Emergency lighting in London
Keep exits and escape routes visible when the mains fails. Installed, tested and certificated to BS 5266-1 by a BAFE-approved team.
Why does your building need emergency lighting?
When a fire cuts the power, people still need to find their way out. Emergency lighting illuminates escape routes, exits and key safety equipment automatically on mains failure. The Fire Safety Order 2005 requires escape routes to remain usable, and your fire risk assessment will normally call for emergency lighting wherever darkness would put people at risk. It is designed and maintained to BS 5266-1.
Direct answer: emergency lighting switches on automatically when the mains power fails, keeping escape routes and exits visible so people can leave safely. In most commercial premises it is required by the fire risk assessment and installed to BS 5266-1.
What we provide
- Design and installation to BS 5266-1, with the right mix of maintained and non-maintained fittings for each area.
- Annual full-duration testing, confirming every fitting holds its rated duration, usually three hours.
- Fault repair, from failed batteries and lamps to fittings that will not hold charge.
- Certification and log book, so you have the records an inspector or insurer will ask for.
How often must it be tested?
BS 5266-1 expects a brief monthly function test, which your staff can carry out, and a full-duration test once a year, which we complete and certificate. We record the results in your log book and flag any fitting that needs replacing. All our services support compliance with insurance policies.
Emergency lighting: your questions answered
Is emergency lighting a legal requirement?
In most commercial buildings, yes. The Fire Safety Order 2005 requires escape routes and exits to be usable at all times, and your fire risk assessment will usually identify emergency lighting as necessary wherever a mains failure would leave escape routes dark. Emergency lighting is installed and maintained to BS 5266-1.
How often should emergency lighting be tested?
BS 5266-1 sets out a short monthly function test and a full-duration test once a year, where the lighting must stay lit for its rated duration, usually three hours. Results are recorded in a log book. We carry out the annual test and certification, and show your staff how to do the monthly checks.
What is the difference between maintained and non-maintained emergency lighting?
Maintained fittings are lit all the time and stay on when the power fails, common in places like cinemas and function rooms. Non-maintained fittings are off in normal use and only illuminate on mains failure, common in offices and corridors. Your assessment and the building use decide which is appropriate where.
Can you fix a failed emergency light?
Yes. We install new systems, service existing ones, and repair faults such as failed batteries, failed lamps or fittings that will not hold their duration. After a repair or service we test the system and issue a certificate for your records.
Book emergency lighting work
New installation, annual testing or a fault to fix. Book a free survey and we will confirm what your building needs.
Prefer to talk? Call 020 3837 0778, a named person calls every enquiry back within one working day.