IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS AND TESTING FOR EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEMS

摘要

The invention relates to the monitoring and testing of emergency systems (10) to ensure that they are at all times capable of performing their required emergency function. Emergency lighting systems (10) installed in buildings are required to function to provide illumination (22) in times of emergency. These systems are generally provided with a back-up power supply (25) which maintains the function should the primary power supply be cut off. Frequent testing of such systems is necessary to ensure that they are capable of performing the emergency function. In buildings, with many emergency units (10), testing requirements impose a large burden. The invention provides a system whereby test parameters for each particular unit (10) can be instructed by a single control unit (11), and test results can be received and processed by the control unit (11). The control unit (11) employs means to communicate (i.e. UHF) (28) (13) with each emergency unit (10). This simplifies test procedures for such emergency systems (10). The invention is also applicable to smoke, fire, burgler alarm systems.