In a power cut or a fire, the normal lights can go out in a moment. If your staff, customers or visitors then have to find the way out in the dark, there is a real risk of panic, injury or worse. That is why UK fire safety law expects most business premises to have emergency lighting. Here is what that means in practice.
The legal duty
In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to carry out a fire risk assessment and to make sure people can escape safely. Where escape routes could be dark, emergency escape lighting is part of meeting that duty. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire safety laws with similar aims.
The law does not give a single list of buildings. Your fire risk assessment decides what is needed, which is why a competent assessor and a competent lighting designer are both important.
What emergency lighting is expected to do
- Light the escape routes: corridors, stairs, exits and changes of direction, so people can reach a place of safety.
- Light exit signs: so the way out is clear, including exit and fire exit signs.
- Light key points: such as fire alarm call points, fire fighting equipment and first aid points.
- Light open areas: large rooms, so people do not become disoriented.
- Cover higher-risk areas: such as plant rooms and areas with hazardous machinery.
The system is normally designed to run for three hours on its battery, although some buildings use a shorter duration depending on how they are used and evacuated.
Escape lighting and standby lighting are different
Escape lighting is about getting people out. Standby lighting is about continuing to operate during a power failure, for example in a hospital theatre or a trading floor. Standby lighting is a business decision, not a legal duty in the same way as escape lighting.
Where does it usually apply?
Almost all non-domestic buildings, including offices, shops, factories, warehouses, schools, pubs, restaurants, care premises and the communal areas of flats. The lighting level and layout vary a lot between a small office and a large warehouse, but the principle is the same.
New buildings and alterations
If you are building or converting, the Building Regulations and the standards they refer to will set out requirements for escape lighting at the design stage. Make sure your designer coordinates with your fire strategy from the start, because changing it later is far more expensive.
What to do next
- Read your fire risk assessment, or have a new one carried out.
- Walk your escape routes with the lights off and see what you can and cannot see.
- Have a competent person design the system or check the existing one against the current standard.
- Set up the monthly and annual test routine, which we explain in our testing guide.
We can survey your premises, design a compliant scheme and maintain it for you. See our emergency lighting service or call 01296 614440.
Frequently asked questions
Is emergency lighting a legal requirement?
For most non-domestic premises, yes. The fire safety duty requires that people can escape safely, and where escape routes are not lit by daylight, emergency lighting is normally needed so they can be used if the power fails.
What is the difference between maintained and non-maintained?
Maintained luminaires are on all the time and stay on in an emergency. Non-maintained luminaires only come on when the mains supply fails. The right type depends on how the area is used.
Do small offices and shops need it?
Usually yes where people would need to use a route that is not lit by natural light. Your fire risk assessment will confirm what is needed.