Emergency Lighting
Design Installation Commissioning Service and Maintenance Takeover and repair of existing systems 5-year photometric verification
Emergency lighting is lighting that automatically operates when the normal power supply fails, ensuring people can safely find escape routes and exits during an emergency such as a fire or power outage. It is a critical safety feature in many types of buildings and is a legal requirement for most commercial and public premises.
Having a professionally designed and installed emergency lighting system ensures that in the event of an emergency, your building is safe, compliant, and that everyone inside can evacuate quickly and confidently without confusion or panic.
Here are some of the key benefits of emergency lighting:
Emergency lighting has minimum inspection requirements:
Daily – emergency lighting inspection (only for central back-up systems).
Monthly – The test is a short functional test in accordance with BS EN 50172:2004 / BS 5266-8:2004.
Annual – A test for the full rated duration of the emergency lights (e.g., 3 hours) must be carried out.
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Bright, reliable lighting guides occupants safely toward exits when visibility is compromised, ensuring a swift and orderly evacuation.
Clearly illuminates extinguishers, call points, and safety equipment so they can be located instantly in a crisis.
Instant activation prevents confusion and accidents, keeping people calm and safe when mains power fails unexpectedly.
Professionally designed and installed to meet UK emergency lighting standards, keeping your premises legally compliant at all times.
Provides essential safety coverage across any property type, safeguarding tenants, staff, and visitors alike.
Kicks in instantly the moment power is lost, delivering reliable illumination without anyone needing to lift a finger.
Routine inspections and certified maintenance ensure your emergency lighting performs flawlessly when it’s needed most.
A complete, professionally maintained system means you can trust your premises are always protected and fully compliant.
FAQ
Emergency lighting is a battery backed lighting system that automatically switches on when mains power fails, ensuring people can see escape routes and safely evacuate a building. It can include escape route lights, exit signs and antipanic lighting.
Yes — most nondomestic premises (offices, shops, schools, care homes, common areas of residential buildings, etc.) need emergency lighting under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The responsible person — typically the business owner, employer, landlord or building manager — must ensure lighting is installed, maintained and tested as required.
According to BS 52661 guidance:
✅ Escape routes — corridors, stairways, changes of level
✅ Final exit doors
✅ Near fire safety equipment (e.g., extinguishers, alarms)
✅ Large open areas (antipanic lighting)
✅ Hazardous areas or task locations as identified in a fire risk assessment
Minimum illuminance levels typically recommended in BS 52661:
- Escape routes: ~1 luxon centre line
• Open/antipanic areas: ~0.5 lux
• Highrisk tasks: higher (e.g., 10 % of normal lighting or ~15 lux) depending on tasks
(Lux is a measure of light level — these levels are considered sufficient to see and move safely.)
Maintained
Lights are on during normal use and remain lit on power failure (often used in public spaces).
Nonmaintained
Lights only come on during a mains failure (common in corridors and stairways).
Failure to maintain and test emergency lighting is a legal breach. Fire authorities can issue enforcement notices, and serious failures have led to prosecution and significant fines.
Yes — a fire safety logbook recording all tests, defects and maintenance is essential to demonstrate compliance.
You’ll hear about:
- BS 52661 — UK code of practice for emergency lighting
- BS EN 1838 — emergency lighting performance (illumination levels)
- BS EN 50172 — emergency escape lighting system testing and logbooks
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