Emergency lighting is essential for safe evacuation during emergencies. When power fails due to fire, electrical faults or structural issues, visibility can deteriorate rapidly, making escape routes difficult to navigate. Poor or missing emergency lighting has been linked to evacuation delays, increased injury risk and panic during real incidents, as highlighted in several fire authority investigations.
Because of this, UK regulations require duty holders to ensure emergency lighting systems are properly installed, regularly tested and kept in efficient working order. Failure to comply can lead to enforcement action, fines and increased liability following an incident.
This guide provides a clear, practical overview of emergency lighting duties, recognised standards and testing requirements for employers, building owners and facilities managers.
What Is Emergency Lighting and Why Is It Required?
Emergency lighting provides illumination when the normal electrical supply fails, ensuring people can safely navigate escape routes, locate exits and reach a place of safety. Its purpose is not to replace normal lighting but to support evacuation and reduce risk during emergencies.
Purpose of Emergency Lighting
Emergency lighting supports safe evacuation by:
- Maintaining orientation when normal lighting fails
- Helping occupants avoid hazards such as steps, slopes or obstacles
- Illuminating mandatory signage and exit points
- Reducing panic, particularly in smoke-filled or unfamiliar environments
- Assisting emergency services who may need to enter the premises during an incident
Smoke and fire conditions can cause rapid disorientation; even individuals familiar with the building may struggle to navigate without adequate lighting. Effective emergency lighting significantly reduces this risk. Emergency lighting plays several key roles:
- Ensuring safe evacuation during a power failure
- Illuminating escape routes, exit doors and critical safety equipment
- Reducing confusion, disorientation and panic
- Supporting emergency services if they need to enter the building
Without suitable lighting, even familiar environments can become dangerous, particularly in smoke-filled or complex settings.
Premises Where Emergency Lighting Is Needed
Emergency lighting is required in most premises where people may need to evacuate, including:
- Workplaces and commercial buildings
- Public buildings, shared-use premises and multi-occupancy environments
- High-risk areas such as warehouses, manufacturing sites, hospitality venues and healthcare facilities
The specific requirements depend on the building layout, occupancy levels and findings of the fire risk assessment.
Types of Emergency Lighting Systems
Different emergency lighting systems serve distinct functions. Examples include:
- Escape route lighting: Installed along corridors, staircases, fire exits and intersections to support safe movement toward exits.
- Open area (anti-panic) lighting: Used in large rooms such as halls, warehouses and open-plan offices to reduce panic and ensure occupants can locate escape routes.
- High-risk task area lighting: Installed where dangerous machinery must be shut down safely during a power failure. This ensures operators can complete critical tasks without increased danger.
Systems can be maintained (always lit) or non-maintained (activate only on power failure), and may provide 1-hour or 3-hour duration depending on building and occupancy risk. Different types of emergency lighting serve different functions:
- Escape route lighting: Guides people safely along exit routes
- Open area (anti-panic) lighting: Reduces panic in large open spaces
- High-risk task area lighting: Provides lighting for tasks that must be safely shut down during an emergency
Emergency Lighting Regulations and Legal Framework
Several legal obligations govern emergency lighting in the UK. Duty holders must understand these requirements to ensure systems remain compliant.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Fire Safety Order applies to most non-domestic premises and places duties on the responsible person. Under the legislation, they must:
- Provide and maintain suitable emergency lighting where required
- Ensure escape routes and exits can be safely used in an emergency
- Keep systems in efficient working order through testing and maintenance
Fire authorities enforce compliance and can issue enforcement notices, prohibition notices or prosecutions for serious breaches.
BS 5266 Standards Explained
BS 5266 is the primary British Standard for emergency lighting. While not a legal requirement in itself, it is widely used by fire authorities and safety professionals to determine whether a system meets the Fire Safety Order.
Key expectations under BS 5266 include:
- Minimum lighting levels (typically 1 lux on escape routes)
- Uniformity of illumination to prevent shadows and confusion
- Requirements for maintained vs non-maintained systems
- Minimum 3-hour duration where evacuation may be prolonged or re-entry required
- Illumination of key fire safety equipment such as alarm call points and extinguishers
- Use of fire-resistant cabling where appropriate
Following BS 5266 demonstrates that the responsible person has taken reasonable steps to provide safe evacuation lighting. BS 5266 is the recognised British Standard providing guidance on emergency lighting system design, installation, performance and maintenance. While not law, following it is widely considered best practice and helps demonstrate compliance with the Fire Safety Order.
BS 5266 covers:
- System performance and minimum lighting levels
- Escape signage illumination
- Duration of emergency lighting supply
- Documentation and testing expectations
Other Relevant Health and Safety Legislation
Emergency lighting requirements are supported by broader legislation such as:
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 – employers must ensure employee safety
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 – require safe access and egress
The fire risk assessment ties these requirements together by determining what lighting is needed for safe evacuation.
How to Determine Emergency Lighting Requirements
Not every area of every building needs emergency lighting, but duty holders must assess their premises carefully. The fire risk assessment is the starting point.
Using the Fire Risk Assessment
The fire risk assessment is the foundation for determining emergency lighting needs. A thorough assessment should:
- Identify all escape routes, including secondary exits
- Consider vulnerable occupants, such as visitors, older adults, or disabled persons
- Assess occupancy levels at different times of day
- Evaluate how smoke, heat or structural changes may impact visibility
Fire risk assessors may use evacuation modelling or scenario analysis to determine whether additional emergency lighting is required. Emergency lighting needs should also be linked to PEEPs (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans) and GEEPs (General Emergency Evacuation Plans). The fire risk assessment should identify:
- Escape routes and alternative exits
- Hazards that could affect evacuation
- Occupancy characteristics, including vulnerable groups
These findings determine where emergency lighting is required and to what extent.
Assessing Building Layout and Risk Level
Factors that influence requirements include:
- The size, complexity and layout of the building
- Areas of increased risk such as plant rooms, basements or windowless corridors
- Changes in building use or occupancy over time
High-risk or unfamiliar routes typically require enhanced emergency lighting.
Common Compliance Gaps
Frequent issues identified during inspections include:
- Inadequate lighting coverage or poorly placed fittings
- Outdated or poorly maintained systems
- Failure to review requirements following layout or occupancy changes
Testing, Maintenance, and Record Keeping
Emergency lighting must be tested and maintained regularly to ensure it functions correctly when needed.
Emergency Lighting Testing Requirements
Emergency lighting must be tested regularly to ensure it will function correctly during an emergency.
Testing should include:
- Monthly functional tests: A brief interruption of the power supply to confirm each luminaire operates correctly.
- Annual full-duration tests: Typically three hours to demonstrate battery endurance and overall system performance.
Practical testing considerations:
- Staff must understand how to safely simulate a mains failure.
- Central battery systems require specialist testing procedures.
- Common monthly test failures include battery deterioration, obstructed fittings and LED driver faults.
All results must be recorded in the system logbook. Testing must follow recognised standards and include:
- Monthly functional tests – short-duration checks to confirm lights operate when the mains supply is interrupted
- Annual full-duration tests – typically three hours, demonstrating the system can operate for the required time
Tests must be carried out by a competent person and results recorded.
Maintenance and Servicing
Emergency lighting systems must be serviced regularly by competent individuals. Maintenance tasks include:
- Inspecting battery health and charging cycles
- Checking LED drivers, diffusers and output performance
- Ensuring fittings are not blocked or painted over
- Testing central battery systems where applicable
- Verifying correct signage illumination
Common system failures include battery degradation, aged luminaires, incorrect installation angles and damage caused by building works. Proactive maintenance prevents failures during emergencies. Emergency lighting should be serviced in line with manufacturer guidance and BS 5266 recommendations. Maintenance tasks include:
- Checking battery condition and charging
- Inspecting lamps, diffusers and control gear
- Identifying faults and arranging timely repairs
Using competent contractors ensures systems remain reliable.
Documentation and Logbooks
Documentation is essential for demonstrating compliance. A typical emergency lighting logbook should include:
- Monthly and annual test results
- Faults identified and remedial action taken
- Contractor reports and service certificates
- System specifications, drawings and commissioning documentation
Example logbook entry:
- Date: 14 February 2025
- Test Performed: Monthly function test
- Tester: John Smith (competent person)
- Faults Found: Luminaire above stairwell not illuminating
- Action Taken: Repair scheduled with contractor – 24 hours
These records may be requested by fire authorities during audits. Record keeping is essential for demonstrating compliance. Duty holders should maintain:
- Test records for monthly and annual checks
- Maintenance logs and remedial actions
- System drawings, specifications and commissioning documents
These records may be reviewed during fire authority inspections or audits.
Consequences of Non-Compliance and Best Practice
Failing to comply with emergency lighting regulations can have serious consequences for safety and business continuity.
Enforcement and Legal Consequences
Fire authorities can:
- Issue enforcement or prohibition notices
- Levy fines for breaches of the Fire Safety Order
- Prosecute responsible persons for serious non-compliance
Following an incident, inadequate emergency lighting may significantly increase liability.
Impact on Business Operations
Non-compliance can also lead to:
- Operational disruption during enforced remedial work
- Reputational damage, particularly in public-facing sectors
- Increased insurance premiums and legal costs
Best Practice for Ongoing Compliance
To maintain consistent, reliable compliance, duty holders should:
- Carry out regular audits and management reviews
- Provide staff training on emergency lighting awareness and testing procedures
- Include emergency lighting within Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) schedules
- Consider installing automated testing luminaires to streamline compliance
- Ensure any building alterations trigger a review of lighting requirements
A proactive approach reduces long-term costs and strengthens fire safety performance. To maintain compliance:
- Conduct regular reviews and internal audits
- Ensure staff understand how emergency lighting supports evacuation
- Plan proactively for maintenance and upgrades
How Kingfisher Professional Services Can Help with Emergency Lighting Compliance
Kingfisher Professional Services supports employers and duty holders in understanding and meeting their fire safety obligations. While we do not install or certify emergency lighting systems, our consultants provide expert guidance to help ensure compliance.
We offer:
- Fire safety and health and safety consultancy support
- Assistance with reviewing or developing fire risk assessments
- Advice on emergency lighting requirements and BS 5266
- Support with documentation, records and logbooks
- Ongoing, expert-led reassurance to maintain safe and compliant premises
With clear, practical guidance, Kingfisher helps organisations confidently meet their responsibilities.
Conclusion
Compliant emergency lighting is essential for safe evacuation and is a clear legal requirement under UK fire safety legislation. By understanding regulations, applying recognised standards and maintaining robust testing and documentation, duty holders can protect building occupants and reduce enforcement risk.
A proactive approach, supported by regular review, training and expert guidance ensures emergency lighting systems remain effective throughout their lifecycle. Kingfisher Professional Services is available to support organisations at every stage of their fire safety journey.