Table of Contents
During blackouts, fires, power surges, or any other emergency, having emergency lights is not only a godsend but also a legal requirement under UK law.
Specifically mandated by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all buildings must have properly working and well-maintained emergency lighting installed across the layout of the building.
This is not only to help illuminate entry and exit points (including emergency exits) but is also crucial for people to navigate through the premises safely and effectively.
If you are looking to learn about the maintenance of emergency lights for your premises, then you are in the right place. Read below to learn more about how often emergency lights need to be tested and maintained:
Specifically in the UK, emergency light testing is done as per the guidance outlined in the BS5266-1:2016.
Here are all the important factors for testing emergency lights under this standard:
While daily physical checks aren’t necessary, it is a good practice to conduct a visual check of the lights every day.
This can be done by simply looking at the control panel indicator or the central battery area of the light. Visual inspections can confirm if the system is powered and charging, and are an excellent safety habit for people who take safety very seriously.
We recommend assigning the duty to the building manager, who can quickly go over all the emergency lights during their routine visits around the building. This strategy can not only increase safety but also ensure that the lights are ready at a moment’s notice.
For deeper inspections and maintenance activities, we recommend that you set up a monthly testing activity to check the functionality of the lights.
There are several ways to do this. For example, the Flick Test is a short but useful test that can simulate a power failure and check whether the light works as intended. The test lasts about 30 seconds to a few minutes and is a great way to confirm the effectiveness of the lights.
This test can also highlight if the luminaires and exit signs switch on correctly. If you opt for professional maintenance offered by electrical companies like Calder Electrical, then you can be sure that you will always have the lights serviced on time.
Better yet, all maintenance tasks will also be recorded in a logbook that you can keep for future reference.
Apart from the monthly test, we also recommend that you go for an annual full test. This test is designed to check all aspects of the emergency lights.
This includes conducting a full battery discharge test that drains the battery to determine the output and the standby time offered by the battery. The goal is to get at least 3 hours of output out of the battery.
If the test fails, then you will have to replace the battery immediately. Luckily, a trained technician can quickly conduct this test on all lights and determine the overall health of the lighting system.
One of the key aspects of maintaining emergency lights is that it is an integral part of building regulations and compliance. As mentioned above, the British Standards have specifically outlined how to service and maintain emergency lights to increase safety in large premises.
Emergency lights are also part of fire safety. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is one of the main regulations that highlight the use, installation, and maintenance of such lighting systems.
The British Standards BS 5266 work in tandem with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to ensure the safety of the occupants.
These standards can be seen as the blueprint for emergency lights. They offer guidance for the layout of emergency lighting in buildings and the minimum illuminance requirement.
As mentioned earlier, the backup for emergency lights should ideally be 3 hours. In some instances, 1-hour fittings are also permissible, but only if the building will be immediately and completely evacuated in case of a power failure.
The best way to ensure the continued effectiveness of emergency light systems is to appoint a specific individual who will be responsible for the safety and security measures in the building.
For the best experience, we recommend that you opt for professional installation services from reputable companies like Calder Electrical. Technicians from accredited companies can assess the building, its floor plan, and help source the right types of emergency lights.
While small inspection tasks can be conducted by an on-site individual, we recommend that regular inspections and maintenance tests of the emergency lighting systems be done by a professional for peace of mind.
Emergency lights have come a long way! Did you know that lanterns were popularly used around the UK even after the advent of electricity? It was cheaper and more convenient; however, due to fire risks, these light sources were banned throughout the country.
Today, emergency lights are just as convenient and long-lasting. With modern LED and battery technologies, these lights can shine brighter and for longer.
The housing of the emergency lights, along with its internal controls, has also been upgraded over the years. These lights are designed to withstand external factors, and since they are part of the emergency system, they are specifically designed to work even during a range of natural or manmade disasters.
These features make LED emergency lighting systems a must-have for any building that wants to improve safety and compliance.
Here is why you should always opt for LED emergency lights:
LEDs are the future of the world, and they are set to power all the lighting systems around the world within just 3-5 years. This widespread adoption of these lights comes from their efficiency benefits.
LEDs use 80 to 90% less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs and approximately 60% less energy than fluorescent lighting. They are also designed to last longer and run cooler.
Since their lights have no moving parts and are considered a solid-state system, good-quality lights can last a very long time. In fact, when an LED light does blow out, it isn’t the LEDs themselves that burn out but the electrical system inside the bulb that gives out.
This is why high-quality LEDs are so important for emergency lights. While they may have a slightly higher upfront cost, they often offset the cost with efficiency benefits.
LED lights are also easier to maintain and service. Since they do not run very hot and have no moving parts, technicians can quickly detect faults and fix problems in lighting systems before they become a serious issue during an emergency.
However, you do not have to break the bank going for very expensive LED systems. Professional installation companies can help you source great quality lighting at a discounted rate, especially if you place a bulk order.
As mentioned above, the average lifespan of LEDs is about 50,000 to 100,000 hours, which happens to be 25 times longer than that of incandescent bulbs. These lights are a perfect match for emergency scenarios where you often need a system that can provide good coverage of light for hours.
Another benefit of robustness is lower maintenance costs. One of the most common maintenance activities for these lights is battery checks.
Since the lights themselves rarely show problems, the battery needs more attention because it can degrade over time and even show problems when faced with issues like power surges, fluctuations, and short circuits.
However, if you go with cheaper units, then you can be sure to run into problems. Again, the issue with cheaper units isn’t the LEDs but the internal systems. For example, many cheaper units use the same diodes found in expensive lights but skimp on the electrical controller, the surge protection module, and the electrical board itself.
This is one of the biggest reasons why cheap emergency lights are discouraged. In fact, to remain compliant, you will often have to source certified emergency lights to ensure that you get the most standard protection for your premises.
By going with professional installers, you can ensure that you will always get highly compliant hardware that is within your budget.
Emergency lighting systems are designed to flood light into an area during an emergency, such as a blackout, earthquake, fire, or even flood. Most of these lights use high-lumen LEDs that deliver a lot of light without taking a toll on the battery.
When technicians perform maintenance activities, they often make sure that the lighting system produces the required lumen levels. For example, a damaged housing or dirt on the outside of the light may cause the lumen levels to drop. This is why emergency lights must be serviced every month or at least within 3 months to ensure maximum effectiveness.
Another cool aspect of LED lights is that they can produce full brightness the moment they are switched on, compared with old light sources that typically required a warm-up time to achieve full brightness.
During an emergency, anything can go wrong, which is why illumination is important so that the occupants can always be aware of their surroundings. This is why LED technology reigns supreme in emergency lighting systems.
Getting professional help for the installation of emergency LED lighting is the best way to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency of emergency lights in your premises.
One of the key aspects of installing these lights is their location. The specific requirements regarding their location and placement depend on various factors such as the building size, type, layout, type and level of risk present, and the safety codes and regulations for emergency lighting in commercial buildings.
To make the most out of the system, professional installers often survey the premises and perform tests that help them highlight the best locations to install the lights for maximum luminosity.
Even small but important factors, such as the space between the lights, must be considered to eliminate any dark spots, especially around the corners.
The number of emergency lights, the level of brightness, their ideal positioning, and their testing and maintenance schedules must only be handled by a professional installer who has years, if not decades, of experience.
A professional electrician has the necessary skill, knowledge, expertise, and experience to handle these vital installation tasks.
A professional will follow best practices when it comes to emergency LED lighting installations and perform regular testing and routine checks to ensure all the lights are operational and comply with relevant safety standards and emergency lighting regulations.
Some of the most common placements for emergency LED lighting installation include:
You can also work with the installer and outline your expectations. This way, you and the installer will be on the same page for improving the overall safety of the premises.
If you run a commercial business, then you can work with the installer to strengthen your internal policies during emergencies. The installer will also provide you with extensive documentation, including the locations of all lights that you can use to build evacuation plans.
We have been providing electrical services to residential, commercial, and industrial properties for over 40 years and are specialists in all aspects of electrical installations, maintenance, and testing.
We are NICEIC registered, follow the current wiring regulations, and have experienced and fully qualified electrical engineers on hand to deliver a professional and high-quality service that includes emergency lighting installation and servicing.
If you wish to learn more about emergency LED lights and the best lighting solutions for your property, Calder Electrical Services is here to help!
From LED installation to upgrades, repairs, and troubleshooting, we offer a complete package for your homes and businesses, ensuring that everything complies with the latest electrical safety standards and regulations.
Our team can generate a Visual Inspection Report (VIR) to identify anything visual that does not comply with the standards or looks unsafe, as well as a full Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) where we will identify and test each circuit to make sure they are not deteriorating and are safe for use within the current standards and regulations set by the BS 7671.
We have been undertaking electrical work since 1976 and are specialists in the field. If you have unplanned issues within your home or business, we can provide a call-out service to rectify and solve any problems.
Our call-out services include emergency repairs, scheduled maintenance, fault finding and diagnostics, installation services, safety inspections, and emergency lighting and power solutions.
Contact us here or call us on 0800 612 3001 for more information on emergency lighting systems and how often it needs to be tested.
Photo by Haberdoedas on Unsplash
