If you’re a facilities manager it’s vital to have a good understanding of emergency lighting compliance. This isn’t just a legal formality – emergency lighting systems protect your people, your premises, and the reputation of your organisation.
This guide sets out the importance of emergency lighting compliance and explains everything you need to know as a facilities manager, including your legal responsibilities, UK emergency lighting regulations, and common mistakes you should avoid.
Why Emergency Lighting Compliance Matters
Emergency lighting systems are critical for a number of reasons, which fall into the categories of occupant safety, compliance and insurance implications:
Occupant safety
- Emergency lighting systems provide illumination when the main power supply fails.
- This enables safe evacuation by clearly marking exit routes and escape paths.
- Emergency lighting illuminates stairwells, corridors and other critical areas to prevent accidents.
- It ensures exit signs and safety signage remain visible and legible.
- It also helps prevent panic by maintaining adequate visibility in darkened spaces.
Compliance
- Proper emergency lighting compliance avoids costly financial penalties and legal consequences from regulatory violations.
- It maintains your business’ reputation and demonstrates a commitment to workplace safety.
- It ensures your readiness for regulatory inspections and audits.
- It reduces your liability exposure in the event of accidents or incidents.
- And it supports overall facility risk management and insurance requirements.
Insurance implications
- Non-compliance may result in invalidated insurance claims from emergency incidents.
- Insurance providers scrutinise emergency lighting compliance when processing evacuation-related claims.
- Failure to comply can lead to denial of insurance claims, leaving businesses financially vulnerable.
- Non-compliant facilities may face higher insurance premiums or policy restrictions.
- Inadequate emergency lighting increases liability exposure and potential financial losses.
- Proper compliance demonstrates due diligence to insurance providers and supports coverage validity.
Your Legal Responsibilities Under UK Regulations
Legal requirements in the UK dictate that the ‘responsible person’ at your organisation has to ensure that your emergency lighting systems are:
- Compliant with relevant standards.
- Tested and maintained regularly.
- Specified and properly installed.
This ‘responsible person’ is often the facilities managers, though it can also be the business owner, landlord or health and safety officer. Clarifying who your ‘responsible person’ is obviously very important if you’re not sure, or if this is yet to be decided.
What the Law Says About Testing, Inspections and Documentation
A comprehensive testing regime (such as the service we provide to 12th Street, Milton Keynes) is required under UK law for emergency lighting systems. This is to ensure ongoing compliance and functionality.
Monthly functional checks: must be conducted to verify that all emergency lights activate properly and illuminate adequately. These tests are usually brief to confirm systems are working without fully discharging the batteries.
Annual full-duration tests: these tests are mandatory, and emergency lighting systems must operate for their complete rated duration (usually 1-3 hours) to verify battery capacity and system reliability under actual emergency conditions.
Emergency lighting logbook: throughout this process, keeping a detailed logbook is legally required, documenting all tests, inspections and maintenance activities, as well as any issues identified or remedial actions taken. This logbook is critical evidence of compliance for regulatory inspections, and demonstrates due diligence in system maintenance.
Failure to conduct proper testing or maintain adequate documentation can result in regulatory violations, insurance complications, and compromised safety during actual emergencies.
Understanding BS 5266-1 and HSE Guidance
BS 5266-1 is the UK’s main code of practice for emergency lighting in premises such as offices, schools, care homes, warehouses and hotels. It covers design, installation, location, illuminance, duration (generally 3 hours), and response times for emergency luminaires.
Emergency lighting types include escape route lighting, open area (anti-panic) lighting, and high-risk task area lighting – each type has specific luminance and coverage rules.
BS 5266-1 dictates that rooms, corridors, changes in floor level, exits, and fire equipment must be illuminated to minimum levels (e.g. 1 lux on escape routes, 0.5 lux in anti-panic areas) to enable safe evacuation.
Lighting must be automatic, immediately triggered by power failure, and as described, monthly function testing plus annual full-duration tests are compulsory, with all actions logged.
The HSE evaluates compliance by checking for up-to-date risk assessments, reviewing maintenance records, and inspecting certification and logbooks. Legal obligations require regular testing by competent professionals, and compliance failures can lead to enforcement action.
Common Mistakes Facilities Managers Should Avoid
Staying safe and compliant doesn’t have to be difficult, but there are common mistakes that facilities managers and other ‘responsible persons’ need to be aware of:
Testing and Documentation Failures
Skipped or irregular testing – such as missing monthly checks and annual duration tests – happens all too often, risking safety and legal breaches. And poor record-keeping – like failing to update test logs or retain service certificates – can render even a fully functional system non-compliant during inspection.
Coverage and Design Oversights
Coverage gaps are another major pitfall. Key areas like escape routes, stairwells, or equipment locations may be left unlit, either due to outdated layouts, lack of upgrades after building changes, or poor initial design. Battery degradation often goes unnoticed too, so lights may fail to achieve the required duration if not properly monitored.
Management and Maintenance Problems
Not knowing who the ‘responsible person’ is can also be a common issue. If roles aren’t defined, critical tasks like scheduling tests or remedying issues can fall through the cracks. Using unqualified service partners and not acting promptly on faults (such as flickering, dim, or damaged fittings) are further common mistakes that jeopardise safety and compliance.
Types of Emergency Lighting Systems
Emergency lighting systems fall into four key categories, each suited to different applications:
Maintained systems: are always illuminated, running off mains and switching to battery during power failure. These systems are ideal for public spaces needing constant light, such as cinemas, theatres, or stairwells, enabling safe evacuation at all times.
Non-maintained systems: remain off in normal conditions, activating only when the mains power fails. These are common in offices or workplaces where lights are otherwise always on. They conserve energy but still meet safety requirements during emergencies.
Self-contained (single-point) systems: incorporate battery, lamp and electronics in one unit, making them easy to install and maintain. They’re best for small-to-medium spaces and low-risk premises, as each unit is independent.
Central battery systems: use a single battery source to power many lights via fire-resistant cables, and are commonly found in large or multi-storey buildings. This setup streamlines maintenance and monitoring, but requires higher initial investment and secure battery housing.
Each system is chosen based on factors such as building size, risk level, and operational demands.
FAQs About Emergency Lighting Compliance
What are the legal requirements for emergency lighting in the UK?
Emergency lighting is legally required in most UK non-domestic buildings under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It must illuminate escape routes, exits and safety equipment to at least 1 lux at floor level, and operate for a minimum of three hours during power outages. Compliance with British Standard BS 5266-1 guides installation, testing and maintenance. Monthly functional tests and annual full-duration tests are mandatory, with records kept for inspection. Failure to comply can lead to enforcement and penalties.
How often should emergency lighting be tested in the UK?
Emergency lighting in the UK must be checked regularly to ensure it’s compliant and functional. Under UK law there must be monthly functional checks to verify that all emergency lights activate properly and illuminate adequately, as well as annual full-duration tests.
What is the British standard for emergency lighting maintenance?
BS 5266-1 is the UK’s main code of practice for emergency lighting in premises such as offices, schools, care homes, warehouses and hotels. It covers design, installation, location, illuminance, duration (generally 3 hours), and response times for emergency luminaires.
Who can issue an emergency lighting certificate?
An Emergency Lighting Periodic Inspection and Testing Certificate can be sought from a qualified electrician who is registered with a scheme partner, such as NAPIT or NICEIC. Such electricians can conduct in-depth inspection, detect any issues and give guidance on any necessary remedial action.
Does emergency lighting need its own circuit?
Emergency lighting doesn’t necessarily need its own dedicated circuit, but it must be fed from a reliable power source that ensures the system can operate during a mains failure. According to BS 5266 and UK wiring regulations (BS 7671), emergency lighting circuits should be protected against faults and may use fire-resistant cabling, especially in escape routes. In larger installations, central battery systems with dedicated circuits are common for reliability and easier maintenance, but self-contained units can be on general lighting circuits as long as they comply with safety and operation requirements.
Need Help Staying Compliant?
If you would like to make sure your organisation is compliant and that you’ve done everything you can to keep your people safe, we’d love to help with our emergency lighting service.
Simply fill in our quote form and we’ll be happy to chat to you about your needs.