Emergency Lighting Buying Guide

Emergency lighting is lighting that comes on automatically when the normal mains supply fails, so that people can see to leave a building safely and reach firefighting and safety equipment. It is independent of the mains, drawing on a battery within each luminaire or a central battery system, and it operates without anyone having to switch it on. The purpose is twofold: escape lighting illuminates the route to a place of safety, while standby lighting (where provided) lets activities continue. In a power cut, an unlit stairway, corridor or open office quickly becomes dangerous, and ordinary lighting offers no protection. A well-designed emergency lighting scheme removes that risk by lighting escape routes, exits and key safety points the moment the supply is lost, for a defined period long enough to evacuate.

In the UK, emergency lighting is designed, installed and maintained to BS 5266-1, the code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises. It sets out where emergency lighting should be provided, the minimum illumination on escape routes, recommended durations, and the testing and record-keeping regime owners should follow. BS 5266-1 works alongside related standards such as BS EN 1838, which covers lighting levels and the performance of escape-route, open-area and high-risk-task lighting. For most non-domestic premises, a fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 identifies the need for emergency lighting, and BS 5266-1 then guides how to satisfy it. Treat the standard as the framework rather than a substitute for design: a competent person should produce the scheme so coverage, duration and light levels are right for your specific building.

Emergency luminaires come in three operating modes. Maintained fittings are lit continuously, on both normal and emergency supply, so the same lamp provides everyday and emergency light; they suit public areas where lighting may be dimmed or where people are unfamiliar with the layout, such as shops, cinemas and function rooms. Non-maintained fittings stay off while the mains is healthy and illuminate only when the supply fails; they suit spaces used only when occupied and normally well lit, such as offices and workshops. Sustained luminaires combine both, with separate lamps or a dual function so one part can be switched normally while the other comes on in an emergency. The right mode depends on how the space is used; your designer will specify each fitting accordingly rather than applying one mode throughout.

Emergency lighting must run on its own power for a defined duration after the mains fails, long enough for everyone to evacuate and, where needed, for the building to be made safe. A three-hour duration is typical for premises with sleeping accommodation, such as hotels, care homes and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), because occupants may be asleep and evacuation takes longer. A one-hour duration may be acceptable in some premises that are evacuated quickly and not reoccupied until the mains supply is restored. The duration that applies to your building is confirmed by the fire risk assessment and the emergency-lighting designer, not chosen at random, so specify luminaires with the correct battery rating from the outset. Under-rating the duration is a compliance and safety failure; over-rating simply adds cost.

Emergency lighting should be provided wherever people need to see to escape or to find safety equipment. As a guide, light the escape routes themselves, at every change of direction, at every change of level and on stairways, and outside each final exit so people can move away from the building. Provide a luminaire at, or close to, each fire-alarm call point and each piece of firefighting equipment so it can be located and used in the dark, and light intersections of corridors and any point where an escape route changes. Open areas (anti-panic lighting) and high-risk task areas may need additional coverage. Exit routes should also be marked with illuminated or maintained exit signs. A competent designer translates these principles into the exact luminaire positions and light levels your layout requires.

Several fitting types cover most schemes. Bulkheads are compact wall or ceiling luminaires suited to corridors, stairwells and plant rooms. Twin-spot (twin-lamphead) fittings carry two adjustable heads to direct light along a route or over high-risk equipment, useful in larger or higher spaces. Exit signs mark the way out and should use the ISO 7010 'running man' pictogram; they are commonly maintained so the sign is visible at all times, and come as edge-lit, blade or box styles to match the setting. Choose LED luminaires for low energy use and long lamp life, and decide between self-contained fittings (battery in each unit) and a central battery system. Favour self-test or addressable luminaires to reduce manual testing. A competent electrician should confirm products carry the relevant certification and suit the environment, for example IP-rated fittings for damp or external locations.