About Dalata Group:

Dalata Hotel Group was founded in August 2007 and listed as a PLC in March 2014. Delivering the kind of memorable hospitality the group are known for has made Dalata Ireland’s largest hotel operator, with a fast-growing presence in the UK and Continental Europe.

They bring that special touch to 56 hotels, welcoming guests to over 12,000 rooms and with plans underway for another 871 in the coming months and years.

The group currently own 31 hotels, lease another 22 and run 3 via management contracts. Dalata’s commitment to being the heart of hospitality has created Ireland’s largest hotel brands, Clayton Hotels and Maldron Hotels.

 

How we support the group: Electrical Inspection & Testing (Fixed wiring & Emergency Lighting)

FCS Services Ltd began working with the Dalata Group back in 2021, carrying out Emergency Lighting inspections across the UK & Ireland. This was no simple task, scheduling engineers to visit each hotel 4 times per year, providing timely reporting and certification etc. But it was a challenge we relished as multisite compliance is what we do best.

 

Having succsesfully undertaken that challange, meeting all our KPI’s, we were asked if we could facilitate the Electrical Inspection and Testing of all of the groups Irish Hotels, along with the Emergency Lighting. Again this is a huge undertaking, approximatley 75’000 circuits to be tested over a 5 year period.

 

Starting in January 24, we have just completed our first year of this prestigious contract again fulfilling our obligations ahead of schedule and without added costs to our client. This will see us go into the new year again as Dalata Groups Electrical Compliance contractor of choice. Something we are very proud of, and hope this partnership will be fruitful for both parties for years to come.

 

FCS Services ltd carry out 4 site visits per year across the groups Irish portfolio inspecting, testing and verifying the emergency lighting systems. While also having our Inspection engineers visit to ensure electrical wiring systems within all premises are up to standard. Any defects are recorded and photographes logged on our cloud based workflow system. Reports, certification and photos can be accessed at the touch of a button by the clients appointed persons.

 

 

 

 

So What Do You Need To Know To Ensure Your Emergency Lighting System Is Compliant?

A combination of different types of emergency lighting is likely to be needed in most buildings and a risk assessment should be carried out to identify the areas and locations which will require emergency lighting as well as the type of installations needed.

Anyone undertaking works on emergency lighting schemes should be in possession and have an understanding of the following standards:

  • BS 5266-1:2016 Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises.

  • BS EN 60598-2-22 British and European standard for emergency luminaires.

  • BS 5499-10:2014 Guidance for the selection and use of safety signs and fire safety notices.

  • IS 3217:2014+A1:2017 Irish Stand for emergency lighting.

It’s also worth noting that the regulations governing emergency lighting are periodically updated and so many of the schemes we see have not been maintained in accordance to the latest requirements.

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, for example, enact in UK law an EU Directive designed to harmonise signs across the EU. The directive was for all signs to be replaced by 24th December 1998 but we still regularly see non-compliant emergency signage installed in active schemes.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 became Law on the 1st of October 2006 providing a minimum fire safety standard in all non-domestic premises. This order replaced all previous laws in England and Wales meaning that many schemes installed prior to 2005 are likely to be non-compliant.

Similarly, the code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises (BS 5266) was originally published in 2008, but was later amended in 2011 and again in 2016. The assumption, therefore, is that it’s entirely possible for installations which have not been upgraded or reviewed since these periods to be non-compliant with current requirements.

 

Why Do I Need An EICR (Electrical installation condition report) For My Business?

An electrical inspection will indicate whether your electrical installations are safe and compliant at the time of testing. EICR’s are carried out in accordance with BS:7671 18th Edition. Although this is a non statuatory document, adhearance to it will fulfil a business owners duty of care to comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations which is Law. Here are 4 key reasons why your inspection is vital to the safety of your staff, and your business:

1. Electrical Installation Compliance

Electrical installations and wiring can deteriorate over time, or be poorly maintained between inspections. Often these changes go undetected until either an EICR is carried out or a problem arises. It is important to identify whether your electrical installations are satisfactory and safe for continued use. Note that business owners can be prosecuted under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for failing to comply with the Electricity at Work Regulation.

2. Health & Safety

An EICR for commercial/industrial premises helps to mitigate any risk of injury. It is designed to prevent related injuries such as electric shock or burns. Not only does it promote health and safety, it also minimises the risk of potential damage and downtime for your business too.

3. Liability & Insurance

It is important that you hold the correct documents to ensure validity of business insurance.

This ensures that if there is a suspected electrical fault that causes injury or property damage in the future, you can provide evidence that your commercial/industrial premises carried out the correct electrical testing procedure. This includes any remedial work you choose to undertake.

If you do not hold a current and valid EICR for your commercial/industrial premises, it can invalidate your insurance certificates.

4. It Will Save you Money

Carrying out an EICR is classed as preventative maintenance rather than reactive maintenance. It makes sense to identify and then rectify electrical issues BEFORE they cause disruption and downtime for your commercial/industrial business. Reactive call outs and maintenance regimes always cost a premium to the client. A thourough PPM (Planned Preventative Maintenace) regime will save you money in the long run.