Guidance – Emergency Lighting Maintenance

BS EN 50172, 2004 / BS 5266, part 8, 2004 (Emergency escape lighting systems) specifies the minimum provision and testing of emergency lighting for different premises.

BS 5266, part 1, 2016 provides additional information on servicing.

Routine inspections and tests

A competent person should be appointed to supervise servicing of the system. This person shall be given sufficient authority to ensure the carrying out of any work necessary to maintain the system in correct operation.

The following minimum inspections and tests should be carried out:

Daily

Indicators of a central power supply shall be visually inspected for correct operation (this check only applies to emergency lighting systems that have a central back-up battery system).

Monthly (Short duration test)

Switch on in the emergency mode each luminaire and each internally illuminated exit signs from its battery by simulation of a failure of the supply to the normal lighting for a period sufficient to ensure each lamp is illuminated.

During this period, all luminaires and signs should be checked to ensure they are present, clean and functioning correct.

At the end of this test period, the supply to the normal lighting should be restored and any indicator lamp or device checked to ensure it is showing that the normal supply has been restored.

Annually (Full rated duration test)

Same test as the monthly but for the full rated duration in accordance with the manufacturer’s information.

The supply of the normal lighting shall be restored and any indicator lamp or device checked to ensure it is showing that normal supply has been restored. The charging arrangements should be checked for proper functioning.

The date of the test and its results should be recorded in the system logbook.

Particular care needs to be taken following a full rated duration test. Batteries typically take 24 hours to re-charge and the premises should not be re-occupied until the emergency lighting system is fully functioning unless alternative arrangements have been made.

BS 5266, part 1, 2016 states ‘in the event of a failure of any parts of the system, a competent person should be used to repair the fault. Alternative safety procedures should be introduced until the repair is complete and the system has been retested satisfactorily’. All faults must be remedied as soon as possible.

It is common practice for business’s to instruct an outside organisation to test both the fire detection and alarm system and emergency lighting system as this allows useful activity to be undertaken whilst the emergency lighting system is going through its full rated duration test.

Competence can be assured by the use of an organisation that is third party certificated by a UKAS accredited body, to carry out design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of Emergency Lighting systems.