Emergency Light Testing in the UK – How is it Operated?

Once your emergency lighting units are installed, proper maintenance and periodic checks must be conducted to ensure compliance with industry and safety standards. Emergency light testing is a required step to make sure that your system is in proper working condition in case of an emergency. The UK Fire Safety Legislation states that emergency lighting systems should undergo full testing annually and should be flick-tested on a monthly basis. Emergency lighting is a critical investment and requirement in buildings as they ensure proper illumination of escape routes in case of an emergency. This type of lighting also enables building occupants to locate fire-fighting and other emergency equipment in case of a fire.

Emergency lighting systems are typically powered by self-charging batteries that automatically recharge with the help of the mains power or a dedicated power source. Lights or luminaries, as they are called, are either maintained/constantly on/or non-maintained/triggered on by power supply interruption. Emergency light testing or test checks as they are commonly referred to are conducted to make sure that all luminaries and every other part of an emergency lighting system are in working order as stipulated by the British Standard.

Full emergency light testing is typically conducted by cutting off the mains electricity supply so as to trigger emergency lighting. The mains supply must remain switched off for as long as the rated period of the system’s battery and luminaries must be checked to make sure that they are illuminated at the proper levels for the entire duration of such period. Should your luminaries fail anytime during this rated period, your system’s back-up battery must be replaced immediately. Testing should likewise include a log of all defects and issues found during the inspection, especially problems that must be remedied immediately. This is one of the most basic procedures for testing emergency lighting systems in buildings.

Source - https://www.electricalsafetycertificate.co.uk/emergency-light-testing-in-the-uk-how-is-it-operated