North West Emergency Lighting Installation & Testing
40+ Years Protecting North West Businesses
Emergency Lighting for North West Businesses
If the power fails during a fire, a storm or a simple electrical fault, people inside your building need to see the way out. Emergency lighting switches on automatically when the mains supply fails, lighting escape routes, exits and hazards so everyone can leave safely.
Emergency lighting is part of the fire precautions most business premises must have under UK fire safety law.
Full Circuit Fire & Security designs, installs, tests and certifies emergency lighting for businesses across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria. We work to BS 5266-1, the code of practice for emergency lighting, and have been protecting North West premises since 1981.
Is Emergency Lighting a Legal Requirement?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, escape routes and exits that need lighting must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case the normal lighting fails. The responsible person must also make sure the system is maintained and tested.
In practice, almost every commercial building needs emergency lighting, including offices, factories, warehouses, shops, hotels, pubs, restaurants, schools, care homes, medical practices and the communal areas of residential blocks.
Your fire risk assessment should confirm what emergency lighting your premises needs. If you’re not sure, we can survey your building and tell you.
Our Emergency Lighting Services
We cover the full job from start to finish:
- Emergency lighting design to BS 5266-1 and BS EN 1838
- Installation of new emergency lighting systems
- Upgrades from older fittings to modern LED emergency lighting
- Monthly and annual testing
- Emergency lighting certificates for your fire safety records
- Repairs including replacement batteries, lamps and fittings
- Ongoing maintenance plans
Every system is planned around your building’s layout, escape routes and fire risk assessment.
Where Emergency Lighting Is Needed
BS 5266-1 sets out the places where emergency lighting must be positioned. These include:
- Near every exit door and emergency exit
- Along escape routes, including corridors and stairways
- At every change of direction and every intersection of corridors
- Near each staircase, so every step gets direct light
- Near any change in floor level
- Near fire alarm call points and fire fighting equipment
- Near first aid points
- Outside each final exit, to a place of safety
- In lifts, toilets for disabled use and toilets over a certain size
- In plant rooms, switch rooms and other areas that need to be accessed in an emergency
We’ll identify every point your premises needs during the survey.
Types of Emergency Lighting
Different areas of a building need different types of emergency lighting. We’ll recommend the right mix for your premises:
- Escape route lighting: makes sure escape routes, exits and stairs are clearly lit so people can get out safely
- Open area (anti-panic) lighting: lights large open spaces such as warehouses, open-plan offices and halls, so people can reach an escape route without panic
- High-risk task area lighting: gives people light to shut down dangerous machinery or processes safely before leaving
- Standby lighting: keeps normal activities running during a mains failure, where your business needs it
Maintained, Non-Maintained and Exit Signs
Emergency light fittings work in one of two ways:
- Non-maintained fittings only light up when the mains power fails. They are common in offices, factories and warehouses.
- Maintained fittings are on all the time and stay lit when the power fails. They’re often used in places where people gather, such as theatres, cinemas, bars and venues.
Illuminated emergency exit signs show people the way out using the familiar running man symbol. We supply and install exit signs that meet current standards and position them so the route to safety is always clear.
Self-Contained, Central Battery and Self-Test Systems
Self-contained emergency lighting has a battery inside each fitting. It’s the most common choice for small and medium-sized buildings.
Central battery systems power all the emergency lights from one battery unit. They can suit larger buildings, as maintenance is carried out in one place.
Self-test emergency lighting tests itself automatically and reports any faults. It saves time, cuts the risk of missed tests and is a good option for multi-site businesses and larger premises.
We’ll recommend the right system for your building and budget.
Emergency Lighting Testing
BS 5266-1 sets out a clear testing routine:
- Monthly: a short functional test, switching each fitting to battery for a brief time to check it lights
- Annually: a full-duration test, usually three hours, to confirm each fitting stays lit for its full rated time
Every test should be recorded in your emergency lighting logbook.
Many businesses keep up with monthly checks but miss the annual full-duration test. Our technicians carry out full-duration tests to confirm every fitting works for its rated time, and replace failed batteries, lamps or fittings. We’ll also show your staff how to carry out the monthly test.
We plan full-duration tests carefully, because the batteries need time to recharge afterwards. We’ll test at a time that keeps your premises safe and your business running.
Add testing to our testing and maintenance service and we’ll keep your logbook and records up to date for you.
Emergency Lighting Certification
After every installation and annual test, we issue an emergency lighting certificate.
This is your written declaration of compliance with BS 5266. It gives you the evidence you need for fire safety inspections, fire risk assessments, insurers and the fire and rescue service.
We can test and certify emergency lighting installed by other companies too.
LED Emergency Lighting Upgrades
Older emergency lighting often uses fluorescent lamps and older battery technology. These use more energy, fail more often and cost more to maintain.
Modern LED emergency lighting lasts longer, uses less power and needs fewer replacement parts. Upgrading can lower your running costs, reduce failures at test time and improve how your building looks. We’ll survey your existing system and tell you whether an upgrade makes sense.
Our Emergency Lighting Process
- Get in touch. Fill in the short form or call 01254 665 766.
- Site survey. We review your building, escape routes and any existing system.
- Design. We plan the right fittings, positions and system type.
- Clear quotation. You receive a no-obligation quote.
- Installation. We install at a time that suits your business.
- Testing and certification. We test everything and issue your certificate.
- Ongoing testing. We book your annual test and remind you when it’s due.
Why North West Businesses Choose Full Circuit
- Design, installation, testing and certification from one team
- Work carried out to BS 5266-1
- Certificates that satisfy inspections and insurers
- SSAIB certified, BAFE accredited and CHAS approved
- One local team for emergency lighting, fire alarms and fire extinguishers
- Over 40 years’ experience, based in Blackburn
Emergency Lighting Across the North West
We install, test and certify emergency lighting for businesses across the North West, including:
- Lancashire: Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington, Darwen, Preston, Blackpool, Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth, Chorley and Skelmersdale
- Greater Manchester: Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Heywood, Salford and Wigan
- Cumbria: Windermere, Ambleside and Keswick
Emergency Lighting FAQs
Is emergency lighting a legal requirement? For most business premises, yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires emergency lighting on escape routes where needed, and BS 5266-1 sets out how to do it.
How often should emergency lighting be tested? A short functional test every month and a full-duration test, usually three hours, every year.
Who can test emergency lighting? Your own staff can carry out the monthly test. The annual full-duration test and certification should be done by a competent person.
What is the difference between maintained and non-maintained emergency lighting? Maintained fittings are always on and stay lit during a power cut. Non-maintained fittings only light up when the power fails.
How long should emergency lighting last? Most premises need a three-hour duration, especially where people may stay in or return to the building soon after a power failure.
Do I get a certificate? Yes. Every completed installation and annual test comes with a certificate for your fire safety records.
Can you test a system someone else installed? Yes. We test and certify existing systems and recommend any repairs needed.
Will testing disrupt my business? We plan full-duration tests at times that keep disruption low and leave the premises safe throughout.
Get Your Free Emergency Lighting Quote
Tell us about your premises and we’ll send a clear, no-obligation quotation. Call 01254 665 766 or get your free quote online.
