As it stands, in today's
legislation led market, we are offered two types of automated test systems.
1. SELF TEST- where individual, stand alone luminaires are equipped with in built 'Auto-test' functionality that routinely tests all the functions of the unit including battery condition and report the status to the luminaires multi-coloured LED or internal audio device, if faults are found.
2. AUTOMATIC TEST-where dedicated Intelligent Systems carry out periodic tests and report and record all test results to a central control point.
The 'Self-Test' luminaires are fine to a point, suitable for retro-fit and certainly they comply with the current draft standards (IEC 629034) for products and (prEN 50172) for the practice but, in my opinion, still fall short of the ideal, as this method can never really satisfy legal/liability requirements as it relies too much on human intervention through the manual inspection of luminaires for the LED/Audio indicators to signal failure; not to mention the accurate keeping of status logs.
So, as the owner or occupier of a building, whose legal responsibility it is to ensure that the emergency lighting system is regularly tested and maintained in accordance with current British Standards, (BS55265) which method would you choose, to guarantee peace of mind?
The automatic answer has to be Automatic!
The installation of an automatic testing system not only reduces your maintenance costs, but also ensures that an accurate log is kept for possible future inspection by local fire or building control officers. All luminaires are tested automatically from one dedicated location, removing the need for maintenance personnel to 'visually check' each individual luminaire. Faulty luminaires are individually identified and information regarding the type and nature of fault is provided.
Technology, has now been introduced to the UK, the very latest in computerised monitoring and testing of emergency lighting with DARDO 2 & DARDO PLUS intelligent systems.
Manufactured in Italy by OVA-Bargellini, these fully integrated systems fully 'meet and beat' the most stringent requirements for the control, testing and monitoring of modern Emergency Lighting Systems.
Designed to carry out automatic and periodic tests, the installation of a DARDO 2 Automatic Testing System, ensures that all current standards and legislation are complied with in full. Faulty luminaires are individually identified and information regarding type of lamp and reason for failure is reported immediately to a designated printer or if preferred, information is sent to and displayed on a PC fitted with DARDO LITE Software. The DARDO systems not only record and report all tests and faults, but can also be programmed via the control panel to communicate directly with each individual luminaire, allowing the operator to carry out bespoke test patterns, establish real-time light levels and conduct back-up battery checks.
The advanced system, will provide automatic hard copies of all tests and faults and the progressive design of the system allows for several installations to be linked to a central computer via a low-cost modem. The DARDO 2 control panel is capable of monitoring up to 192 emergency luminaires in groups of 96 However, in extreme cases, a maximum of 32 panels can be interconnected to control, test and monitor a total of 6144 individual luminaires.
The DARDO PLUS, is the new, compact, modular system that is ideally suited for the constant monitoring of both large and small installations. Offering immediate displays for fault identification, description, lamp status, battery life checks and diagnostic reports, all connected luminaires communicate directly with the central control unit through an integrated interface where up to 100 individual luminaires can be numbered at random using two decimal switches, enabling maintenance personnel to configure their own preferences.
The DARDO PLUS, just like the DARDO 2, can be fully integrated into the building's automation systems and interconnected to control large scale emergency lighting systems. Up to 32 DARDO PLUS control units, even those located at some distance, can be monitored on a central PC via modem.
