Simon Coates, Orbik's Technical Manager writes:
"You get what you pay for". We have all heard this on numerous occasions and many of us can even relate this to our own personal experiences. Unfortunately
, in the field of emergency lighting this has also been my experience. How do you guarantee that the quality of the product will not affect the safety of the customer whilst providing the commercial advantage we all strive for? The simple answer is you can’t but there are simple steps you can take to help reduce the risk.
When selecting your product, invest a little time to do your research. Most importantly, who are the manufacturers of the product? Most reputable companies will make it easy for you to find them and see their company background. Their products should lead you to them; after all, as manufacturers we should show pride in our products. If you cannot easily find the original manufacturer then perhaps you should be wary of their products. Once you have found them then take time to investigate their company profile.
- How long has the company been trading? Here at Orbik we are proud of our 37-year history.
- What quality standards does the company hold? The one you should be looking for is BSI ISO 9001.
- Does the company belong to any accredited associations? For emergency lighting, the two to look out for are the Lighting Industry Association (LIA) and the Industry Committee for Emergency Lighting (ICEL), both of which have strict criteria for membership, including either a recognisable quality-manufacturing standard or in the case of the LIA, their own audited quality standard.
What about the products? That is what we are buying after all. Again, there are things you can look for. We have all heard of the CE mark, but do we really know what it is? To sell a product in the UK the product must comply with the essential requirements of the relevant European Health, Safety and Environmental Legislation. All products have this mark so does it matter? Not really, but the manufacturer has a legal requirement to provide, upon request, an EC/EU Declaration of Conformity. Try asking for one, it’s easier than you think. Your supplier should be able to obtain a copy for you, or you can request one directly. The product label must provide contact details as this is another European requirement regarding the labelling of the product. If they cannot provide you with one, you should not really be using their product and they should not be selling it to you.
After that look for product approvals.
- The one we should all be familiar with is the BSI kitemark.
- or ENEC for Europe.
There are many more and any reputable company should be able to advise you on their symbols. Do not be afraid to ask for a copy of their certificate or go to the website for the approval board and check for yourself. Orbik Electronics products are available to check here,
https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/Product-Directory/.
What should be brought to the attention of the customer is the associated product technical support. Assuming you have done your research and have narrowed your product selection down, then decide how is best to use that product? In emergency lighting there is a lot to cover and understandably not everyone one is an expert. I have myself, a very limited knowledge of the requirements of electrical installation, but I know people with the knowledge who can answer my questions. You should have that confidence in the supplier of your product and be able to access their technical knowledge. Not only should they be able to advise you on your application, but they should also be able to provide you with the relevant supporting documentation. In emergency lighting there is a minimum requirement of illumination to be met. One method to derive design figures for light levels is to use spacing tables, provided by the manufacturer as a guide to mounting their products in order to achieve the minimum lighting levels. If they cannot provide this basic information then look to someone who can.
Orbik can offer training on our products and general emergency lighting techniques, both here at our own purpose-built training facilities or at your own premises.
Ask yourself, would you be happy to compromise the safety of yourself or even your family? Then why do it with your customer? After all, you are responsible for your actions which could result in legal action.