Emergency Lighting Compliance in the UK: Why It Matters More Than You Think

The Compliance Gap That Could Shut Down Your Building

In the world of facilities management, many safety systems are highly visible; fire alarms, sprinklers, and security cameras, for instance. But one critical element often remains unnoticed until it fails: emergency lighting.

Every commercial, public or multi-occupancy building in the UK is required by law to have compliant emergency lighting. Yet, thousands of buildings are operating today with outdated, faulty, or non-compliant systems. For facilities managers, duty holders, and business owners, this poses a serious legal and operational risk.

Emergency lighting is not just a regulatory obligation. It’s a life-safety system. It provides illumination when the normal power supply fails, guiding occupants to safety during a fire, power outage or emergency evacuation. Without it, lives can be put at risk and organisations can face significant fines, reputational damage or forced closures.

Emergency lighting is designed to switch on automatically when a building’s main power supply is interrupted. It includes various types such as:

• Escape route lighting – guiding people safely out of the building
• Open area (anti-panic) lighting – helping occupants avoid panic and safely identify exits
• High-risk task area lighting – illuminating critical operations during emergencies

Emergency lighting must:

• Activate automatically
• Provide sufficient light intensity for safe evacuation
• Remain illuminated for at least one hour
• Be supported by regular testing and inspection

In short, it’s not just a matter of having lights, it’s about having the right lights, in the right places, functioning as required under the law.

UK regulations governing emergency lighting are robust and non-negotiable. All duty holders must comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which states that all fire safety equipment must be "subject to a suitable system of maintenance and be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair."

Supporting this are British Standards such as:

• BS 5266-1 – Emergency lighting: code of practice
• BS EN 1838 – Lighting applications: emergency lighting
• BS 7671 – IET Wiring Regulations

Together, these frameworks outline exactly what is required in terms of placement, design, duration and testing.

Failure to comply can result in:

• Prosecution and fines
• Invalidation of insurance
• Closure notices from enforcement officers
• Public exposure after failed inspection

For multi-site organisations, especially in education, healthcare or leisure, the risks of inconsistent or undocumented maintenance are even higher.

Despite clear guidance, we regularly identify critical gaps during site audits. Some of the most common mistakes include:

1. Missed monthly and annual testing – These are legal requirements, yet are often overlooked due to resourcing or oversight.
2. Incomplete documentation – Without proper test logs and certificates, even a functioning system can be deemed non-compliant.
3. Poor system layout – Lights installed in non-critical areas while essential escape routes are inadequately covered.
4. Battery degradation – Lights that appear functional may not provide the full 1–3 hour illumination required.
5. Lack of qualified service partners – Many facilities rely on ad-hoc checks from non-specialists.

Heb FM provides end-to-end emergency lighting support for organisations across the UK. Whether you're managing a single office or a portfolio of multi-use buildings, our compliance packages can be tailored to meet your operational and legal needs.

Our services include:

• Initial audit and compliance assessment
• System design and specification
• Installation and retrofit upgrades
• Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM)
• Monthly and annual testing
• Digital certification and reporting
• 24/7 reactive call-out support

All work is carried out by qualified engineers and tracked via our Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM) system, giving you a clear audit trail and real-time oversight of compliance.

This integrated approach ensures consistency across sites, reduces the risk of failure, and frees up internal teams to focus on core responsibilities.

Too often, organisations wait for systems to fail before addressing issues, which can be both costly and dangerous.

By implementing a Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) regime for emergency lighting, organisations benefit from:

• Early fault detection
• Longer equipment life
• Cost savings from reduced callouts
• Improved compliance ratings

Our PPM contracts include scheduled monthly checks, functional testing, and battery duration tests, all documented and reported through our CAFM platform. Where appropriate, we also recommend LED upgrades and self-test technologies to reduce the ongoing management burden.

This proactive approach aligns with our broader FM strategy: to help clients improve safety, reduce risk, and ensure long-term asset performance.

Summer is one of the most effective times to schedule emergency lighting reviews. Lower building occupancy, planned shutdowns and school holidays create ideal conditions for non-disruptive testing, repairs, or system upgrades.

Whether it’s aligning with fire risk assessments or planning for term-time re-openings, Heb FM can help you take advantage of the summer window to boost your compliance score and your confidence.

Emergency lighting isn’t just a legal requirement, it’s a life-safety system that must work without question, every time.

If you’re unsure whether your building meets the required standards, or you’ve had inconsistent maintenance in the past, now is the time to act.

Contcat us today to arrange a site review or request a compliance audit.