What Is Emergency Lighting Testing And How Does It Work?

Emergency lighting is lighting used in cases when the normal power supply is lost, and normal illumination fails. In the UK, it is legally essential in all business properties. In instances where mains electricity is lost (for example, due to a fire or a power cut) it is crucial to have emergency lighting to keep staff and customers safe and panic-free.

Emergency lighting is usually required to operate fully automatically and at a bright enough level to enable all occupants to safely evacuate a building, as well as to sufficiently illuminate fire equipment. While most new buildings have emergency lighting installed during construction, businesses must be vigilant in ensuring their emergency lighting systems complies to BS 5266. This includes regular emergency lighting testing, swiftly scheduling any necessary maintenance, and keeping a logbook.

What you should know about Emergency Lighting Regulations (BS 5266)

To comply with emergency lighting regulations in the UK, the law requires that all businesses have emergency lighting in place, including in schools, hospitals, offices, factories, and entertainment venues (like theatres, cinemas, pubs and clubs, and tents and marquees). Emergency lighting must provide illumination in several key areas of a premises, including near firefighting equipment, such as fire alarm call points and portable fire extinguishers so that they can be used safely and effectively in an emergency – see below for more about where emergency lighting should be installed. According to UK regulations, the emergency lighting supply must be capable of remaining illuminated for a continuous duration of one hour where occupants can leave immediately, or three to four hours in buildings where occupants cannot leave immediately such as hotels, and they must be rechargeable within 24 hours.

According to the code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises (BS 5266), the person responsible for the safe functioning of a business property’s emergency lighting is the employer. While this may vary according to what type of lease a business premises has, we at phs Compliance always advocate for safety and responsibility: it’s essential that employers know the regulations around emergency lighting and ensure compliance. Regular risk assessments and appropriate maintenance can make all the difference between a safe and a potentially unsafe workplace.

Where should emergency lighting be installed?

Businesses have a legal duty to ensure that the emergency lighting installed in their premises provides sufficient illumination throughout their building’s exit and escape routes. In addition to this, it needs to be bright enough to allow access to essential facilities such as fire safety equipment, and to allow people to finish carrying out potentially dangerous processes before leaving a building. There are several key areas where emergency lighting must be installed in order to comply with this responsibility. These are:

• Common areas and escape routes, e.g., corridors and hallways – lighting should be placed along these routes but particularly at the following locations:

• C​hanges in direction
• C​orridor junctions
• S​tairways - especially at the top and bottom. Stairways can pose a significant hazard and it is essential that all stairways are sufficiently lit.
• Steps and ramps – any unevenness in floors can create a hazard for users.

• Fire and first aid points – emergency lighting should be installed to highlight safety equipment such as fire alarms, extinguishers and blankets, and first aid equipment so that they can be easily located.
• Exit doors (internal and external)
• Escalators
• Lifts/elevators
• Toilets – especially for disabled toilets and facilities exceeding a floor
  area of eight square metres, or without light from another source
• Generators
• High physical risk areas – such as chemical handling stations or heavy machinery, as staff must be able to safely shut these areas down before leaving a location
• Open areas – Areas larger than 60 square metres and open areas with an escape route running through them, such as car parks and sports pitches.

What emergency lighting would be best for my business?

Big or small, it is essential that all types of business ensure they have emergency lighting of sufficient intensity to protect their staff and clients – but what kind of lighting does your business require?...

The type of building your business operates from will determine the type of emergency lighting system you need to install. For example, if your building has high ceilings, you may need high-output emergency lights that are able to illuminate large areas.

Similarly, if your building has staircases, you may need stairwell lights that provide guidance to the exits. If you have an outdoor area, such as a carpark or playground, you may need emergency lights that are weatherproof.

How long your emergency lighting lasts is also a key consideration for your business. It is important to consider whether the occupants in your building would be able to leave immediately, or require more time to evacuate (such as those in sleeping accommodation).

Take a look at our list of types of emergency lights below for more information about types of lighting to suit your business’s needs and budget:

Types of emergency lights

There are several distinct types of emergency lights and, while each type is appropriate to situations, employers may also find that types of emergency lighting fit their budget better than others. No matter the cost, all options here are safe and will provide safe and reliable lighting in an emergency.

Self-contained – single point

Advantages:

• Installation is faster and cheaper than using standard wiring material.

• If there is a failure of the mains supply, emergency lights automatically come on.
• There are exceptionally low hardware and maintenance costs—only periodic testing and cleaning are required, and there’s no need for special ventilation or extended wiring.

Disadvantages:

• Testing can take longer than in many other cases, as it requires performance-testing emergency lights individually.
• The environmental conditions in the system will vary, which could affect the battery's performance.

• Depending on the application, the battery life is limited to two to four years.

Central battery source

Advantages:

• The life of a battery varies between five and 25 years, depending on the type.

• Maintenance and routine testing are easier, as only one location needs to be considered.
• Environmentally stable in a protected environment and flexible to surrounding temperatures.
• The larger batteries used for these types of emergency lights are cheaper per watt—and the lights are usually less expensive.

Disadvantages:

• Localised mains failure may not cause the emergency lighting in that area to come on. Due to the use of fire-resistant cable, wiring system and installation costs can be high.

• The battery should be housed in a dedicated room with ventilation.

How do I test emergency lights?

All emergency lighting must be checked and maintained in the same way as other emergency equipment. Each light should be assigned a location identity for recordkeeping, and records kept of system tests, defects, and any damage to the system—which could include information on how to rectify the issue, as well as any remedial action taken.

Emergency lighting testing can be carried out by the responsible person (usually the employer/a representative of the business).A simple functional test is all that’s needed to ensure emergency lighting switches on and works correctly. Testing is performed using a secure device key (knowns as a “fish key” because of its shape).

How often should emergency lighting be tested?

The key question is: how often should emergency lighting be tested? On that front, we’re happy to tell you it’s quite simple! All emergency lighting testing should be carried out every month to ensure they are functioning properly, with the length of the test sufficient to ensure that the emergency lighting operates correctly, without causing any damage to the system components (i.e. lamp and battery).

Further to the monthly tests, an annual emergency lighting test should be performed for the full three-hour duration of the emergency light. If the lights don’t last the full test duration, they will have failed the test and maintenance or replacement should be sought.

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