Emergency lighting helps people escape safely if the normal lighting fails during a fire, power cut or other emergency. It can illuminate escape routes, stairs, changes in level, fire exits, firefighting equipment, call points, high-risk task areas and other parts of a premises where people may need clear visibility.
For employers, landlords, managing agents, facilities managers and responsible persons, emergency lighting is not just an electrical issue. It is part of the building’s fire safety arrangements and should be considered through the fire risk assessment, maintained in working order and supported by clear testing records.
This guide explains emergency lighting regulations in the UK, BS 5266-1:2025, testing, maintenance, certificates, common defects and when to arrange an emergency lighting survey.
Quick Answer: Is Emergency Lighting A Legal Requirement?
Emergency lighting may be required where people need lighting to escape safely if the normal lighting fails. The exact requirement depends on the premises, escape routes, occupancy, risk profile, working hours, layout and findings of the fire risk assessment.
In the UK, the legal duty comes from fire safety law and workplace safety duties. BS 5266-1:2025 is the current British Standard code of practice for emergency lighting of premises and provides recognised guidance on design, application, records, testing and maintenance.
What Is Emergency Lighting?
Emergency lighting is lighting that operates when the normal lighting supply fails. Its purpose is to help people move safely, find exits, avoid hazards and use essential fire safety equipment during an emergency.
Emergency lighting can include:
- emergency escape lighting for escape routes;
- open area or anti-panic lighting;
- high-risk task area lighting;
- emergency lighting for exit signs;
- local area lighting and standby lighting where appropriate;
- lighting near firefighting equipment, alarm call points and changes in level.
Not every small premises needs the same level of emergency lighting. The fire risk assessment should consider whether people can escape safely if the normal lighting fails.
Emergency Lighting Regulations In The UK
Emergency lighting duties usually come from the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, plus wider workplace safety duties where relevant. The responsible person must take suitable fire precautions and maintain measures provided for the safety of people using the premises.
Where emergency lighting is needed to support safe escape, it should be suitable, maintained and tested. If a fire risk assessment identifies poor lighting, missing emergency lights, failed tests or inadequate records, the responsible person should take action.
For Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands, local fire safety legislation may differ, but the practical principle is similar: escape routes and emergency arrangements should remain safe and usable if normal lighting fails.
BS 5266-1:2025 Emergency Lighting Standard
BS 5266-1:2025 is the current British Standard code of practice for emergency lighting of premises. It replaced BS 5266-1:2016. BSI says the revised standard expands guidance beyond emergency escape lighting to also cover local area lighting and standby lighting, supporting a more complete approach to modern building safety.
BS 5266-1 is not the legislation itself. It is a recognised code of practice that helps responsible persons, designers, contractors and maintainers apply good practice. The legal question remains whether the fire safety arrangements are suitable for the premises and the people at risk.
Official information is available from BSI’s BS 5266-1 current release page and the BSI announcement of BS 5266-1:2025.
Need An Emergency Lighting Survey Or Test?
Fire Risk Assessment Network can help businesses, landlords, managing agents and responsible persons arrange emergency lighting surveys, testing, servicing, maintenance and fire risk assessment follow-up.
Who Is Responsible For Emergency Lighting?
The responsible person is usually responsible for ensuring emergency lighting is suitable and maintained. Depending on the premises, this may be an employer, landlord, building owner, managing agent, facilities manager, freeholder, tenant or occupier with control over the premises.
Responsibilities may include:
- checking whether emergency lighting is needed;
- arranging design, installation or remedial work where required;
- carrying out routine user checks;
- arranging competent inspection, testing and servicing;
- keeping emergency lighting records and certificates;
- closing out defects and failed test actions;
- reviewing emergency lighting when the premises changes.
Where Is Emergency Lighting Usually Needed?
Emergency lighting is commonly needed where people may struggle to escape safely if the normal lighting fails. The requirement depends on layout, occupancy and risk rather than a single universal rule.
| Area | Why emergency lighting may be needed |
|---|---|
| Escape routes and corridors | People need to identify the route to safety if normal lighting fails. |
| Stairs and changes in level | Trip and fall risks increase when lighting is poor. |
| Final exits and exit signs | People need to locate exits quickly and safely. |
| Open areas | Anti-panic lighting may be needed where people gather or move across larger spaces. |
| High-risk task areas | Some work may need to be made safe before evacuation or shutdown. |
| Fire alarm call points and firefighting equipment | People may need to identify and use equipment during an emergency. |
| Plant rooms, kitchens and back-of-house areas | Staff may need safe routes through non-public areas. |
Emergency Lighting And Fire Risk Assessments
A fire risk assessment should consider whether emergency lighting is suitable for the premises. The assessor may review escape routes, lighting conditions, occupancy, operating hours, vulnerable people, test records and visible defects.
Emergency lighting findings may be raised where:
- escape routes are internal, long, complex or poorly lit;
- the premises operates during hours of darkness;
- there are basements, staircases or changes in level;
- exit signage is not visible in a lighting failure;
- test records are missing or incomplete;
- emergency lights have failed or batteries do not last long enough;
- building changes have affected escape routes or lighting coverage;
- occupants may be unfamiliar with the premises.
For wider checks, see our fire risk assessment checklist and fire safety management and emergency plan guidance.
Emergency Lighting Testing Requirements
Emergency lighting should be tested and maintained so it works when needed. The exact testing programme should reflect the system, premises and competent advice, but most managed premises use a combination of routine user checks and periodic professional testing.
| Test or check | Typical approach | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Routine visual/user check | Often monthly | Confirm indicators, fittings and obvious condition appear satisfactory. |
| Functional test | At suitable intervals | Briefly simulate failure of normal lighting to check emergency lights operate. |
| Duration/discharge test | Commonly annually | Check emergency lights operate for the required duration and batteries remain suitable. |
| Professional inspection | As required by the maintenance regime | Identify defects, non-compliance, battery issues, damaged fittings and coverage concerns. |
All tests, failures, repairs and certificates should be recorded. If a test identifies a failure, the responsible person should arrange repair or replacement and consider whether temporary controls are needed while the fault remains open.
Emergency Lighting Certificates And Records
Emergency lighting documentation helps show that the system is being maintained and that faults are being managed. Records should be kept where building managers, contractors and fire risk assessors can access them.
Useful records include:
- emergency lighting design or installation information;
- commissioning certificates;
- monthly user check records;
- annual duration test records;
- service and maintenance reports;
- fault logs and repair evidence;
- fire risk assessment actions relating to lighting;
- drawings or schedules showing emergency lighting locations.
Common Emergency Lighting Defects
Emergency lighting faults are common because batteries, lamps, fittings and charging circuits can fail over time. Defects are often only discovered during testing, so missed tests can leave a building with hidden escape route problems.
| Common issue | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Failed batteries | The light may operate briefly but fail before the required duration. |
| Damaged or missing fittings | Escape routes, exits or fire safety equipment may not be illuminated. |
| Unlit or unclear exit signs | People may struggle to identify the correct escape route. |
| Poor coverage after layout changes | New partitions, racking, doors or refurbishment can create dark areas. |
| No test records | The responsible person may not be able to show that the system is maintained. |
| Charging faults | The unit may not recharge properly after a test or power failure. |
Emergency Lighting In Different Premises
The emergency lighting needs of a premises depend heavily on use and risk. A small low-risk shop may have simpler needs than a hotel, HMO, care home, warehouse, school or public venue.
| Premises type | Emergency lighting considerations |
|---|---|
| Offices and shops | Escape routes, stairs, internal corridors, back-of-house areas and public/customer areas. |
| HMOs and blocks of flats | Communal stairs, corridors, exits, shared kitchens, basements and vulnerable occupants. |
| Hotels and hostels | Sleeping risk, unfamiliar occupants, corridors, staircases, reception areas and night-time evacuation. |
| Care homes | Progressive evacuation, staff procedures, resident vulnerability and areas used during night hours. |
| Warehouses and factories | Large spaces, racking, machinery, loading areas, high-risk task areas and shift work. |
| Venues and places of assembly | Large numbers of people, unfamiliar visitors, toilets, exits, stairs and emergency procedures. |
For residential rented accommodation, see our HMO fire safety requirements guide.
Do Existing Emergency Lighting Systems Need Updating For BS 5266-1:2025?
A new edition of a British Standard does not automatically mean every existing emergency lighting system is non-compliant. However, it is a sensible trigger to review whether the system remains suitable, particularly where the premises has changed, records are poor, fittings are old or recent tests have identified failures.
Review may be especially important where:
- the fire risk assessment is being updated;
- the premises has been refurbished or reconfigured;
- escape routes have changed;
- new partitions, racking or displays affect lighting coverage;
- the system has repeated battery or duration test failures;
- records do not show regular testing and maintenance;
- the premises includes sleeping, vulnerable or unfamiliar occupants.
Emergency Lighting Costs
Emergency lighting costs depend on whether you need a survey, testing, servicing, repairs, replacement fittings or a new design and installation. A simple annual test will usually cost less than a full survey of a complex building or remedial work following multiple failures.
| Cost factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Building size | Larger buildings have more fittings, more escape routes and longer testing time. |
| Number of fittings | Each fitting may need checking, testing and recording. |
| System condition | Older systems or repeated failures may need repairs or replacement fittings. |
| Access | Out-of-hours work, locked rooms, working at height or tenant coordination can affect cost. |
| Documentation | Missing drawings, schedules or records can increase survey time. |
Request An Emergency Lighting Quote
Need emergency lighting testing, servicing, repairs, a survey or a fire risk assessment follow-up? Fire Risk Assessment Network can help arrange suitable support for commercial, residential and mixed-use premises.
How Fire Risk Assessment Network Can Help
Fire Risk Assessment Network can help responsible persons arrange emergency lighting support through competent fire safety and electrical contractors.
Depending on the premises, support may include:
- emergency lighting surveys;
- monthly or annual testing support;
- duration testing and fault reports;
- emergency lighting maintenance and remedial works;
- review of emergency lighting records;
- fire risk assessment follow-up actions;
- support for offices, shops, HMOs, flats, hotels, warehouses, schools and public venues.
Related Fire Safety Guides
- Fire risk assessment checklist
- Fire alarm regulations
- Fire door inspections
- HMO fire safety requirements
- Fire risk assessment costs
Conclusion
Emergency lighting helps people escape safely when normal lighting fails. It should be considered through the fire risk assessment, tested regularly, maintained properly and supported by clear records.
With BS 5266-1:2025 now current, responsible persons should check whether their emergency lighting arrangements and maintenance records remain suitable for the premises. This is especially important after refurbishment, layout changes, failed tests or fire risk assessment findings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is emergency lighting a legal requirement?
Emergency lighting may be required where people need lighting to escape safely if the normal lighting fails. The exact requirement depends on the fire risk assessment, premises layout, occupancy, escape routes and risk profile.
What is the current emergency lighting standard?
The current British Standard code of practice for emergency lighting of premises is BS 5266-1:2025. It replaced BS 5266-1:2016.
Does BS 5266-1:2025 make my old emergency lighting non-compliant?
Not automatically. A new standard does not mean every existing system is unsuitable, but it is a sensible time to review the system during fire risk assessment updates, maintenance checks, refurbishments or where test records show failures.
How often should emergency lighting be tested?
Emergency lighting is commonly checked regularly by the responsible person, with periodic functional tests and annual duration testing by a competent person. The exact regime should be suitable for the premises and system.
Who is responsible for emergency lighting maintenance?
The responsible person, such as an employer, landlord, building owner or managing agent, is usually responsible for making sure emergency lighting is suitable, maintained and tested.
What happens if emergency lighting fails a test?
The fault should be recorded and repaired promptly. Depending on the risk, temporary measures may be needed until the emergency lighting is restored.
Do HMOs need emergency lighting?
Some HMOs need emergency lighting, especially where escape routes are long, internal, multi-storey, poorly lit or used by occupants unfamiliar with the building. The requirement should be confirmed by the fire risk assessment and local licensing expectations.
Can a fire risk assessment check emergency lighting?
A fire risk assessment can identify whether emergency lighting appears suitable and whether records are available, but it does not replace specialist emergency lighting inspection, testing or maintenance.
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