Emergency Lighting Regulations

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO)
Requires the Responsible Person to ensure adequate emergency lighting for safe evacuation in an emergency.

Type Purpose

Escape Route Lighting Illuminate escape routes like corridors, staircases, exits

Open Area (Anti-Panic) Lighting Prevent panic in open spaces by providing minimum illumination

High-Risk Task Area Lighting Provide light in areas with dangerous processes to allow safe shutdown

Standby Lighting Maintains normal activity during power failure (not required by law unless part of business continuity)

Must be provided along all escape routes: corridors, stairs, changes in direction, and exits
Required at key points:
- Fire alarm call points
- Firefighting equipment (e.g., extinguishers)
- First aid points
- Emergency exit signs
- Stairwells and lifts
- Areas of sudden direction change
Illumination level: Minimum 1 lux on the centre line of escape routes
Exit signs must be clearly visible and illuminated

Emergency lights must remain on for at least 1 hour, typically 3 hours for most commercial premises
After power is restored, the system must recharge within 24 hours

As per BS EN 50172 and BS 5266-8:

Frequency Test

Monthly Functional test – simulate power failure for a short time to ensure lights operate

Annually Full duration test (e.g. 3 hours), checking batteries and operation