What Is Emergency Lighting and Why Is It Important?
When a fire breaks out in a building, one thing that can be easily compromised is the power supply. A fire can be a cause for panic itself, but when there is a lack of light during this emergency, it can make things much worse. That’s why having reliable emergency lighting can make all the difference for the safety of occupants in the event of an emergency.
An emergency lighting system is designed to activate automatically when the normal power supply fails, providing illumination that helps occupants safely evacuate a building. But what is the purpose of emergency lighting and where does it need to be placed in a building?
In this blog, we’ll answer these questions as well as explain how an emergency lighting system works, the different types of emergency lights available, and outline the key UK regulations businesses need to understand.
What is emergency lighting and why is it important?
Emergency lighting is a crucial component of any building’s safety system. It consists of lights that are designed to activate automatically in the event of a power cut within your building. It provides illumination to help guide people to safety in an emergency situation, such as a fire.
With these systems in place, it helps to prevent panic and facilitate an orderly and safe evacuation. Without adequate lighting, people may panic or become disorientated, putting themselves in danger. A total blackout could also lead to injuries when people can’t see their way through a building, particularly where stairs or steps are involved, or where people are unfamiliar with the building layout.
As well as mitigating panic and enhancing the safety of building occupants, emergency lighting is also a key element for emergency service responders. In the event of a fire and subsequent power outage, emergency lighting can help firefighters navigate a building, allowing them to tackle the fire more quickly and effectively.
Rather than referring to a single light fitting, an emergency lighting system is made up of emergency luminaires, battery backup units or central power supplies, testing facilities, control equipment, and clearly illuminated escape routes. Together, these components ensure lighting remains available if the mains power supply fails.
How does an emergency lighting system work?
Many people understand what emergency lighting does, but not necessarily how it operates. Firstly, emergency lighting is typically divided into two operating formats:
- Maintained – this is where the light remains illuminated during normal operation and continues to operate during a power failure.
- Non-maintained – this is where the light only activates when the normal power supply fails.
Depending on whether the system is maintained or non-maintained, it can then be designed to fulfil different safety functions.
In principle, an emergency lighting system works by automatically activating when the normal mains electrical supply fails. During everyday operation, batteries within the emergency lighting units, or a central battery system, remain charged while connected to the building’s power supply.
When the mains power fails, the system will typically follow the below process:
- The system automatically detects the loss of power
- The emergency battery supply activates
- Emergency luminaires illuminate designated areas
- Escape routes, exits, and safety equipment remain visible
- When power is restored, the batteries automatically begin recharging
What are the different types of emergency lighting?
Depending on the type of building, the industry you operate in, and the findings of your fire risk assessment, there may be a combination of different types of emergency lighting recommended for your premises.
The most common types of emergency lighting include:
Escape route lighting
This provides illumination along designated escape routes, helping occupants safely navigate their way out of a building. Emergency exits and fire escape routes should also be clearly illuminated.
Open-area lighting
These systems are designed for larger open-plan areas where people could become disorientated if the room suddenly lost power. This type of emergency lighting allows occupants to maintain visibility and locate escape routes safely.
High-risk task area lighting
This type of lighting is used in areas where dangerous equipment, machinery, or hazardous processes are being carried out. By providing illumination during a power failure, workers can safely shut down equipment before evacuating.
Standby lighting
Standby lighting provides general backup illumination where some level of activity may need to continue – like hospitals for example – despite a power outage
What are the UK emergency lighting regulations?
In England and Wales, emergency lights regulations are outlined in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Applying to businesses and commercial premises, the regulations outline the requirements for a building’s escape and evacuation routes.
Article 14 specifically states:
“Emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in the case of failure of their normal lighting.“
This means it’s vital for buildings to ensure escape routes remain illuminated if the normal lighting supply fails.
Emergency lighting requirements are influenced by several key pieces of legislation and guidance which include:
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – this places legal duties on the ‘Responsible Person’ to ensure adequate emergency lighting is in place and is in good working order.
- BS 5266 – this British Standard provides guidance for commercial buildings on emergency lighting design, installation, testing, and maintenance.
- BS EN 1838 – this outlines the performance requirements for emergency lighting systems.
- Fire risk assessments – these help determine where emergency lighting is required and what level of protection is needed.
It’s important to adhere to these requirements as they’re essential for protecting occupants and maintaining legal compliance across commercial buildings, residential complexes, healthcare facilities, and public buildings.
Where do I need to place emergency lighting in my building?
Rarely are two buildings the same. You may have different requirements across a portfolio of properties, but it’s important to strategically place emergency lights in areas where people need to navigate their way to an escape route in the event of a power outage.
The number and positioning of emergency lights should never be based on a fixed rule. Instead, they should reflect your building layout, occupancy levels, travel distances, escape route complexity, and findings of your fire risk assessment.
Here are some of the key areas where you’ll typically need emergency lighting in commercial premises:
- By exit doors
- Along escape routes
- Where corridors intersect
- Above external escape routes
- Above final exit doors
- On each flight of stairs
- Where there is a change in floor level
- By lifts
- By fire alarm call points
- By fire safety equipment
- In windowless rooms and toilets larger than 8m²
Get in touch with us for your emergency lighting requirements
Emergency lighting in residential and non-residential buildings is a crucial component of any fire safety strategy. These systems should be designed, installed, tested, and maintained by experienced specialists to ensure they perform effectively when needed most.
At TVF Fire Protection, we provide a full range of fire safety services and products, including emergency lighting installation and maintenance, to businesses across High Wycombe, Watford, Slough, and the wider UK thanks to our partnership with the LS Fire Group. Our team of qualified professionals can help ensure your premises remain safe, compliant, and prepared for an emergency.
If you’d like to learn more about emergency lighting and how we can support your premises, be sure to contact us today to discuss your requirements in more detail.
Emergency lighting FAQs
- How often should emergency lighting be tested?
- It’s vital that emergency lighting systems are regularly inspected and tested. Best practice is that a short functional test is carried out every month to ensure the lights operate correctly, and a full-duration test is completed annually by a competent and qualified professional, like TVF, to confirm the system can provide illumination for the required period.
- When is emergency lighting required?
- Emergency lighting is required wherever occupants may struggle to evacuate safely if the normal lighting fails. This typically includes escape routes, staircases, final exits, windowless rooms, communal areas, and high-risk workspaces.
- How many emergency lights do I need?
- There is no universal number of emergency lights required for every building. The correct number depends on the layout, occupancy levels, travel distances, escape routes, and findings of your fire risk assessment. A competent emergency lighting professional, like TVF, can help you determine the appropriate quantity and positioning for your building.
- Are there legal consequences for not having proper emergency lighting?
- Yes. Failure to comply with UK emergency lighting regulations can result in enforcement action, fines, legal liability, and increased risk to building occupants in the event of an emergency.
- How long should emergency lighting stay on?
- The required operating duration depends on the building type, occupancy, and emergency lighting design. Many systems are designed to provide illumination for up to three hours, but the correct duration should always be determined by your fire risk assessment and applicable standards.
- What is the purpose of emergency lighting?
- The purpose of emergency lighting is to ensure occupants can safely evacuate a building when normal lighting fails. It helps illuminate escape routes, exits, stairways, and safety equipment while reducing panic and supporting a safe evacuation process.
- When is emergency lighting required?
- Emergency lighting is required where people may be unable to find or follow a safe escape route if the normal lighting fails, such as corridors, staircases and landings, windowless rooms, basements, large open plan offices, or communal areas within residential blocks. It’s particularly important in areas with limited natural light, complex layouts, or higher levels of risk.
