Month: July 2024

The ICEL Emergency Lighting Conference is taking place on Thursday 12th September, at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London, with registration from 8.30am and concluding at 6pm following a networking and drinks reception. This event has been carefully curated by ICEL to deliver insights and expertise in emergency lighting and is free to attend thanks to the generous sponsorship of our sponsors.

By joining us, you will have access to speakers and experts in their respective fields, who will address your questions, explain your responsibilities, discuss any legislative changes, and share strategies to drive change in the future. Presentations delivered throughout the day will enhance your knowledge and give you the tools to form a better understanding of the latest advancements. A printed copy of ‘The ICEL Emergency Lighting Pocket Guide for End-Users’ will be available to all participants.

With networking opportunities to interact and collaborate with industry professionals, emergency lighting manufacturers, and other influential collaborators, you can forge partnerships, exchange ideas, and explore new business opportunities that will drive success in your endeavours.

With Professor Ed Galea already announced as the keynote speaker, the current sponsors are as follows, with more to be announced:

Headline: P4

Gold: Clevertronics, ABB, and DALI Alliance

Silver:, Fox Lux, Prime Light, and LuxBox

Bronze: TWinFM, Joint Industry Board (JIB) and Society of Light and Lighting (SLL)
There are limited sponsorship spaces remaining. If you’re a member of The LIA & ICEL, please get in touch about sponsorship opportunities on icelconference@thelia.org.uk.

The day is tailored for a diverse audience, including designers, specifiers, distributors, installers, maintainers, and end users. It aims to attract representatives from leading organisations such as Laing O’Rourke, MITIE, CBRE, NHS, E.ON, EDF, WSP, Transport for London, BDP, and Sainsburys, who participated in last year’s event.

Additionally, members from key industry bodies like Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), Building and Construction Authority (BCA), British Council for Offices (BCO), Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA), Fire Industry Association (FIA), Fire and Rescue Services Association (FRSA), Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM), Royal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), among others have been invited to engage with their members about this event.

Some of the companies registered to attend this year’s event include: Paradigm Housing Association, Crown House Technologies, City Facilities Management, Manchester City Council, MITIE PLC, and more.

Testimonials from Last Year’s Event

“I got to fully appreciate and understand the ‘power’ of being an ICEL member.” commented Eli Ward, BLE, Past event sponsor.

Theo Paradise Hirst, said “Thank you for arranging a great event – it was excellent.”

A new pedestrian and cycle bridge has been built at Newport station in Wales, forming a vital crossing over the Great Western Mainline Railway. The bridge has been introduced to encourage active travel and improve connectivity for local residents and commuters.

Designed by renowned architectural practice, Grimshaw, with additional engineering support from Arup, the 230m bridge is divided into several distinct parts, including two dark grey steel sections that span the railway lines plus stairs and a lightweight step-free ramp on each side. The whole structure has been unified with continuous orange flooring to create a bold statement and a unique identity.

Lighting was a key aspect of the bridge’s construction, with a particular focus on safety, security, and accessibility. The design called for a discreet handrail solution to illuminate the floor deck while also supporting users with limited mobility. Additional lighting was also specified to enhance the surrounding public spaces.

Leading M&E consultants, Vitec, were appointed to oversee the lighting and approached DW Windsor to fulfil key elements of the scheme’s design.

To satisfy the brief, DW Windsor supplied products from its award-winning Garda® illuminated handrail range, adapted to suit the project’s unique requirements. For the ramps and stairs, nearly 500m of seamless stainless-steel handrail was installed, fitted with 300mm Garda Classic asymmetric modules. Special attention was paid to how the handrail attached to the balustrade fins, which had pre-drilled holes, meaning a lot of coordination between all parties was needed to ensure everything fitted together on site without modification.

For the main bridge deck, where handrail could not be used for safety reasons, an alternative approach was required. To overcome this challenge, DW Windsor developed a bespoke solution, integrating Garda LED modules directly into the two parapet structures slotted between the vertical ribs. Additional lighting was also supplied for the central section between these structures where, again, handrails could not be used. Here, the designers came up with an innovative solution to vertically mount recessed Ligman Lightalk luminaires between the balustrade fins.

To achieve the required light levels, 3000K LED modules were spaced at approximately 2m across the whole structure. This provided a consistent appearance and ensured the scheme delivered an average maintained illuminance of 30 lux and a minimum uniformity of 0.5 to comply with British Standards.

Discussing the installation, David Anstee, Technical Manager at DW Windsor, said, “This was a very large project, requiring a lot of coordination, particularly for the handrail, which had hundreds of touch points. Additionally, the power supplies needed to be in one location, meaning a lot of planning was needed to calculate circuit loads and voltage drop to ensure the lighting would operate as intended. This included planning all of the cable routing and ducting which had to be built into the bridge structure.”

In addition to the bridge lighting, the brief specified that lighting should be integrated into the hard landscaping beneath each ramp, which has been styled into amphitheatre-like areas. To support this, DW Windsor supplied sections of its Vaio linear system, which were recessed horizontally into the granite seating around the perimeter. This offered a point of focus for users while also providing low-level lighting to guide people into the space. Additional Ligman uplighters were also installed into the planters to illuminate the ramp soffits and vertical supports, enhancing the general ambience of the space while having minimal impact on the surrounding areas.

Shaun Davies, Project Engineer at Vitec, commented, “The Newport Station bridge provides residents and visitors to the area with a safer, more accessible link over the mainline railway. With its distinctive design and discreet lighting scheme, the new bridge has helped to transform a neglected area into a vibrant public space.”

Clients and partners

Client – Newport City Council / Network Rail

Specifiers / Designers – Vitec

Main Builders – Alun Griffiths

Electrical Installation – Gee Communications

Structure Design – Grimshaw Architects

Structure Engineer – Arup

CU Phosco, the largest family-owned UK designer and manufacturer of outdoor lighting solutions, is proud to announce the launch of a new product, the PhosLink Adjustable Power Connector. Designed for the versatile CU Phosco E95X luminaire range, PhosLink offers an unprecedented level of power adjustability and efficiency for outdoor lighting applications.

The PhosLink series includes two variants—PhosLink1 and PhosLink2—each engineered to provide nine distinct power settings. This flexibility empowers customers to tailor the power output of their luminaires to suit specific project requirements, directly on-site or within their depots. As a result, customers can benefit from more streamlined stock management with the flexibility to adjust the lumen output as necessary either in the workshop or on site, and greater adaptability in their inventory holdings.

Key Features of PhosLink:

Customisable Power Settings: Both PhosLink1 and PhosLink2 allow users to adjust power outputs in increments of 100mA. PhosLink1 supports settings ranging from 200mA to 1000mA, while PhosLink2 ranges from 250mA to 1050mA

On-Site Flexibility:

Each luminaire is initially set to the lowest output, allowing for easy adjustments to higher settings as required. This enables customers to achieve the desired wattage without the need for additional installation procedures.

Energy Efficiency: PhosLink ensures direct, economical, and targeted lumen output, making it ideal for energy-conscious lighting schemes.

Ease of Installation: Designed to be user-friendly, the PhosLink connector simplifies the process of adjusting wattage. By simply repositioning a link wire and pressing the connector button, users can select the appropriate setting with ease.

Optics Compatibility:

Standard optics options include P4 for residential roads and R2 for footpaths, with additional optics available upon requestInternational Dark-Sky Association Approved: Initially designed with DarkSky accredited E95x range, compliant when using a colour temperature of 3000K or below, at zero-degree tilt
CU Phosco’s commitment to innovation is exemplified in the development of PhosLink, which aligns with the company’s dedication to providing cutting-edge, energy-efficient lighting solutions. The PhosLink Adjustable Power Connector is set to transform how outdoor lighting systems are managed and optimised, offering unparalleled adaptability and convenience

“The introduction of PhosLink represents a significant advancement in our E95X product offerings, providing customers with a versatile and efficient solution to manage their outdoor lighting needs on-site,” said Matt Murray, Sales and Marketing Director at CU Phosco. “We are excited to bring this innovative product to market, continuing our tradition of excellence in design and sustainability.”

Lucent Lighting is thrilled to announce the launch of a new sustainable luminaire, Oculus Mini, as part of its ongoing commitment to circular economy practices and carbon neutrality.

Oculus Mini is a highly efficient, recessed Eyeball downlight which acts as the ideal solution for interior ceiling applications in high-end spaces, including hotel lobbies, retail establishments, and luxury residential accommodations. Fully adjustable in all directions and featuring a range of beam options including SuperSpot, High Efficacy and WarmDim, Oculus Mini can be set to create bespoke ambient lighting for each individual space.

Designed with Excellent circularity in mind, the Oculus Mini is predominantly made from recycled materials and is also modular to ensure easy refurbishment to extend the lifetime of the fixture. A key initiative by Lucent Lighting is designing products for longevity, ease of repair, and maintenance. By extending the lifespan of their products, Lucent aims to reduce the need for premature replacements, contributing to a more sustainable approach to lighting solutions.

Oculus Mini features toolless installation, adjustments and maintenance with a high IP rating for kitchen, bathroom and fire-rated applications available.

The standard Oculus meets PL1Dwellings and Displays and the Oculus HE (High Efficacy) version meets PL2 General

Oculus Mini is available in a variety of trim and trimless mounting options which blend seamlessly into all ceiling surfaces and aesthetics, from plastered ceilings to wood and stone.

Custom RAL painted finishes and brushed antique brass and bronze, polished chrome, brass and nickel, complete the high-end aesthetic.

Lucent Lighting has set itself apart through a commitment to prioritising sustainable practices in product design. In line with circular design principles, Lucent Lighting maximises the reuse, recycling, and upcycling of materials to ensure minimal waste generation. The company consistently strives for energy-efficient product designs, focusing on reducing energy consumption during manufacturing, usage, and end-of-life phases. Each Lucent Lighting product undergoes a rigorous life cycle assessment (LCA), minimising environmental impacts and providing a comprehensive LCA report.

This commitment aligns with Lucent’s dedication to transparency and accountability in environmental efforts, which has led to the brand proudly securing carbon-neutral status.

Goboservice is a trusted manufacturer of custom gobos and low-consumption, high-definition projectors that illuminate buildings, streets and businesses around the world. LITE has seen a great deal of interest in the Goboservice solutions, as well as a general uptick in awareness of what these technologies can offer.

Through LITE, Goboservices’ high-efficiency, high-brightness projectors are available – suitable for a wide range of applications and projects.

Recognising the need to drive forward sustainability in the lighting sector, every Goboservice projector is designed with great attention to energy efficiency. Demonstrating this, Goboservices headlamps deliver the best-performing lumen/watt ratio in their class.

Unrivalled image quality is achieved through lenses with anti-reflective coating and quality optics to ensure sharpness every time. Adding to the benefits, the high luminous efficiency of Goboservices projectors delivers reduced consumption even for prolonged use. The low price of the lamps – about one-third of the cost of the lamps of a video projector – enables low running costs.

Goboservices’ custom gobos can also be specified, offering the ability to reproduce any image, photo text or logo to be projected. This is ideal for bringing the dynamics and impressive effects of architectural lighting to events and stunts, exhibitions, and the entertainment sector.

Through the use of laser ablation to deliver the required incision, Goboservice guarantees precise results, with gobos produced at over 4100 DPI – a benefit that has set them among the leading experts in the world in this field.

Goboservices’ solutions are made in Italy, offering reassurance through traceable, European manufacture. Their quality and reliability are further proven through a series of laboratory certificates.

LITE’s Managing Director Steve Hainsworth said: “At LITE, we carefully curate our portfolio to ensure our clients have access to the best and most advanced market-leading lighting solutions.

“Through our recently formed partnership with Goboservice, we have been able to offer our clients new and exciting solutions. For those working in events, exhibitions and entertainment, Goboservices high-performance gobos and projectors can open a world of visual spectacle. These technologies provide the opportunity to create unique, innovative and captivating lighting effects.”

Goboservices gobos and projectors are proving to be of value to LITE clients, spanning both existing and new relationships. Partnering only with a number of market-leading manufacturers of dynamic LED and controls, LITE’s clients are assured they have access to the best-in-class lighting solutions.

Renowned as the world’s greatest flower show, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show prides itself in showcasing remarkable garden design and outstanding floral displays. The 2024 edition was no exception, with heritage lighting specialists, William Sugg and Co creating a commissioned heritage lantern which featured prominently in one of the eight high- profile show gardens.

The celebrated show gardens represent the pinnacle of horticultural excellence with showstopping designs, innovative materials and glorious planting. Leading landscape architect and seven-time gold medallist Robert Myers was chosen to design this highly coveted garden, having previously worked closely with the team at St James’s on a transformative project to restore the grounds and create a space for regeneration. His expertise and vision were instrumental in achieving a prestigious gold medal, a testament to the garden’s beauty and excellence.

New Hope and Growth

For his gold-medal winning design, entitled ‘St James’s Piccadilly: Imagine the World to be Different’, Robert drew on inspiration from nature’s reclaiming of London’s old bomb sites.

The garden’s design paid homage to the ‘revitalising influence of urban green spaces, symbolising a message of hope and recovery’, while igniting the imagination of future generations to envision a different world.

“My design’s journey began with visitors entering through an archway reminiscent of the gateways leading to the churchyard at St James’s Piccadilly, where they then stepped into a contemplative haven, featuring a lush, biodiverse planting scheme.” describes Robert Myers, Director, Robert Myers Associates.

A step back in time

Built by Stewart Landscape Construction, Robert’s vision was carefully replicated into the design to ensure the historical relevance was perfectly captured and the story brought to life. With this in mind, the Stewart Landscape team commissioned William Sugg & Co to provide an eye-catching heritage lighting feature for the show garden’s grand entrance. The company’s historical Grosvenor lantern design was specified to take centre stage in the arresting entrance archway, reminiscent of the gateway leading to the churchyard of St James’s Piccadilly. Steeped in rich history, the Grade I listed church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and consecrated in 1684. Currently undergoing a major £20million restoration of the church, its courtyard and garden, St James’s Piccadilly has notable associations with poet, William Blake, artists, Mary Delany and Mary Beale and theologian, Quobna Ottobah Cugoano, the first African to call for the total abolition of the transatlantic slave trade across the world – all of which had their stories woven through the show garden.

“We chose a bespoke William Sugg & Co Grosvenor lantern for this special project, not only for its traditional, heritage design, but also to accurately reflect the historical context, as the same William Sugg lanterns are installed at St James’s Piccadilly in London and have been in situ there since 1940. Not only did the lantern work perfectly for the design, but it gave the garden a deep connection with the historic church building and the surroundings which it was inspired by.” explains Robert Myers, Director, Robert Myers Associates.

To meet the required specifications and sustainability aspects for the Chelsea Flower Show project, the original lantern design was altered from a gas mantle burner to an LED mock mantle to give an original aesthetic, designed to emulate the original gas mantles in terms of design, scale, output and colour temperature.

The exquisite lantern, made of copper, was carefully hand crafted in the William Sugg & Co workshop in Horsham, West Sussex using traditional techniques. It was given a bespoke paint finish in RAL 7022 brown-grey to soften the standard black finish, complimenting the earthy, natural colour scheme of the exceptional garden design. For the archway installation the Grosvenor lantern was hung from the centre of the archway via a powder coated steel drop-rod.

The William Sugg & Co Grosvenor lantern was first introduced in 1927 and was given its name to reflect a lantern of a better quality and appearance than the ‘ordinary’ square lamps which were more commonly used. The name is also thought to reflect the location where it was either intended for or first introduced.

The traditional design of the Grosvenor lantern in the Robert Myers Garden retains the Victorian style of the original, with an eye-catching design and striking fretwork. It is a truly classic design. Featuring individual radiused glass panel glazing, it has a hinged glazed door, mounted as standard on galvanised open frogs which are powder coated. The manufacturing process of the Grosvenor is such that it is highly durable, with stainless steel rods to improve structural integrity.

“RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a pivotal event for us each year. With our combined expertise and honed knowledge, we worked closely with William Sugg & Co to produce and supply the lantern to perfectly fit the brief. Although we were working to a very tight time scale, the process from start to finish was seamless. Having worked with the company previously, we knew we would be presented with an authentic product, hand crafted by William Sugg’s highly skilled artisans who work to the highest standards. The beautifully crafted lantern was beyond our expectations.” says Mark Richardson, Director, Stewart Landscape.

“We were delighted to collaborate with Robert Myers and Stewart Landscape Construction on this prestigious project at Chelsea Flower Show. Established in 1837, William Sugg & Co has a long history of designing and manufacturing heritage lanterns for the streets of London, Royal Parks and for places of worship, so we were well placed to have taken on this unique installation which nods to our history at St James’s Piccadilly.” explains Lucy Bubb, Managing Director, William Sugg & Co.

Relocation Plans

Following the close of the show, each of the show gardens are relocated for many more people to continue to enjoy. For the Robert Myers show garden, the plants will enrich the garden at St James’s partner church, St Pancras Euston Road. In time, the sculptural counselling cabin and other hard landscaping features and details, such as the Lantern, will be installed in the restored garden in Piccadilly​ as part of The Wren Project – a place where individuals diagnosed with autoimmune disease, can talk about the emotional and social impact of living with a chronic condition.

“The carefully considered design of the William Sugg & Co Grosvenor lantern was the perfect addition to the St James’s Piccadilly garden, helping to add a sense of history and grandeur to the archway as visitors were welcomed.” concludes Robert Myers.

Tamlite Lighting, one of the UK’s largest independent lighting manufacturers, is urging the lighting industry and the wider built environment sector to embrace remanufacturing as a step towards achieving net zero.

In a newly published white paper, Tamlite Lighting explores how significant sustainability gains can be made throughout the supply chain by applying remanufacturing processes in the lighting sector.

The paper introduces the concept of the circular economy and discusses the progress being made by the lighting industry in establishing more circular approaches for the sector.

Richard Wharrad, Group Manager & Head of Sustainability and Social Value at Tamlite Lighting, comments: “This paper reflects our commitment to work with the wider lighting industry to evolve a model of manufactured products, with minimal waste, that can be upgraded, serviced, reused, refurbished, or recycled to support energy saving.”

“Remanufacturing a luminaire can result in better-than-new performance for up to 40% less cost. By incorporating the latest technological advancements, bespoke upgrades enhance the product’s capabilities beyond current market equivalents.”

The white paper, entitled ‘Towards Net Zero: Can Remanufacturing Create a More Sustainable Future for Lighting?’ draws on Tamlite’s collaborative work with CIBSE and other industry bodies to support the development of remanufactured products. This includes initiatives such as CIBSE’s TM66 Circular Economy Assessment Methods (CEAM).

Importantly, the paper underlines the key role of specifiers in driving the uptake of circular economy principles for new lighting projects, and the need to engage all stakeholders in a project to promote a circular approach.

Richard Wharrad further comments: “By investing in innovative remanufacturing processes and constantly pushing for smarter and more sustainable solutions, lighting manufacturers can support the wider built environment in progressing towards a more sustainable future.”

“However, more awareness about this sophisticated circular method is needed. We invite stakeholders from across the sector to participate in a discussion about how we can further promote the use of remanufactured products.”

DHA Designs proudly announce the completion of a transformative lighting design project for the historic Exeter College Library. Originally constructed in 1857 by renowned architect George Gilbert Scott, the neo-gothic library is a treasured architectural gem in Oxford.

The library is one of several works by Scott at the college and is situated overlooking the Rector’s Garden, adjacent to the 17th century walls of Convocation House, the Grade I listed historic court room of the Bodleian Library, separated only by a sliver of ground between buttresses.

The project’s primary challenge was to meet the needs of the college and its students while honouring the library’s heritage. Key to this was the provision of suitable lighting for reading desks and bookshelves, alongside creating a calm, inviting atmosphere that encourages study.

The main building, spanning the ground and first floors, features tall, free-standing bookcases that were meticulously removed and refurbished, which allowed DHA Designs to fix lights and cabling to the tops of these cases without damaging their fabric. These cantilevered lights then cast light down over the shelves. Additionally, an uplighting system on top of the bookcases highlights the intricate decorative ceilings, showcasing the library’s architectural splendour.

Custom-made oak desks, equipped with integrated task lights, offer students personalised control over their lighting. These task lights not only blend seamlessly with the bookcases but also feature energy-saving automatic shut-off functionality.

The ground floor features long reed glass pendants suspended over the desks, while the first floor boasts a tall reeded glass light that accentuates the room’s height, drawing attention to the wooden ceiling and stone-framed windows. The restored windows, showcasing stained-glass roundels by Edward Burne-Jones and crafted by William Morris’s factory, now find new resonance through modern light fittings that utilise diverse glass types to create varied atmospheric effects. Specially commissioned dichroic glass fins in the roof light of the new circulation spaces further enhance this interplay of light and glass.

The annexe continues the theme with similar reading and bookcase lights. Concealed uplights within the bookcases and the new clerestory provide an airy, illuminated environment. At the ceiling level, four large pendants outline the space, creating a striking visual effect.

In the historic turret stairs, outdated surface-mounted bulkheads have been replaced with a continuous low-profile LED extrusion that discreetly illuminates the space – running vertically up the side of the wall, disappearing into the steps to reappear on the next level. The dome of the turret and the figure that supports it have been illuminated for the first time using discreet spotlights placed at the top of the profile.

All lighting elements are connected to a sophisticated control system, allowing for dimming and switching based on time of day or student needs. This ensures an optimal balance of lighting and energy efficiency, tailored to the dynamic requirements of the library’s users.

Des O’Donovan, Director at DHA Designs said “Completing the lighting design for Exeter College Library hasn’t been without its challenges, but it’s been a truly rewarding project. Our goal was to enhance the heritage features of the college, whilst providing an environment that students find comfortable to study in. We are proud to have created an inviting and inspiring environment for students and scholars alike.”

With a deep understanding of architectural context and of creating lighting design schemes for heritage projects, DHA Designs collaborates closely with clients to create lighting designs that enhance both the historic features and functionality of spaces. The lighting design for Exeter College Library respects its historical significance while also enhancing its functionality for the future.

Project credits:

Client: Exeter College, Oxford

Lighting Design: DHA Designs

Architect: Nex

Heritage Consultant & Conservation Architect: Donald Insall

Services Engineer: Laurence Owen

Photography: James Newton

Light is our contribution to making society and architecture better and, at the same time, preserving our environment. We understand light as the fourth dimension of architecture – and thus as an integral part of sustainable building.

ERCO Greenology as a term combines ecological responsibility with technological expertise and is our strategy for sustainable lighting. The sustainable production of efficient and effective luminaires as well as perception-oriented lighting design according to the Human Centric Lighting principle are the pillars of this strategy. Our goal is the CO2 neutral production of lighting tools to make light as effective and therefore as sustainable as possible in application. Lighting Durability stands for our goal1, according to which all newly developed ERCO products are designed for a service life of no less than 20 years2,3.

Intelligent testing technologies are bringing a wealth of benefits to the facilities management and compliance sectors. Here, David Lang-Smith, Mackwell’s Sales & Marketing Director UK & Europe, explores these.

Testing of emergency lighting is an integral role across the facilities management and compliance sectors. From fulfilling legal duties to making sure buildings are working effectively and safely, regular tests are undeniably vital.

However, these testing routines can sometimes be laborious and time-consuming. While no one would deny the importance of these crucial regimes and schedules, it is understandable that companies and businesses are increasingly looking for ways to streamline these processes. Technology sits at the heart of this, including a shift towards self-testing.

Automated systems have rapidly developed in recent years to offer wide-reaching benefits, including those manufactured by Mackwell. For example, the N-Light® CONNECT touch panel is a DALI emergency lighting test and monitoring system, designed to be simple to use and intuitive with live system status diagnostics for instant information. Multiple N-Light® CONNECT touch panels can be networked together to monitor larger DALI systems, while the control panel operates without the need for a permanent connection to a PC.

Technologies and systems such as these provide an advantage that was previously not available – the ability to view the status of emergency installations at any time, from anywhere. A self-test system brings this function through one single interface while being scalable and integrated to allow wired and wireless monitoring alongside cloud connectivity.

This offers a wealth of benefits. Firstly, it removes the need for continuous site safety checks, which invariably saves time. It also improves the accuracy of detecting faults as real-time system updates are secured. This allows facilities managers or site teams to pinpoint areas of a building or location that need attention.

Furthermore, having automated processes concerning testing makes operations easier to run, freeing up the time of facilities managers, or those in charge of testing, to focus on their additional responsibilities. Compliance is also made much more straightforward, as self-testing technology allows for more secure record-keeping. Each test that has been performed is recorded, along with its result and any previously detected issues. Test reports can be accessed easily from any location through a device such as a laptop or tablet.

For buildings where retrofitting solutions are important – for example, where construction works would be too costly or simply inconvenient, wireless test and monitoring systems are the ideal solution. Demonstrating this, Mackwell’s N-LIGHT AIR is a wireless system that can be configured to monitor up to 128 individual wireless addresses. The system communicates using an 868 MHz wireless mesh, chosen for its long-range communication capabilities.

Whether wired or wireless technology is opted for, there are benefits to be gained through the use of cloud storage. Mackwell’s technology serves as a good example of this; continually reporting information to a single cloud interface where it is stored and analysed. This supports maintenance teams through the presentation of a single source of data, regardless of the technology deployed in any single building.

Choosing a testing system that is based around a touch-screen system delivers many advantages. These include the simplicity of commissioning and configuring on-site. They are also easy to read, and most will have visual cues and coding to alert operators to areas of compliance issues. For example, Mackwell’s N-LIGHT systems offer a red/amber/green colour coding on the touch screen and cloud interface, highlighting in a clear way where problems need addressing.

Additionally, using self-testing systems provides users with a full view of all installed emergency lighting assets in their estate including the current status, age and manufacturer. This helps immeasurably when planning maintenance schedules and upgrades, focusing on assets that need replacing through the use of information and data.

When thinking ahead to the future, those with responsibility for procuring testing solutions must choose technologies that have the capacity to be expanded and improved as technology evolves. The needs of the lighting community, including the emergency lighting sector, are changing rapidly, and technology needs to keep pace with this. Mackwell is a strong example of a company that has committed to continually developing its testing platforms to deliver even better integration – which all responsible manufacturers should also be striving towards.