on how different systems can be correctly applied to different categories of premises with varied requirements. 

It gives recommendations on the factors that need to be considered in the design, installation and wiring of electrical emergency escape lighting systems, to provide the lighting performance needed for safe movement of people if the normal lighting supply fails.

This standard also applies to common access routes within blocks of flats or maisonettes and gives recommendations for lighting in areas with fixed seating.

What’s changed since the last update?

This revision aligns with the European emergency lighting luminous requirement specification standard, BS EN 1838:2013, and extends the scope of the existing standard by:

• Providing guidance on the application and practice of emergency lighting. It highlights that risk assessments are needed for all premises. Also that the risk assessment identifies the risk to people entering a premises and that the measures the assessor is required to take include the provision of safe means of escape taking into account the needs of people with disabilities including visual impairment.
• Covering high risk task lighting to provide illumination for the safety of people involved in potentially dangerous processes or situations, to enable proper shut-down procedures for the safety of the operator and other occupants of the premises
• Providing guidance on the implementation of requirements and solutions, particularly on suitability and energy use
• Providing guidance on required equipment
• Including reference to development of new system types
• Including guidance on illumination of swimming areas within swimming pools
• Adding guidance on the installation process, testing and commissioning