Emergency Lighting Checks: What Facilities Teams Miss

Key takeaways

• Emergency lighting check, they should be tested, recorded and maintained, not assumed to be ready.
• Escape routes, exits, stairs, changes in level and high-risk areas all need proper consideration.
• Poor records can create uncertainty, even when fittings appear to work.
• Layout changes, refurbishments and new room uses can affect emergency lighting coverage.
• EIT supports emergency lighting installation, servicing, testing, maintenance, fault finding and repairs.
• A short emergency lighting self-assessment can help identify gaps before a service visit.

Quick answer

Emergency lighting helps people leave a building safely if the normal lighting supply fails. For commercial and public sector sites, it should be suitable for the layout, positioned around escape routes and exits, tested at appropriate intervals, and supported by clear records. Facilities teams should check that fittings work, logbooks are up to date, faults are followed up and the system still matches how the building is used. If records, responsibilities or test routines are unclear, it is sensible to arrange a review before a fault becomes a compliance issue.

What is emergency lighting?

Emergency lighting is lighting that operates when the normal lighting supply fails. It helps people see escape routes, exits, stairs, changes in level, safety equipment and other key areas during an emergency.

In commercial buildings, emergency lighting is usually part of wider fire safety and building safety management. It should be planned around the actual building layout, the people using the site and the escape routes identified in the fire risk assessment.

Government workplace fire safety guidance states that fire safety and evacuation plans should show, among other things, clear passageways to escape routes, clearly marked escape routes, enough exits and routes, and emergency lighting where needed.

EIT provides emergency lighting installation, servicing, testing and repairs across Teesside and the surrounding region, with support for commercial and public sector buildings.

When does a commercial site need emergency lighting support?

A commercial site may need emergency lighting support when a system is being installed, tested, serviced, repaired, upgraded or reviewed after a building change.

You should also arrange support if:

• The building has been refurbished
• Internal walls, doors or escape routes have changed
• Occupancy has increased
• Rooms have been repurposed
• Test records are incomplete
• Fittings fail during monthly or annual checks
• Exit signs are damaged, missing or unclear
• Emergency lights are flickering, dim or not charging
• A fire risk assessment raises concerns
• Different contractors have worked on the system with no clear ownership

Emergency lighting is easy to overlook because it may appear passive day to day. The issue is that it must work at the point people need it most.

Why this matters

Emergency lighting is not just a fitting on the ceiling. It is part of the escape strategy for the building.

What problems can poor emergency lighting maintenance create?

Poor emergency lighting maintenance can create safety, operational and compliance problems.

The most common issues include failed batteries, damaged fittings, missing test records, unclear responsibilities, poor coverage, out-of-date layouts and remedial actions that are raised but not completed.

For facilities managers, the difficulty is often consistency. A single failed fitting might be simple to repair. A pattern of missed tests, unclear records or unmanaged faults can become a bigger issue across a site or estate.

Common warning signs include:

• No clear monthly testing routine
• Annual duration tests not recorded
• Repeated failures in the same area
• Old fittings with poor battery performance
• Exit signs blocked by storage or layout changes
• Emergency lights not matching current escape routes
• No one is clearly responsible for follow-up actions
• Paper records kept separately from contractor reports
• Refurbishment work was completed without a lighting review

What should facilities managers check first?

Before arranging a service visit or compliance review, facilities teams should gather the basics. This helps the contractor understand the current position and identify urgent gaps.

Checklist:

• Confirm who is responsible for emergency lighting management
• Locate the latest fire risk assessment
• Check whether escape routes and exits are still accurate
• Review monthly functional test records
• Review annual duration test records
• List any failed fittings, damaged signs or known faults
• Check whether remedial actions have been completed
• Confirm whether recent layout changes affected escape routes
• Check stairways, changes in level, plant rooms and high-risk areas
• Make sure logbooks and contractor reports are easy to access

Why this matters

Emergency lighting compliance depends on two things working together: the physical system and the paperwork that proves it is being managed.

Planned testing vs reactive repairs: What is the difference?

Planned testing and reactive repairs are both useful, but they should not be treated as the same thing.

BAFE guidance says emergency lighting checks should include functional operation at least monthly, a full rated duration test at least annually, logging failures and recording testing and repair information in a logbook.

What records and compliance details matter?

Emergency lighting records matter because they show what has been tested, what failed, what was repaired and what still needs attention.

Useful records include:

• Fire risk assessment
• Emergency lighting logbook
• Monthly functional test records
• Annual duration test records
• Service reports
• Repair records
• Remedial action notes
• Updated layout drawings where available
• Details of fittings replaced or upgraded
• Contractor reports and recommendations

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity if normal lighting fails.

Specific requirements depend on your building type, escape strategy, system design, maintenance responsibilities and risk assessment. For site-specific advice, speak to a competent contractor.

Why work with a multi-discipline contractor?

Emergency lighting often overlaps with electrical systems, fire safety, inspection and testing, refurbishment work and planned preventive maintenance.

A multi-discipline contractor can help facilities teams manage these overlaps more clearly. For example, an emergency lighting issue may be linked to a circuit problem, a layout change, an electrical inspection finding or a wider compliance review.

EIT supports commercial buildings across electrical services, fire detection, emergency lighting, inspection and testing, mechanical services, heating, ventilation, plumbing and wider facilities maintenance. That joined-up view can be useful for busy sites where safety systems cannot be managed in isolation.

Why this matters

Emergency lighting is easier to manage when the contractor understands both the compliance requirements and the practical building services around it.

When should you speak to an engineer?

You should speak to an engineer if emergency lighting records are incomplete, fittings are failing, annual tests have been missed, escape routes have changed, or responsibilities are unclear.

It is also sensible to ask for advice before refurbishments, tenant changes, corridor changes, extensions, electrical upgrades or planned shutdowns.

For emergency lighting installation, servicing, maintenance, testing and repairs, visit:

Emergency Lighting Installation:
https://www.enginst.co.uk/emergency-lighting-installation/

For a quick sense-check of your emergency lighting responsibilities, testing records and follow-up actions, use:

Emergency Lighting Compliance Risk Assessment:
https://www.enginst.co.uk/choose-a-compliance-self-assessment/

FAQs

1. What is emergency lighting used for?

Emergency lighting helps people see clearly if the normal lighting supply fails. It supports safe movement towards escape routes, exits, stairways and other important areas during an emergency.

2. Is emergency lighting required in commercial buildings?

Emergency lighting may be required where escape routes and exits need illumination if normal lighting fails. The exact requirement depends on the building, fire risk assessment, layout and occupancy.

3. How often should emergency lighting be tested?

BAFE guidance refers to functional operation checks at least monthly and a full rated duration test at least annually. Testing should be recorded, and failures should be logged and followed up.

4. What is a duration test?

A duration test checks whether emergency lighting can operate for its rated period. This helps confirm battery performance and system readiness. It should be planned carefully to avoid leaving a building without adequate emergency lighting after the test.

5. What should be included in an emergency lighting logbook?

A logbook should usually include test dates, results, faults, repairs, engineer visits, remedial actions and any relevant system changes. The important point is that records are clear, consistent and available when needed.

6. Do emergency lights need to be checked after refurbishment work?

Yes. Refurbishments, fit-outs, extensions and room changes can affect escape routes and lighting coverage. A system that suited an old layout may not suit the new one.

7. What causes emergency lighting failures?

Common causes include battery failure, damaged fittings, charging faults, poor maintenance, age, environmental conditions and accidental damage during other works.

8. Can EIT test and repair existing emergency lighting systems?

Yes. EIT supports emergency lighting testing, servicing, maintenance, fault finding, repairs, installation and upgrades for commercial and public sector premises.

Sources and further reading

• GOV.UK, Fire safety and evacuation plans:
  https://www.gov.uk/workplace-fire-safety-your-responsibilities/fire-safety-and-evacuation-plans
• BAFE, Emergency Lighting System Guidance:
  https://www.bafe.org.uk/bafe-fire-safety-guidance/emergency-lighting-system-guidance