The primary purpose of emergency lighting is to illuminate escape routes, but it is also used to illuminate signs and other safety equipment. Emergency lighting operates automatically when a lighting circuit loses the main power supply; it is, therefore, vital in aiding safe evacuation using escape routes.  

Emergency lighting serves as a back-up for when your main power supply cuts-out, presenting a danger to those inside the affected premises as they will not be able to see. Emergency lights always have to operate in all common areas and escape routes automatically, illuminating these areas sufficiently enough that people can safely find their way out of the building.

Regulations

There are a number of regulations relating to the emergency lighting that is required in new or refurbished buildings, including the Building Regulations 2000 in which the requirements are outlined. This document explains that escape routes must have emergency lights in case the regular lighting fails, as well as this all areas larger than 60 meters squared must have emergency lighting installed.

The guidelines to comply with existing legislation were set-out in the Home Office and Health & Safety Executive document 'Fire Safety: An Employer's Guide', these guidelines include:

• The employer is legal responsible for compliance.

• It relates to all premises where people are employed.

• Any site with five or more employees must maintain a formal record of Fire Risk Assessment, providing an evaluation of the site and outlining measures being taken to ensure the premises are safe.

• Employers must carry out a risk assessment even on premises which already have a fire certificate meeting up to date standards, although additional equipment may not be needed to comply.

• A risk assessment is also necessary where a fire certificate has been issued before 1999 when BS 5266–1 was revised.