Emergency Light Testing

The purpose of regular testing of your emergency lighting systems is, firstly, to ensure you continue to comply with regulations but, more importantly to you, the person charged with the responsibility, is to ensure that the emergency lighting provides two safeguards for a building and staff in the event of power failure. First, safe and prompt access to emergency exits, and second, to provide lighting of sufficient levels, and for a sufficiently long duration, to permit safe and orderly shutdown of processes that might become hazardous if simply abandoned.

Emergency lighting is required in all premises where people are employed. It’s actually a life safety system and is required to assist the people in case there is an emergency. It will assist in the evacuation of a building in the event of power failure. It is a mandatory requirement to be installed where artificial lighting is installed. Keep in mind, emergency lighting is designed to help save lives.

Regulations on testing are covered by BS 5266, which details the requirements for emergency lighting. Those requirements state that emergency lighting systems should be periodically tested and inspected to ensure that all luminaires operate correctly in power loss situations. Compliance with BS 5266 will guarantee you meet your statutory requirements, but only if the system is fully operating.

There are a number of checks that, if you wish, you can undertake yourself, and it is recommended that the regular visual checks are completed by the designated person with responsibility within the building. That means looking at the emergency light indicators and the light fitting itself, so are the little red LED lights on on the unit meaning power is getting to the emergency light and are the fittings suitable for their purpose and not damaged. Should either of these not be satisfactory they should be attended to immediately and be recorded in a site log.

The monthly check should be for visible signs of damage to fittings and a quick operational test, that is to say the light be disconnected from the power source. If the device does not light, or the lamps are dim, or if it fails to light at full brilliance for 30 seconds, the unit should be serviced, repaired, or replaced, with any issues once again being recorded in a site log.

The annual test requires that the power actually be interrupted to the emergency lighting unit, by unplugging it, throwing a circuit breaker, or other safe means, so no line power reaches it. The unit must provide light of normal brilliance for a full 3 hours, or it should be serviced or replaced. The recommendations are that these tests be done while the building is empty and that the building remain vacated for a further 24 hours afterwards. This is because after a soak test such as this it would take 24 hours for the batteries in the lights to fully recharge, and should a fire or some such emergency take place in the mean time then there would not be enough power in the batteries to facilitate the full 3 hours.

In using a specialist company with competent fully trained staff to undertake your annual check you are insuring that your installation is up to date and continues to comply with current legislation. Once we have completed the annual test and inspection we provide a full register of all emergency lights on site along with test results, a log book detailing tests completed to date and providing recording facilities, and advice on monthly testing. The log book should record the date of each inspection and test, date and details of any defects, action taken, and detail any changes made to the installation.

From care homes to commercial offices and retail premises, we provide organisations of all types with an ongoing programme of testing and certification, along with remedial works if required. If you would like a quote on the maintenance and service of your emergency system please get in touch.