Key takeaways
- Test every emergency light briefly once a month and for its full rated duration once a year
- Record every test, fault and repair in a logbook
- Carry out full-duration tests at low-risk times, or test alternate fittings, because batteries need time to recharge
- Self-test systems reduce the work but still need someone to check and act on the results
Why emergency lighting needs testing
Emergency lighting switches on when the normal lighting fails, so people can find their way out safely and locate fire alarm call points and firefighting equipment. Most fittings rely on a battery that is charged continuously from the mains. Batteries age, lamps fail and fittings get damaged or disconnected, and none of that is visible while the normal lights are on.
The only way to know emergency lighting will work when it is needed is to test it regularly. A fitting that looks fine on the ceiling can fail within minutes of a power cut.
The legal duty
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies in both England and Wales. The Responsible Person must make sure escape routes have adequate emergency lighting where it is needed, and that it is kept in efficient working order and good repair. Your fire risk assessment should identify where emergency lighting is required and how it is maintained.
The Order does not set test intervals. BS 5266-1, the code of practice for emergency lighting of premises, is the recognised benchmark, and it is what enforcing officers, insurers and auditors will expect you to follow. The same approach applies to the common parts of blocks of flats and HMOs.
The monthly functional test
Once a month, each emergency light should be switched into emergency mode by simulating a failure of the normal supply, and checked to confirm it lights up. This is often called the flick test, because it is usually done with a test key switch that cuts the mains to the fittings on that circuit.
The test only needs to be long enough to confirm that each fitting illuminates and that any exit signs are lit. It should not drain the batteries. While the test is running, walk the route and check each fitting:
- The lamp lights in emergency mode
- Exit signs are lit and legible
- Fittings are clean and undamaged
- Nothing obstructs or hides the light
- Charging indicators show normal once the supply is restored
- No fittings have been removed or disconnected
When you have finished, restore the supply and make sure every fitting has returned to normal charging. Record the date, who tested, which fittings passed and any that failed.
The annual full-duration test
Once a year, each fitting should run on battery for its full rated duration, which is the length of time it is designed to operate after a power failure. For many premises this is three hours, although some buildings may use a shorter rated duration where the design allows it. At the end of the test, every fitting should still be lit.
A fitting that goes out before the end of its rated duration has failed, usually because the battery has degraded. The annual test also checks that the system as a whole still gives adequate light along the escape routes, so the person doing it should be competent to judge that.
When to test
After a full-duration test, the batteries are flat and need time to recharge. BS 5266-1 gives guidance on recharge times, and until the batteries have recharged the building has reduced or no emergency lighting.
For that reason, plan annual tests carefully:
- Test when the building is empty or at its quietest, for example after hours in an office or school.
- In buildings that are always occupied, such as care homes, hostels or blocks of flats, test alternate fittings so that neighbouring lights still work while the tested ones recharge.
- Record in your fire risk assessment or fire procedures any extra measures needed during the recharge period.
Monthly functional tests are brief, but it is still sensible to do them at a quiet time and to tell occupants what is happening.
Recording the results
BS 5266-1 expects a logbook to be kept for the emergency lighting system. It should record each monthly and annual test, faults found, repairs made and any alterations to the system. It is also good practice to keep the installation certificate and a plan showing where every fitting is, so testers can make sure nothing is missed.
Records are your evidence that you are meeting your duty. If we carry out your testing, the results sit in the Vocus Fire Safety Portal with your other certificates and next-due dates.
What to do when a light fails
Record the failure and arrange a repair as soon as possible. A single failed fitting on a well lit route may be a minor issue. Several failures on a stair or corridor, or a failed exit sign at a final exit, is a serious defect because people could be left in the dark at the point they need to find their way out.
Where a repair cannot be made quickly, consider interim measures. These might include restricting the use of an area after dark or providing temporary lighting. Check the fire risk assessment still reflects the building while the fault remains. Replacement batteries and lamps should be compatible with the fitting and the manufacturer's instructions.
We can arrange and manage emergency lighting testing and maintenance as part of one contract with your other fire safety services.
Self-test systems
Many modern fittings include automatic self-test functions. They run the monthly and annual tests on a schedule and show the result with an indicator light, or report back to a central panel or software.
Self-test systems save time, but they do not remove your duty. Someone still needs to check the indicators or the reports regularly, record the results and arrange repairs. Some self-test fittings test at fixed times, so check that the annual test will not leave an occupied building without cover. A visual check of the fittings and the escape routes is still needed, because a self-test cannot tell you that a fitting has been blocked by new shelving or that a new partition has left part of a corridor unlit.