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Emergency Lighting Testing: What UK Businesses Need to Know in 2026
Emergency lighting testing is an important part of commercial fire safety. This guide explains the routine checks, annual testing, common defects and practical responsibilities UK businesses should understand in 2026.
Commercial emergency lighting should be subject to appropriate routine inspection and testing. This normally includes regular functional checks and periodic full-duration testing, with defects recorded and rectified. The current British Standard for the emergency lighting of premises is BS 5266-1:2025.
What is emergency lighting?
Emergency lighting provides illumination when the normal lighting supply fails. In a commercial building, its purpose is not simply to provide general backup lighting. Emergency escape lighting supports occupants in identifying and using escape routes, exits and important fire-safety equipment during an emergency.
The type, positioning and performance of emergency lighting required will depend on the building, its use, occupancy, escape arrangements and fire risk.
The current British Standard is BS 5266-1:2025 – Emergency lighting of premises. Code of practice. The 2025 revision replaced the previous 2016 edition and provides current recommendations and guidance for emergency lighting systems.
Businesses still referring only to BS 5266-1:2016 should be aware that BS 5266-1:2025 is now the current edition of the code of practice.
How often should emergency lighting be tested?
A suitable emergency lighting maintenance programme includes routine checks as well as more comprehensive periodic testing. The exact arrangements should suit the installation and premises.
Monthly Functional Test
Emergency lighting should be functionally tested so that emergency luminaires can be checked for correct operation when the normal lighting supply is interrupted.
Annual Testing
Emergency lighting should also receive appropriate annual testing and maintenance by a competent person, including the required duration testing for the installation.
Government fire-safety guidance describes a monthly function test and annual full-discharge testing as typical emergency-lighting testing arrangements. It also recommends keeping records of testing.
What happens during a monthly test?
A monthly functional test is intended to establish whether the emergency luminaires operate when the normal lighting supply is interrupted.
Depending on the system, a test facility may be used to simulate failure of the normal lighting supply. Each relevant emergency luminaire should then be checked to confirm that it illuminates.
Typical observations can include:
- Whether each emergency luminaire operates.
- Whether illuminated exit signs operate correctly.
- Obvious physical damage to fittings.
- Missing, damaged or unsuitable signage.
- Charging or indicator problems.
- Any fitting that fails to operate during the test.
The results should be recorded so there is an ongoing maintenance history and identified faults can be followed through to repair.
What is an annual full-duration test?
The annual test is more comprehensive than the normal monthly functional check. Emergency luminaires are required to demonstrate that they can continue operating for their appropriate rated duration.
This can reveal problems that a short functional test may not identify. A fitting might illuminate correctly during a short test but have a deteriorated battery that cannot maintain operation for the necessary duration.
Full-duration testing discharges emergency-lighting batteries. Testing should therefore be planned so that fire-safety arrangements remain appropriate while batteries recharge after the test.
Monthly vs annual emergency lighting testing
| Test | Purpose | Typical Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Visual checks | Identify obvious damage, indicator or system issues | As appropriate to the system |
| Functional test | Confirm emergency luminaires illuminate following simulated supply failure | Monthly |
| Full-duration test | Confirm luminaires can operate for the required rated duration | Annually |
| Remedial inspection | Investigate and rectify identified defects | When required |
Common emergency lighting faults
Routine testing is valuable because emergency lighting can appear perfectly normal until the normal supply is interrupted. Problems can develop gradually and may not be obvious during everyday building use.
Common defects include:
- Failed or deteriorated batteries.
- Emergency luminaires that do not illuminate.
- Fittings that operate but fail the required duration test.
- Damaged luminaires or diffusers.
- Charging or indicator faults.
- Incorrect, missing or damaged exit signage.
- Changes to the building layout affecting escape-route coverage.
- New partitions, doors or alterations affecting the original design.
Why building alterations matter
Emergency lighting should not be treated as a system that can simply be installed and forgotten. A building can change significantly during its working life.
New partitions, altered escape routes, changes in occupancy, building extensions and refurbishment works can all affect whether the existing emergency lighting remains suitable.
Where significant alterations have taken place, it can therefore be sensible to assess the overall installation rather than simply replacing individual failed fittings.
Who is responsible for emergency lighting?
Fire-safety responsibilities depend on the premises and how they are occupied and managed. For workplaces and other non-domestic premises, the responsible person must consider appropriate fire precautions and ensure relevant fire-safety systems are maintained.
In practice this may involve business owners, employers, landlords, facilities managers, managing agents or others with responsibility for the premises.
The UK Government provides further information on workplace fire-safety responsibilities.
Should emergency lighting tests be recorded?
Yes. Maintaining clear records provides evidence that routine checks and maintenance are being managed and also gives the person responsible for the building a useful history of defects and remedial works.
Records may include:
- Date of the test.
- Type of test completed.
- Areas or equipment tested.
- Defects identified.
- Remedial works required.
- Repairs subsequently completed.
- Relevant certification or service documentation.
When should you call an emergency lighting contractor?
A competent contractor should be considered where the system requires periodic inspection and testing, where faults have been identified, where alterations have affected the premises or where there is uncertainty over whether the existing installation remains suitable.
SCM Fire & Safety provides commercial emergency lighting services including installation, testing, maintenance, fault finding and remedial works.
We can also support clients with wider commercial fire and life-safety requirements, including fire alarm services, fire risk assessments and fire extinguisher services.
Commercial Emergency Lighting Across Six Core Areas
SCM Fire & Safety provides commercial emergency lighting support across Peterborough, Doncaster, Rotherham, Nottingham, Leicester and Lincoln.
Emergency Lighting Testing Questions Answered
How often should emergency lighting be tested?
Typical arrangements include a monthly functional test and an annual full-duration test, together with appropriate inspection, maintenance and record keeping.
What is the current emergency lighting standard in 2026?
BS 5266-1:2025 is the current British Standard code of practice for emergency lighting of premises.
What happens during a monthly emergency lighting test?
The normal supply is simulated as failing so that relevant emergency luminaires can be checked to confirm that they illuminate correctly.
What is a full-duration emergency lighting test?
It assesses whether emergency luminaires can continue operating for their appropriate rated duration rather than simply illuminating for a short functional test.
Should emergency lighting tests be recorded?
Yes. Keeping records provides a useful maintenance history and helps demonstrate that testing, identified defects and remedial works are being managed.
Can a short test identify a failing battery?
Not always. A luminaire may initially illuminate but still have insufficient battery capacity to operate for its required duration.
Can building alterations affect emergency lighting?
Yes. New partitions, altered escape routes and changes in building use can affect whether the existing emergency lighting remains suitable.
Can SCM test and repair commercial emergency lighting?
Yes. SCM Fire & Safety provides commercial emergency lighting testing, maintenance, fault finding and remedial works across its core service areas.
Need Your Emergency Lighting Testing or Servicing?
SCM Fire & Safety provides commercial emergency lighting testing, maintenance, fault finding, remedial works and new installations. Contact us to discuss your premises or arrange a quotation.