29/08/2023

Your Complete Guide to BS 5266 Emergency Lighting Requirements: Latest Updates

Emergency lighting is a critical aspect of building safety, ensuring that occupants can safely evacuate in case of an emergency. The BS 5266 Standard provides comprehensive guidelines and regulations for installing, maintaining, and testing emergency lighting systems in commercial premises within the UK. In this blog, we’ll explore the essentials of BS 5266, the British Standard for emergency lighting requirements, and how you can ensure your system meets legal and safety standards.

What is emergency lighting?

Emergency lighting is the lighting that automatically comes on in the event of an emergency, such as a fire or power outage. When normal lighting systems fail, buildings that are plunged into darkness can cause panic and hinder evacuation efforts. Proper installed emergency lighting ensures that escape routes, exits and safety equipment are clearly illuminated, giving occupants the necessary visibility to exit the building safely, reducing the risk of injury and saving lives. 

Emergency Lighting Legislation: What is BS 5266?

The BS 5266 is a British Standard that outlines the necessary guidelines and regulations for emergency lighting systems in commercial buildings in the UK. This standard ensures that emergency lighting is properly installed, maintained, and functional during power failures or other emergencies. 

The British Standard applies to most premises, including workplaces, public buildings, residential buildings, and communal areas in multiple-occupancy buildings. Depending on the application, a higher specification may be required.

Compliance with the BS 5266 Standard is not only a legal requirement but also a best practice for ensuring the safety of building occupants. The standard outlines specific requirements for installing, maintaining, and testing emergency lighting systems to ensure that all aspects of emergency lighting meet the minimum safety requirements and provide adequate illumination for safe evacuation. 

This includes:

• Conducting a risk assessment to determine the appropriate emergency lighting needs.
• Installing emergency lighting that meets the specific lighting levels and coverage areas, and specifying the minimum duration emergency lights should operate during a power failure (usually 1-3 hours).
• Regular testing and maintenance to ensure the system is always fully operational.
• Keeping detailed records of all tests, maintenance activities, and any issues or repairs.

 

Different Types of Emergency Lighting 

Emergency lighting is a general term and is subdivided into standby lighting and emergency escape lighting.

• Standby Lighting: Provides lighting for normal activities to continue during a power failure.
• Emergency Escape Lighting: Ensures that all escape routes are illuminated, allowing occupants to find their way to safety.

Emergency Escape Lighting can be broken down further into:

• Escape Route Lighting: Illuminates the identified escape routes clearly. It includes emergency lighting bulkheads and illuminated fire exit signs. A fundamental requirement of fire safety provision in all premises regardless of their occupany levels or use. 
• Open Area (Anti-Panic) Lighting: Designed to prevent panic in larger open areas by providing sufficient lighting to guide people to the nearest exit. Typically used in larger buildings like shopping centres and museums that attract a large number of visitors who will not be familiar with the layout of the building, which may ensue panic should there be a fire alarm. 
• High-Risk Task Area Lighting: Provides focused illumination in areas where hazardous tasks are performed, ensuring that these tasks can be safely shut down during an emergency. This type of lighting is only a requirement in certain types of buildings. 

Design and Placement of Emergency Lighting

The responsible person, fire risk assessor, and designer should decide and map out where escape lighting is required to cover the key areas, factoring in the type of building, occupancy levels, the layout of escape routes, and the duration of emergency lighting. 

 

BS 5266 recommends placing sufficient emergency lighting in the following areas to allow them to be visible and usable:

• Escape Routes: Along escape routes like corridors, stairways, and exits, with a minimum of 1 lux on the centre line for routes up to 2 meters wide, and 0.5 lux for open areas larger than 60 square meters.
• Exit Doors: Near each exit door that might be used in an emergency.
• Stairs: So that each flight of stairs receives direct light.
• Changes in Floor Levels: Near any change in level.
• Safety Signs: Near externally illuminated escape route signs and other safety signs that need illumination during an emergency.
• Intersections: At intersections of corridors and changes in direction.
• Final Exits: Near the final exit to the outside of the building and to a place of safety.
• Other Locations: Near first aid posts, fire-fighting equipment, call points, and escape equipment for disabled people.

Power Supply (Type)

Emergency lighting systems rely on different power sources, such as batteries or central power systems. Understanding the available options and their features helps select the most suitable power source for a specific building’s requirements.

Emergency lighting luminaires

There are two types of luminaire: self-contained and centrally supplied. 

A self-contained luminaire houses all necessary components (battery, charger, control unit, lamp, diffuser, and test or monitoring facilities) to operate independently as an emergency light. It is the most common type of emergency lighting, typically installed on walls or ceilings to light specific areas or features. Common examples include surface-mounted, rectangular bulkhead luminaires, though various shapes like square, round, and recessed models are also available. Self-contained luminaires are ideal for smaller premises with a lower budget.

Centrally supplied luminaires, or ‘slaves’, rely on an external central emergency power system, as defined by BS EN 60598-2-22. These fixtures include the lamp and some control gear, but the charger, battery, and often the changeover device are housed remotely, supplying multiple luminaires. They come in various shapes and styles. These systems are more expensive, but for larger projects prioritising low maintenance and longetivity, then the initial cost of a central supplied system may be worthwhile.

Advantages and disadvantages of Self-Contained and Centrally Supplied Luminaires:

Self-Contained		Centrally Supplied
Advantages	Disadvantages	Advantages	Disadvantages
Each luminaire is independent – great integrity and easily extended	Battery life can vary throughout the system due to high or low ambient temperatures	Testing and maintenance is easier – only one location to maintain	High intial outlay costs
Low maintenance costs	Expected battery life is between 2 to 4 years	Environementally stable – slave luminaires can operate at high or low temperatures	Additional fire resistant wiring is needed to each slave luminaire
No additional hardware costs	Luminaires need testing and observing on an individual basis	Expected batter life is between 5 and 25 years	A battery or wiring issue can disable a large part of the system
Uses standard wiring		Larger batteries cheaper to run and less expensive to purchase	A ‘battery room’ is required to house the cells and chargers and provide ventiliation for acid gases
Fast & cheap to install			Emergency lighting might not activate if there is a localised mains failure
If there is mains supply failure due to damaged wiring, the emergency luminaire will activate automatically			The luminaire farthest from the central battery may experience voltage drop issues

 

Operating Mode

Depending on the use of the premises, you’ll need to decide on the mode of operation: maintained or non-maintained. 

 

Maintained emergency luminaires are where the emergency lights are on at all times. This mode is generally used in places where people gather, including clubs, cinemas and theatres. When these venues are occuped, the lights are dimmed, preventing total darkness. Public spaces like these also use maintained fire exit signs to ensure that the escape routes are well lit even if there is a power outage. 

Non-maintained emergency luminaires are usually found in workplaces or anywhere where there is artificial lighting. The emergency lights only come on when there is a power outage.

 

Duration of emergency lights

The evacuation time of a building depends on its size and complexity. Emergency escape lighting must last at least 1 hour, meaning luminaires should stay on for that time after a power failure. If the building isn’t evacuated immediately, such as in sleeping areas, or if it will be reoccupied as soon as power returns, the lighting should last 3 hours. The 1-hour duration is only acceptable if the building is evacuated immediately and not reoccupied until the batteries are fully recharged.

Testing and Maintenance

Regular testing and maintenance of emergency lighting systems are essential to ensure their reliability and compliance with BS 5266. 

BS EN 50172 / BS 5266-8 (Emergency escape lighting systems) specify the minimum provision and testing of emergency lighting for different premises. Additional information on servicing can be found in BS 5266-1.

Discharge tests need to be undertaken outside normal working hours. In permanently occupied buildings, the test should be phased so that only alternate luminaires are tested.

Regular servicing is essential. The building owner should appoint a competent person to supervise the system’s servicing. This person shall be given sufficient authority to carry out any work necessary to maintain the system in the correct operational mode.

The following minimum inspections and tests shall be carried out at the recommended intervals. The regulating authority may require specific tests.

Daily emergency lighting inspection 

This check only applies to emergency lighting systems with a central supplied battery system. In this case, indicators on the central power supply are visually inspected daily to identify that the system is operational. It is worth noting that this test does not apply to emergency lighting with self-contained backup batteries in each unit.

Monthly emergency lighting tests

All emergency lighting systems must be tested monthly. The test is a short functional test in accordance with BS EN 50172 / BS 5266-8. During this testing period, all luminaires and signs shall be checked to ensure that they are present, clean and functioning correctly.

Annual emergency lighting tests

A test for the full rated duration of the emergency lights (e.g. 3 hours) must be carried out. The emergency lights must still be working at the end of this test.

The result of the monthly and annual tests must be recorded and, if failures are detected, these must be remedied as soon as possible.

Regulations

The BS 5266 Standard works in conjunction with other regulations and codes, such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Building Regulations 2010. These regulations mandate that adequate emergency lighting is in place and maintained to ensure the safety of occupants. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment, and can also invalidate insurance policies.

Consequences of Non-Compliance with BS 5266

Non-compliance with the BS 5266 Standard can have serious repercussions, including:

• Legal Penalties: Businesses can face significant fines and legal action if their emergency lighting systems do not meet the required standards.
• Increased Liability: In the event of an emergency, inadequate lighting can lead to accidents or fatalities, resulting in increased liability and potential lawsuits.
• Insurance Issues: Many insurance policies require compliance with safety standards. Failure to comply can lead to the denial of insurance claims, leaving businesses financially vulnerable.
• Reputational Damage: Businesses that fail to ensure the safety of their occupants risk damage to their reputation, which can have long-term negative impacts on their operations and profitability.

 

Documentation and Record-Keeping

Keeping detailed documentation of the emergency lighting system’s design, installation, testing, and maintenance is crucial for compliance and safety. Adhering to BS 5266 and other relevant regulations is essential for ensuring the safety of building occupants and avoiding potential legal consequences.

Conclusion

By thoroughly understanding and implementing the requirements of BS 5266, building owners, designers, and maintenance personnel can significantly enhance the safety of occupants during emergencies. Properly designed, installed, and maintained emergency lighting systems contribute to a calm and organised evacuation, ultimately saving lives. Embracing the principles outlined in BS 5266 enhances safety and peace of mind for everyone within the building’s premises.

Speak to Sygma today to create an emergency lighting plan for your commercial building that’s in-line with BS 5266 regulations, including surveys, testing, installation, and maintenance.

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