Emergency Lighting Testing: What You Need to Know
If your business or rental property has emergency lighting, keeping it properly tested and maintained isn't optional — it's a legal requirement. Yet it's one of the things that gets overlooked most often, particularly by smaller businesses that don't have a dedicated facilities team.
This guide explains what testing is required, how often it needs to happen and what the consequences are if it's not done.
Why Emergency Lighting Testing Matters
Emergency lighting is only useful if it actually works when the power goes out. A fitting that looks fine on the ceiling might have a dead battery, a failed lamp or a faulty circuit — none of which you'd know about until it was too late.
Regular testing is the only way to confirm the system is operational. It also creates a written record that demonstrates compliance — something insurers, fire safety inspectors and local authorities can request at any time.
Legal requirement: Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person for a premises must ensure emergency lighting is maintained in efficient working order. Failure to do so can result in enforcement notices, fines and — in serious cases — prosecution.
The Three Levels of Testing
BS 5266-1 — the British Standard for emergency lighting — sets out three tiers of testing, each with a different frequency and purpose.
| Test | Frequency | Who Carries It Out | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flick test | Weekly | Responsible person / premises manager | A few seconds |
| Function test | Monthly | Responsible person / premises manager | Short duration (as per system) |
| Full duration test | Annual | Competent electrician | Full rated duration (typically 3 hours) |
Weekly Test — The Flick Test
The weekly test is a quick visual check to confirm all emergency luminaires are operational. It's typically done by whoever manages the premises day-to-day — you don't need an electrician for this one.
- Activate the test switch momentarily (a few seconds only)
- Walk the premises and visually check every emergency luminaire illuminates
- Check maintained exit signs are lit
- Record the date and result in the logbook
- Note any failed fittings and arrange repair promptly
The key is keeping it brief — this test is not intended to drain the battery. A few seconds is enough to confirm the fitting responds to a simulated power failure.
Monthly Test — Function Test
The monthly test goes a step further. It simulates an actual mains power failure for a short period to confirm the batteries are charging and the luminaires can sustain the load.
- Isolate the mains supply using the test key or switch
- Confirm all luminaires illuminate across the premises
- Hold for the duration specified in your system documentation
- Restore mains supply and confirm the system returns to normal
- Check the charge indicators where fitted
- Record in the logbook — including any defects found
Important: Any luminaire that fails to illuminate during a monthly test should be treated as a defect and repaired before the next test. A failed fitting means there is a gap in your escape route lighting.
Annual Test — Full Duration Test
The annual full duration test is the most thorough — and it must be carried out by a competent electrician. It verifies that the battery in each luminaire can sustain the system for its full rated period, which is typically three hours.
- Mains supply is isolated for the full rated duration of the system
- All luminaires are checked throughout the test period
- Any luminaire that fails before the rated duration is flagged for repair
- On completion, an Emergency Lighting Certificate is issued
- A full written record is provided for the premises logbook
The annual test will temporarily leave the premises without mains-powered emergency lighting for several hours, so it's worth planning around quieter periods or outside of operating hours where possible.
The Logbook
Every test — weekly, monthly and annual — must be recorded in a logbook kept on the premises. The logbook should include:
- The date of each test
- The result (pass or defects noted)
- Details of any remedial work carried out
- Annual test certificates
If a fire safety inspection takes place, the logbook is one of the first things that will be checked. A complete, up-to-date logbook demonstrates that the responsible person is taking their obligations seriously.
Who Is Responsible?
The "responsible person" under the Fire Safety Order is typically the employer, building owner or managing agent — whoever has control of the premises. They are legally responsible for ensuring emergency lighting is installed, tested and maintained correctly, and for keeping the logbook up to date.
For HMOs and residential blocks, this responsibility falls to the landlord or managing agent. Landlords should also check our rental property electrical checklist for a full overview of their electrical compliance obligations ahead of a new tenancy.
If your business also needs PAT testing for portable appliances, we can carry out both in a single visit — saving time and keeping all your compliance documentation up to date together.
We carry out emergency lighting installation and annual testing across Darlington, Teesside, Durham and surrounding areas. If you need a test certificate or you're unsure whether your system is compliant, get in touch.
We install and test emergency lighting for businesses in Darlington, Durham, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and across the North East. Call 07950 388658 for a quote or to arrange a test.