ARKLE BROS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TESTING

No electrical system can be considered ‘Safe’ for use until it has been Tested & Inspected.  Furthermore, all electrical systems deteriorate with age and use and established systems should always be tested, on a scheduled basis, to ensure compliance with BS 7671.  This type of certification is now increasingly being required by Insurance Companies and the local HSE departments.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which incorporates The Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1992, a statutory legal duty is placed on all Employers to ensure that employees and all others are not subjected to risks to their health and safety.  In particular, The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires those in control of part or all of an electrical system to ensure that the system is safe to use and it is maintained in a safe condition.

Arkle Bros. (London) Ltd, carry out Periodic Inspection Reports to all types of Industrial premises.  This report will inform you of the condition of your electrical installation and any areas that do not meet current standards.  You are also issued a full report on any remedial works that maybe required to bring the installation to a ‘Satisfactory’ standard.

We offer a premium testing and certification service for Landlords with small domestic properties and boarding houses to the largest hotels.  Our service is also available for industrial units, factories, warehouses, garages, and business users including offices, office blocks and shops.

Arkle Bros Ltd Electrical Contractors have been providing electrical contractor services in London and South East England for over 20 years.  Our expert team of approved electricians provide a wide range of specialist electrical services fully compliant with health & safety regulations, legal, NICEIC Approved and meeting all UK regulatory requirements.

No electrical system can be considered ‘Safe’ for use until it has been Tested & Inspected.  Furthermore, all electrical systems deteriorate with age and use and established systems should always be tested, on a scheduled basis, to ensure compliance with BS 7671.  This type of certification is now increasingly being required by Insurance Companies and the local HSE departments.  For full information see our Testing information

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which incorporates The Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1992, a statutory legal duty is placed on all Employers to ensure that employees and all others are not subjected to risks to their health and safety.  In particular, The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires those in control of part or all of an electrical system to ensure that the system is safe to use and it is maintained in a safe condition.

Arkle Bros. (London) Ltd, carry out Periodic Inspection Reports to all types of Industrial premises.  This report will inform you of the condition of your electrical installation and any areas that do not meet current standards.  You are also issued a full report on any remedial works that maybe required to bring the installation to a ‘Satisfactory’ standard.

ESCAPE LIGHTING

BS 5266, like most British Standards, is not a legal requirement.  However it can acquire legal status by being adopted as part of the by-laws.  Although most enforcing authorities quote BS 5266, many modify the conditions. e.g. they may insist on a higher luminance.  In addition to this legal requirement, many organisations have their own more onerous standards.

Therefore, the designer must thoughly investigate the standards that apply to the building.

Marking the route: All exits and emergency exits must have exit or emergency exit signs.  Where direct sight of an exit is not possible, or there could be some doubt as to the direction, then direction signs with an appropriate running man pictogram and the words exit or emergency exit are required.

The idea is to direct someone who is unfamiliar with the building to the exit.  All of these signs must be illuminated at all reasonable times so that they are legible.



Essential for all buildings including churches

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Exit signs need to conform to new
EU regulations.





Emergency lighting should be periodically
checked to ensure compliance and satisfy
safety and insurance policies

The minimum illuminance along the centre line of a clearly defined escape route should be 1 Lux.  The emergency lighting must reach its required illuminance 5 seconds after failure of the main lighting system.  If the occupants are familiar with the building, this time can be increased to 15 seconds at the discretion of the enforcing authority.

Exits and changes of direction - Luminaires should be located near each exit door and emergency exit door and at points where it is necessary to emphasise the position of potential hazards, such as changes of direction, staircases, changes of floor level and so on.

Fire Equipment - Fire fighting equipment and fire alarm call points along the escape route must be adequately illuminated at all reasonable times.

Large open areas - Offices, supermarkets, dining halls, churches, conference rooms, laboratories, multi-purpose rooms - these places will not have defined routes and the layout of furnishings may change from time to time.  The average horizontal luminance over the whole area on the unobstructed floor should not be less than 1 Lux.

Special areas - Emergency lighting luminaries are required in all control rooms and plant rooms.  In toilets of over 8 sq. metres gross, emergency lighting should be installed to provide a minimum of 1 Lux.

High Risk Areas - Areas containing rotating machinery, etc.  In these areas emergency lighting should be provided at 10% of the normal luminance level or 15 Lux, whichever is the greater.

Exit signs - BS 5266 specifies the use of the plain EXIT legend, however, European legislation now calls for 'running man' pictograms.  During the transitional period, up to Jan 1996, there was no requirement for the UK to change all installed exit boxes, however any additionally required exit signs within the same building must be of the same format.  After this date the running man pictogram is now mandatory, with the requirement of a global change in all buildings.

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The level of inspection and testing required varies according to the risk of the appliance becoming faulty, which is dependant upon the type of appliance and the environment in which it is used.  PAT Testing forms an important part of the Safety at Work Act (1974).

Increasingly the insurance industry is requiring that PAT Testing is carried out prior to the renewal of an insurance policy.  This is because over 1,000 work place accidents involving electric shock are reported to The Health & Safety Executive each year, many of which are fatal! Most of the reported accidents involve portable appliances. The Electricity at Work Regulations place a legal responsibility on employers and self employed persons to take reasonable practical steps to ensure no danger results from the use of any electrical appliances.  This requires the introduction of a systematic and regular programmed schedule of maintenance, inspection and testing.  The Safety at Work Act places such an obligation in the following conditions:-

• Where appliances are used by employees.
• Where the public may use appliances in establishments such as hospitals, schools, hotels, shops, etc.
• Where appliances are supplied or hired.
• Where appliances are repaired or serviced.

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Security / Outside Lighting

We supply and install all types of security, outside and flood lighting to all types of premises and buildings including Churches, either operated by sensor and / or switching.

Arkle Bros. (London) Ltd, understand the complex statutory legal obligations which you have to observe.  We will liaise and discuss your needs and obligations and work out your requirements.  Only then will we able to offer you a maintenance contract.  This is because each of our Maintenance contracts is specifically tailored to the needs of the client.  No matter how big or small the organisation, we can help.

The routine maintenance for Lighting, Emergency Lighting and Switch Gear ensures that optimum levels of performance and safety are constantly achieved.  You can run your business safe in the knowledge that all your electrical legal obligations are fulfilled.  Even the best maintained equipment can break down or fail.  If this happens rest assured you are just a phone call away from getting your business running back up and running to full capacity.