Emergency Lighting Testing & Electrical Maintenance: Standards, Responsibilities and How Often to Test
How often do I need to test emergency lighting?
Emergency lighting testing is part of essential electrical maintenance and is governed by recognised British and European standards. These standards are designed to allow occupants of a building to escape safely in an emergency, or to stay put in the event of a normal power outage. This is particularly applicable to areas of a building that give access to the public, or workers. It is also designed to aid rescue workers entering the building, such as fire fighters or medics.
Key standards for emergency lighting
B.S.EN1838 – Emergency lighting for buildings, is a harmonised European standard. The latest edition (2024) states that there should be at least two luminaires on any section of escape routes in case one of the luminaries fails, there will still be sufficient light to illuminate the escape route.
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B.S.EN 50172 – Emergency escape lighting systems, gives details of lighting levels required to provide enough illumination to safely evacuate a building in the event of power failure. Theses standards also give details of the required Schematic drawings, instruction manuals and maintenance instructions for the particular escape lighting systems installed within the building, along with records for the testing and maintenance of the emergency lighting system.
B.S. 5266 – Emergency lighting code of practice, helps with the design and installation of emergency lighting, where to site luminaires and the wiring systems supplying the emergency lighting, along with B.S 7671 the requirements for electrical installations.
Who is responsible?
All these standards put the responsibility for the correct installation, and maintenance of a system to provide safe evacuation of a building in an emergency squarely on the shoulders of the duty holder, which is usually the person who owns/uses the property.
Emergency lighting testing and record keeping
To prove to insurance companies, or the courts that the installation is safe for continual use, regular tests should be performed, and records of such tests be kept for inspection in the form of a logbook.
Every emergency luminaire should be checked each by briefly tuning the power off, to ensure that the emergency battery system is operational and the light illuminates. Once power is reinstated, it should be checked to make sure that the green LED (red in older installations) comes back on to show that it is giving a trickle charge to the batteries.
The logbook is then signed and dated with any observations reported. Follow up dates and signatures are required when any defects are rectified, along with details of action taken.
Every 12 months the batteries should be discharged for their full duration, usually three hours, thus ensuring that there will be sufficient light post evacuation for the emergency services.
FAQ: Emergency lighting testing (and how often you need to do it)
How often do I need to test emergency lighting?
Emergency lighting testing should be carried out regularly and recorded in a logbook. Each emergency luminaire should be checked by briefly turning the power off to confirm the emergency battery system operates and the light illuminates, then checked again once power is reinstated to ensure the indicator LED (green, or red in older installations) returns to show the batteries are receiving a trickle charge. Every 12 months the batteries should be discharged for their full duration (usually three hours).
What does a basic emergency lighting test involve?
Briefly turn the power off to each emergency luminaire to confirm it illuminates on battery supply. Restore power and confirm the indicator LED returns (green, or red in older installations) to show a trickle charge is being applied to the batteries. Record the result, date and any observations in the emergency lighting logbook.
What does the annual emergency lighting test involve?
Every 12 months, the batteries should be discharged for their full duration, usually three hours. This confirms the system can provide sufficient light after evacuation for the emergency services.
Do I need to keep records of emergency lighting testing?
Yes. Records of tests should be kept for inspection in the form of a logbook. The logbook is signed and dated with any observations reported, and follow-up dates and signatures are required when defects are rectified, along with details of action taken.
Who is responsible for emergency lighting maintenance?
Responsibility sits with the duty holder, which is usually the person who owns/uses the property. The duty holder is responsible for ensuring correct installation and ongoing electrical maintenance so the building can be safely evacuated in an emergency.
