Table of Contents
Emergency lighting and fire alarms go hand in hand because during a fire emergency, you need a set of optimised and bright lights to guide people to safety.
If you have planned on refurbishing your property, then you should know that this would automatically trigger a review of your fire alarm and emergency lighting systems. Even if the changes are subtle or few, there are still a lot of good reasons to revisit these systems.
For example, moving a single wall can cause a domino effect that can change the detection zone for all sensors and can create dark corners during emergencies. Keep in mind that all lighting and fire systems are installed according to the layout of your property, and any change warrants an inspection.
In this guide, we will go over the importance of fire safety and emergency lighting, and how you can integrate emergency lighting and fire alarms in refurbishments:
Fire alarm systems keep residential and commercial buildings safe from threats that would otherwise cause a lot of damage and harm to life.
Emergency lighting, on the other hand, is designed to facilitate the fire alarm systems because during a fire, there is a high chance of a blackout in the property. When this happens, the alarms can function independently since they are operated on batteries; it is the lighting system that is of the most importance.
Emergency lights are designed to come on during a threat like fire or blackouts because fire can cause thick smoke that can make it harder to see.
Using emergency lights as a guide, people can evacuate relatively easily and get themselves to safety while the alarm calls in emergency responders to contain the threat.
When you go for a refurbishment, you will have to revisit these systems to ensure that they are working properly and that their coverage reflects the new changes to the layout of the property.
Both fire alarms and emergency lighting systems are required by law in commercial buildings. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is one of the primary regulations that govern the use, installation, and maintenance of emergency lighting.
The British Standards BS 5266, along with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, work to ensure that there is proper and adequate emergency lighting in a property.
These regulations provide guidance for the layout of emergency lighting in a commercial building and the minimum illuminance requirement as well. Keep in mind that during emergencies, such as fires, every corner must be well-lit so that people can see everything clearly.
According to BS 5266-1, emergency backup lighting must be able to operate for at least 3 hours and cover areas in such a way that there is no dark/blind spot in the area. The Building Regulations 2006 (Approved Document B) also contain general requirements for fire safety in commercial buildings and the installation of emergency lighting to ensure safe evacuation in case of a fire or other safety/security hazard.
Refurbishments automatically trigger the need for re-integrating emergency lights and fire alarm systems.
Keep in mind that this isn’t just a best practice but a compliance requirement driven by updated British Standards and fire safety legislation. If done professionally by a certified company, like Calder Electrical, proper integration can improve safety, simplify maintenance, and ensure that the building is fully compliant.
Here is why reintegration is so important:
The biggest reason for integration is that refurbishment projects often involve changes in the layout of the property. Even if the building isn’t fully redeveloped, changes to layout, occupancy, or escape routes can invalidate old designs.
Older systems may also not meet current standards, which can make integration even more important. According to the latest guidance and as per the British Standards, emergency lighting should be adjusted to reflect the changes made during refurbishments.
The lights should illuminate escape routes and highlight fire alarm call points and firefighting equipment.
As mentioned above, refurbishment doesn’t just warrant a revisit to these systems, but it is also legally required for building owners to test integration.
For fire alarms, building owners must comply with the BS 5839-1:2025 standards that cover non-domestic fire detection and alarm systems. These standards focus on design, installation, commissioning, and documentation.
These steps are crucial during refurbishments because the changes in the layout can cause the old system to become inefficient due to a change in the detection zone.
For emergency lights, the BS 5266-1:2025 needs to be followed. These standards cover the emergency lighting code of practice and have an expanded scope that covers escape routes, standby planning, and local area lighting.
Both standards emphasise stronger system coordination and highlight the need for a more detailed risk assessment with mandatory documentation and testing records.
Typically, integration becomes essential for the following reasons:
This includes installing new walls, corridors, or escape routes and a change in occupancy.
If you have recently replaced or upgraded your old fire alarm panels or detectors, then you will have to revisit the integration of the lighting and alarm system.
Even upgrading the lighting to LED lights requires a reassessment because it changes the lamination in the area.
When you attempt refurbishments, you will need to conduct a fire assessment for your property. This is done to account for the layout changes and help you identify any gaps in the system.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, systems must reflect current risks, not historic designs.
Refurbishments don’t have to result in a headache for you when it comes to reintegration. By following a few simple strategies, you can get the most out of the change and reinstate the safety baseline of your property.
Here is how:
The best way to go about integration is to ensure that you integrate both systems at the same time instead of doing it separately.
For example, the lighting and alarm systems in an area must be addressed together to make sure that both systems work together harmoniously.
The best way to go about it is to start with the lighting and alarms located near fire alarm call points, exit doors, and firefighting equipment.
The integration process must always be streamlined to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Typical integration methods include testing both systems simultaneously.
For example, when running tests, both these systems must be treated as one, and their test should be performed together. This can help reveal issues in both systems and allow for a smoother integration experience.
As mentioned above, both systems are required to work even during an outage; in fact, that is their most important purpose!
Fire alarms require dedicated and labelled circuits along with appropriate backup systems. In the same way, emergency lighting must also operate on a battery backup of at least 3 hours during a power failure.
During refurbishment, you will have to ensure that there are no shared failure points in the system and that there is a proper segregation of circuits and power for both systems.
Refurbishment and integration activities require new documentation. All changes must be clearly mentioned and detailed in a comprehensive report that outlines the design certificates, installation and commissioning records, and the logbooks or maintenance records.
After the integration process, the updated documentation must highlight how each system interacts during an emergency and if there are any deviations from the original design.
Maintenance is an extremely important step that can help your systems run smoothly. If you have not had a maintenance contract before, then we implore you to find a suitable vendor like Calder Electrical to handle all the maintenance activities of your refurbished property.
New systems need to be assessed periodically to ensure that they are installed and integrated properly. For emergency lights, this includes monthly functional tests or annual full-duration tests. Fire alarms, on the other hand, require weekly testing and periodic servicing.
In most cases, building owners must assign a responsible person or safety officer who can look over these details. The officer will be tasked with visually checking all the systems daily to make sure that everything is in order.
If you want a step-by-step guide for attempting reintegration during refurbishments, then check out this condensed guide below:
Step 1) Conduct a new fire risk assessment that also covers the emergency lighting system.
Step 2) Review both systems together with a professional installer
Step 3) If needed, upgrade to the current BS 5266 & BS 5839 standards or re-install accordingly
Step 4) Ensure physical and functional integration through a series of tests
Step 5) Document all changes, tests, and maintenance activities
Step 6) Assign a responsible person and have them maintain a detailed logbook
By now, you should have a good idea about the complexities of integration during refurbishments. This is why you should leave the installation and integration to a professional and never attempt a DIY approach for these kinds of projects.
Proper installation of emergency LED lighting is an incredibly important step that can guarantee that the system can perform effectively and efficiently during emergencies. Professionals are well-versed with refurbishment projects and can easily install systems in both new and existing buildings. They can also easily integrate and retrofit existing LED-compatible emergency lighting setups so that they are compliant with modern standards.
These types of projects require meticulous planning and a deep understanding of both systems. This is why professional installers take their time to study the building layout and conduct a risk assessment, which helps identify high-risk areas, potential hazards, and the most effective evacuation routes.
The re-placement of the lights and alarms must be strategic and reflect the changes made during the refurbishment. Even small factors such as the space between the lights and the coverage area must be considered to eliminate any blind spots in between.
For lighting systems, the mounting height of the lights must also be rechecked after refurbishment to make sure that they illuminate equally.
Professionals will also go over technical details such as the level of brightness (lumens), positioning, testing, and maintenance schedules.
Positioning is crucial during refurbishments due to layout changes. Some of the most common placements for these systems include:
You can also work with a professional electrician to provide your own input and express your expectations for the new system. For example, some people would want to have more coverage for high-risk areas, or they would want the lighting system to blend with the design of the interior of the building. These changes must be expressed clearly during the contract stage so that everyone agrees on the scope and is on the same page.
Always remember that professionally installed and well-maintained fire and emergency lighting systems can provide years of reliable performance. These systems are meant to last up to a decade so that you don’t have to worry about the safety of your building. This is why we always recommend that you do it once, but do it right!
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.
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.
Our experts can also provide you with a comprehensive solution for your fire safety needs, which includes fire alarm installation and servicing.
We can survey your property and determine the best kind of system suitable for your needs, and one that complies with the current standards and regulations.
We also offer after-sales care and an ongoing maintenance package after the installation to ensure your fire alarm works in optimal condition, providing you with a system that you can depend on.
We have a vast understanding of the regulations in force and can provide you with a high level of service to keep your system healthy and working all the time.
Contact us here or call us on 0800 612 3001 for more information on emergency lighting systems and fire alarms, and how to integrate them in refurbishments.
Photo by Mahdi Mahmoodi on Unsplash
