At Field View Electrical Ltd, we regularly install, inspect, and maintain emergency lighting systems for businesses, public buildings, and commercial premises across Cumbria. Correctly installed and properly maintained emergency lighting is not only vital for safety — it is also a legal requirement in many settings.
Emergency lighting is an essential safety system designed to operate automatically during a power failure. It's main role is to keep escape routes clearly illuminated, helping people leave a building safely and calmly if the normal lighting fails.
What Emergency Lighting Is Designed To Do
Emergency lighting systems help to:
Clearly guide occupants towards safe exit routes
Provide visibility for emergency services during incidents
Reduce confusion and panic during evacuations
Maintain safety in areas where lighting is critical to prevent injury
Most emergency lighting systems are designed to provide between one and three hours of illumination, allowing sufficient time for safe evacuation and emergency response.
Types of Emergency Lighting Systems
There are two main ways emergency lighting operates:
Maintained Lighting
These lights remain on during normal operation using the mains supply. If the power fails, they automatically switch to battery backup. These are commonly used for exit signs and areas requiring constant visibility.
Non-Maintained Lighting
These lights remain off during normal conditions and automatically activate when mains power is lost. This is the most common type used along escape routes and stairwells.
Where Emergency Lighting Is Required
Emergency lighting must be positioned carefully to ensure safe evacuation. Typical locations include:
Emergency exits and escape routes
Stairways and corridors
Changes in floor level or direction
Large open areas where people gather
High-risk work areas containing hazardous equipment
UK standards require emergency lighting to provide a minimum illumination level of 1 Lux along escape routes, ensuring occupants can move safely towards exits.
Regulations and Compliance
Emergency lighting systems in the UK must comply with BS 5266, which sets out requirements for design, installation, testing, and maintenance. These regulations exist to ensure systems remain reliable and operate correctly when they are needed most.
Emergency Lighting Testing and Maintenance
Routine testing is essential to confirm the system will perform correctly during an emergency.
Regular Functional Testing
Short tests should be carried out routinely to confirm that fittings operate correctly when power is interrupted.
Annual Full Duration Test
A full discharge test is required to confirm the system can provide illumination for the designed duration, typically three hours.
Battery Replacement
Emergency lighting batteries usually last around three years, although newer lithium options may provide longer service life. Regular inspections help identify when replacement is needed.
Reliable Local Support You Can Trust
As a family-run business established in 1997, Field View Electrical Ltd takes pride in helping local businesses stay safe, compliant, and prepared. We take a practical, straightforward approach, ensuring every system is installed correctly, tested thoroughly, and maintained to the highest standard.
If you need advice, testing, upgrades, or a new emergency lighting installation, we are always happy to help.