Getting the emergency lighting certificate

Why is emergency lighting important?

In the event of an emergency, such as a fire, standard lighting systems may fail. Emergency lighting automatically activates, ensuring that exits, corridors, and safety equipment are well-illuminated, helping people navigate their way out safely.

UK legislation, particularly the Fire Safety Order 2005, mandates that businesses and landlords install and maintain emergency lighting in all non-domestic buildings. This includes office buildings, schools, rental properties, and public spaces.

Who needs an emergency lighting certificate?

If you own or manage a business or property in the UK, you are responsible for ensuring that your building complies with safety standards. This includes having a properly functioning emergency lighting system in place.

Some examples of where an Emergency Lighting Certificate is required include:

• Office buildings
• Retail shops
• Rental properties (HMOs)
• Public buildings such as schools and libraries
• Hotels, restaurants, and bars
• Industrial units and warehouses

Failure to provide proper emergency lighting could lead to hefty fines and legal action, not to mention the risk it poses to human lives during an emergency.

How to obtain an emergency lighting certificate

Obtaining an emergency lighting certificate involves a certified professional thoroughly inspecting your building’s lighting system. Here’s how the process works:

System installation: Ensure that emergency lighting is installed throughout your building in accordance with British Standards (BS 5266).

Inspection and testing: Regular inspections should be carried out to check that all lights are operational. This includes monthly testing of individual units and a more comprehensive yearly test.

Certification: After the system has been installed and passes all necessary checks, you will be issued an Emergency Lighting Certificate.

At LLC, we provide comprehensive emergency lighting services across the UK, from initial installation to final certification, ensuring that your premises are fully compliant with all regulations.

Emergency lighting testing & maintenance

Simply installing emergency lighting isn’t enough. Regular testing and maintenance are crucial to ensure that your system works when needed most. UK regulations require monthly function tests and annual full-duration tests. This ensures that all emergency lighting units function correctly and for the required duration.

At LLC, we offer scheduled testing and maintenance services to make sure you stay compliant and that your system is always ready to protect you in an emergency.

Why choose LLC for your emergency lighting certificate?

We specialise in helping businesses across the UK meet their emergency lighting obligations. When you work with us, you’ll benefit from:

Fully qualified engineers: All inspections and installations are carried out by experienced, certified engineers.

Comprehensive services: We handle everything from initial design and installation to routine testing, maintenance, and certification.

UK-wide coverage: Whether you’re in London, Manchester, Birmingham, or anywhere else in the UK, we’ve got you covered.

Competitive pricing: We offer transparent and affordable pricing for all our services.

Expert advice: Unsure about your legal responsibilities? Our friendly team will guide you through the process to ensure you remain compliant.

How are emergency lighting systems powered?

Powering emergency lighting systems can be done in two ways:

• • The power source that is self-contained or only has one point of power.

• • The central battery source.

Why do I need an emergency lighting certificate?

For landlords: HMO properties are required by law to have emergency lights, and landlords must ensure that these emergency lights are in good working order.

Emergency lighting is typically used to assist people in escaping a building in the case of a fire or other emergency; however, it may also be used to disable safety equipment. Emergency lights are required in all office buildings, apartment blocks, and other structures where the loss of standard lighting will make escape difficult. Any building owner should obtain an emergency lighting certificate.

Where can I install emergency lighting?

Lighting and signage should be placed in such a way that escape routes and exits from the premises are clearly illuminated. Emergency lights need very little maintenance and are relatively simple to install. For improved visibility, these lights may be mounted on the wall, in a recess, or on the ceiling. Though the lights have a long working life, they can be recharged once and used for several hours at a time.

Businesses must also ensure that trouble areas are appropriately illuminated.

This may include the following:

• • Stairwells

• • Toilet areas (greater than 8m2)

• • Places where the floor level changes

• • Changes in the direction of the exit route

• • Intersections in corridors

Why do I need to use emergency lighting?

Lighting and signage should be placed in such a way that escape routes and exits from the premises are clearly illuminated. In the event of a power outage, the lights should be kept on for one to three hours. This is to ensure that all building occupants can safely make their way to the exit and that emergency personnel can safely enter the building if necessary.
The lights can then be recharged once the building’s electricity has been restored.

What are the different types of emergency lights?

There are four different types. These include:

• • Escape route lighting.

• • Open area emergency lighting.

• • High-risk task area lighting.

• • Standby lighting.

Where is emergency escape lighting necessary?

An emergency escape lighting system should usually cover the following, according to the HM Government publication :

• • Each exit door.

• • Routes of Exit.

• • Corridor intersections.

• • On external escape routes and outside each final exit.

• • Signs indicating an emergency exit.

• • Stairways so that each flight gets enough light.

• • Changes in the floor level.

• • Rooms with no windows and toilets that are larger than 8m2 Firefighting facilities.

• • Call points for fire alarms.

• • Equipment that will have to be turned off in the event of an emergency.

• • Lifts.

• • Areas of buildings larger than 60m2.

• • Individual lights (luminaires) are not required for each of the items mentioned above, but there should be enough overall light to make them visible and accessible.

What are emergency lighting luminaires?

Self-contained and centrally supplied luminaires are the two main styles, with BS EN 60598-2-22 as the relevant standard.

What are the illuminated signs?

Emergency luminaires may also be used as signs; for example, through an open doorway with a directional mark or a pictogram of a man running through are common examples. Others may have text on them, such as ‘Fire Exit.’

Can I only install Illuminated signs?

The photo luminescent and self-illuminating signage do not count against a premises’ emergency lighting requirements and must also have a regular luminaire mounted near them as though they are much like plain plastic signs.

How long does emergency lighting need to stay on for?

On-premises where you cannot leave immediately, such as hotels, emergency lighting must be turned on for a minimum of three hours. When you can easily leave the premises and don’t need to re-occupy the premises, the minimum illumination drops to one hour.

How often is it tested?

Typical testing will involve the following:

Daily: If a centrally powered system with slave luminaires is mounted, a daily visual check of any central controls is required;
Monthly: A monthly functional test is carried out by operating the test facility for a sufficient period to ensure that each emergency light is lit.
Yearly: A full discharge test is performed once a year to ensure that the lamps are lit for the full discharge time (usually 3 hours) and that the batteries are recharging.

Why do I need to test emergency lighting?

It is critical to maintaining the emergency lighting units to ensure that the lighting is operational and that the backup battery will last the maximum time required by the standards. A company or organisation’s “responsible person” ensures that routine inspections are performed and recorded in a fire safety logbook.

Contact us today for your emergency lighting certificate

Don’t leave safety to chance. Whether you need an emergency lighting installation, a system inspection, or require your Emergency Lighting Certificate, we’re here to help.

Learn more: nvcuk.com