Part 12 of our 14-day fire safety and security series
Emergency lighting helps people leave a building safely when the normal lighting supply fails. It supports escape routes, stairways, corridors, changes of level, exits and areas where people may need to operate fire safety equipment.
It is important in offices, schools, retail premises, industrial buildings, care facilities, communal residential areas and rented properties.
Emergency lighting must remain available when it is needed. Regular emergency lighting testing helps identify failed lamps, weak batteries, damaged fittings, obstructed signs and other faults before an emergency occurs.
Dragon Security & Electrical provides emergency lighting testing, electrical testing services and planned maintenance for businesses, landlords and schools across North Wales and beyond.
What emergency lighting does
Emergency lighting operates when the normal lighting supply fails. Depending on the design, fittings may be:
- Maintained, meaning they remain illuminated during normal operation and when the supply fails.
- Non-maintained, meaning they illuminate only when the normal supply fails.
- Self-contained, with a battery inside each fitting.
- Centrally supplied, with batteries located in a central system.
The system should provide suitable illumination for the building’s escape strategy. This may include:
- Corridors and stairways.
- Final exits and fire exits.
- Changes in direction or level.
- Open areas where people could become disorientated.
- Fire alarm call points and fire-fighting equipment.
- Areas with a higher risk of panic or obstruction.
- Toilets, plant rooms or other locations identified by the design and fire-risk assessment.
Emergency lighting does not replace a fire alarm. The fire alarm provides warning. Emergency lighting helps people see where to go after the warning is given or when normal lighting is lost.
Emergency lighting and escape routes
An emergency lighting system should support the building’s actual escape routes. It should not be assessed in isolation from the premises layout.
Check whether:
- Exit routes remain clear.
- Emergency fittings are visible.
- Exit signs point in the correct direction.
- Doors can be opened without unnecessary delay.
- Staircases receive suitable illumination.
- Changes to partitions or room layouts have created dark areas.
- New storage, signage or equipment blocks a fitting.
- Emergency lights cover areas around fire alarm call points and extinguishers.
- External routes remain safe after occupants leave the building.
Building alterations can affect emergency lighting coverage. A new partition, locked door, storage area or access control installation may change the original escape arrangement.
Schools and businesses should review emergency lighting after refurbishment, changes of use, new equipment installation or changes to occupancy. Landlords should also review shared corridors and communal areas when properties are altered.
What should a visual check cover?
A routine visual check is a simple way to identify obvious faults between formal tests. The responsible person or a nominated member of staff should only carry out checks if they understand the system and have suitable instructions.
Look for:
- A fitting that is cracked, loose or damaged.
- A missing or broken diffuser.
- A charging indicator that is not showing its normal status.
- A fault indicator or warning light.
- Dirt or paint covering the fitting.
- An exit sign that is missing, loose or difficult to see.
- Arrows pointing in the wrong direction.
- Obstructions near fittings or signs.
- Damage caused by water, impact or building work.
- Signs of overheating or discolouration.
Record defects as soon as they are found. Do not assume that a green indicator proves the battery will last for its full rated duration. A fitting can appear normal during everyday operation but fail during a longer test.
How often should emergency lighting be tested?
Testing arrangements depend on the system, premises, risk assessment and manufacturer’s instructions. As general guidance, a commonly used schedule includes routine visual checks, monthly functional tests and a full-duration test at least annually.
Routine visual checks
Where practicable, check fittings regularly when the building is occupied or visited. The check should confirm that fittings appear intact, charging indicators are normal and exit signs are visible.
The frequency may be daily or linked to regular site inspections. Higher-risk premises may require more frequent checks.
Monthly functional tests
A short functional test simulates failure of the normal lighting supply. This may use a test key, local test switch or an appropriate isolation method.
The person carrying out the test should confirm that emergency fittings and exit signs illuminate correctly. The test should be controlled so that batteries are not unnecessarily discharged and occupants are not put at risk.
Record:
- The date and time.
- The areas or circuits tested.
- Any fitting that failed to illuminate.
- Any signs of reduced brightness.
- The person completing the test.
- The corrective action required.
Annual full-duration testing
A full-duration test checks whether the emergency lighting will operate for its rated period. Three hours is common for many systems, but the required duration depends on the design and premises.
The test should be planned carefully. Emergency lighting may be unavailable while batteries discharge and recharge. Schedule the test when the building is unoccupied or provide suitable temporary arrangements.
At the end of the test, fittings should continue to provide suitable illumination in line with the system’s design requirements. Any failed fitting, weak battery or reduced output should be investigated.
BS 5266 provides recommendations and guidance for the design, installation, wiring, inspection and testing of emergency lighting. It is a code of practice, not a substitute for a site-specific assessment. Check the current edition and apply the recommendations alongside the building’s fire-risk assessment, system design and manufacturer’s instructions. You can find further information about the standard on the BSI BS 5266 page.
Battery condition and failed fittings
Batteries are critical to emergency lighting performance. They can lose capacity through age, heat, repeated discharge, poor charging or lack of maintenance.
During testing, look for:
- Fittings that fail to illuminate.
- Fittings that switch off before the end of the test.
- Reduced brightness.
- Batteries that do not recharge.
- Swollen or leaking batteries.
- Corrosion or damaged terminals.
- Unusual heat or discolouration.
- Repeated failures from the same fitting.
Do not ignore a failed fitting because other lights remain operational. One failed light can leave a stairway, landing, corridor or exit without adequate illumination.
Repairs should use compatible components and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. A competent contractor can determine whether the fitting needs a battery replacement, complete replacement, wiring repair or further investigation.
Exit signs and final exits
Exit signage must be clear, visible and consistent with the escape route. A sign should not direct occupants towards a locked door, dead end or area that no longer forms part of the escape plan.
Check that:
- The sign is illuminated during testing.
- The direction arrow is correct.
- The sign can be seen from the approach route.
- Furniture, displays and temporary equipment do not block it.
- Signs remain suitable after changes to the layout.
- Final exits open as intended during an evacuation.
Where access control is installed, doors on escape routes must be considered as part of the fire safety plan. Door release arrangements, break-glass units, alarms and emergency lighting should be reviewed together. The correct arrangement depends on the building, door type, occupancy and fire strategy.
Testing records and the fire safety logbook
Testing is only useful when results are recorded and faults are followed through.
Keep emergency lighting records in the site’s fire safety logbook or approved digital system. Records should include:
- Date of each inspection or test.
- Type of test completed.
- Areas, circuits or fittings covered.
- Pass, fail or not-tested results.
- Faults identified.
- Remedial work completed.
- Date of repair or replacement.
- Name of the person who carried out the work.
- Any limitations or temporary measures.
Records help demonstrate that the system is being managed. They also help a contractor identify repeated faults and plan replacement work.
The responsible person has duties under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This can include an employer, owner, landlord, managing agent or another person with control of the premises. The responsible person must carry out and review a fire-risk assessment, maintain appropriate fire safety measures and plan for emergencies.
Use a planned maintenance approach
Emergency lighting should form part of a wider planned preventative maintenance programme. A PPM schedule can coordinate:
- Emergency lighting testing.
- Fire alarm servicing.
- Electrical inspection and testing.
- Access control checks.
- Automatic door safety checks.
- Exit route inspections.
- Fault repairs and replacement planning.
- Multi-site compliance reporting.
This approach reduces missed tests and helps identify connections between systems. For example, a new access control door may affect escape routes. An electrical alteration may affect emergency lighting circuits. A fire alarm upgrade may require a review of signage, call points and evacuation arrangements.
Why competent inspection matters
Routine checks can identify obvious problems, but formal inspection and testing requires suitable knowledge, experience and equipment.
A competent contractor should be able to:
- Understand the emergency lighting design.
- Identify the relevant fittings and circuits.
- Test the system safely.
- Assess battery performance.
- Check exit signage and escape routes.
- Identify installation or wiring faults.
- Record results clearly.
- Recommend proportionate remedial work.
- Provide documentation for the responsible person.
The correct testing frequency and system requirements must be confirmed for the specific premises. A fire-risk assessment and competent contractor should guide the final arrangements.
Emergency lighting testing in North Wales
Dragon Security & Electrical provides emergency lighting installation, inspection, testing, fault finding, repairs, maintenance and compliance reporting for commercial, industrial, educational and residential premises.
Our electrical services include emergency lighting and periodic inspection and testing. Our fire services support fire alarms, fire safety equipment, risk assessment and related protection systems.
We support single premises and multi-site clients across North Wales, the North West and the UK.
If your emergency lighting test is overdue, records are incomplete or fittings are failing, contact Dragon Security & Electrical on 01492 330330 or use our contact page.
Emergency lighting should be ready before it is needed. Start with a visual check, record every test and arrange competent inspection for the full system.