A spotlight on emergency lighting

With shorter days upon us, now is a good time to turn our attention to the importance of emergency lighting, and the role it plays in supporting emergency evacuations.

In the event of power failure or a fire, emergency lighting can illuminate the exit routes, manual call points and firefighting equipment. This allows building occupants to evacuate both quickly and safely.  As the seasons change and the nights draw in, our reliance on emergency lighting may increase as there is less borrowed light available.

What are the legal requirements?

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, emergency lighting is a legal requirement in most non-domestic properties, such as offices, shops, warehouses, rental properties and public buildings. It must be installed, maintained, and tested regularly. Fines, enforcement notices or criminal prosecution can occur if a company is found to be in breach of this. Lack of maintenance could also cause injury, or even death, in an emergency.

Tip – If you are unsure about your emergency light provision, reviewing your Fire Risk Assessment may be a good place to start.

Testing should be done in accordance with the following schedule:

• Monthly: Short, functional tests to confirm all emergency lights are working. (These simple tests are often carried out in-house, e.g. by a fire warden or by the H&S team.)
• Annual: Full-duration test to simulate a real power failure and ensure lights come on as expected. (This is a more comprehensive test, usually carried out by an engineer.)

Evidence of all checks must be appropriately recorded, and any issues addressed as quickly as possible.

External lighting and perimeter walks

Emergency lighting is not limited to the indoors. Emergency lighting may also cover car parks, pathways, building entrances and exits, evacuation routes and assembly points.

With daylight hours decreasing over the coming months, our reliance on emergency lighting both inside and out increases. Poorly lit areas can lead to slips trips and falls in a real emergency, and potentially further delay safe evacuation. When checking perimeter lighting, pay attention to:

• Trip hazards: Anything that could be dangerous, including risk areas for ice
• Bulbs: These could be burned out, flickering or dim
• Obstruction: Overgrown foliage ,broken fences or new signage

What to do if you spot a fault

If you notice a fault inside or outside during your tests, it is important that you address this quickly. You should:

• Report the issue (e.g. to the facilities, building manager or H&S lead)
• Document the fault in the emergency lighting test record
• Arrange for repairs
• Follow-up and test again

Safety starts with visibility

Emergency lighting can save lives. Whilst we draw on the changes in season in this post, fire safety should remain a priority all year long. Now is your chance to review your emergency lighting log, schedule your next tests and servicing, and prepare for the longer nights.

If you have any questions about fire safety or emergency planning, please contact the LRB team at enquiries@lrbconsulting.co.uk