Emergency lights are self contained units that are wired into the mains, but have the benefit of battery backup which enables them to remain illuminated should the mains power fail. The batteries can either be carried within the body of the individual light or accessed by lights via an independent wired circuit. The batteries are kept charged via the mains.

Scheduled Servicing of Emergency Lighting Systems

Servicing of the emergency lighting systems should be carried out at six monthly intervals for self contained luminaries in addition to a monthly flash test as stipulated in the British Standards BS EN 5266.

Under the new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which became law on the 1st October 2006, it is now mandatory to undertake a written Fire Risk Assessment, and to maintain this as a ‘living’ document. i.e. it should be re-assessed at least annually, and updated in the event of any changes made to the premises which should be incorporated into the document.

The new Fire Safety Order encompasses and takes the place of all previous fire safety legislation and all aspects of Fire Safety are now together under this order and now non compliance is dealt with under the authority of criminal law.
This piece of legislation requires the ‘Responsible Person’ to consider all aspects of Fire Safety within their premises and included in this requirement is the provision of Emergency Lighting.