BS EN 50172:2024 is the British and European Standard covering the installation, verification, operation, testing, maintenance and documentation of emergency escape lighting systems. In simple terms, if BS EN 1838 is concerned with how emergency lighting should perform, BS EN 50172 is concerned with making sure the system is properly Read more
What is BS EN 1838:2024? BS EN 1838:2024 is the British and European Standard that sets out the lighting performance requirements for emergency lighting in buildings. In simple terms, it deals with questions such as: How much emergency light is required? Which areas need to be illuminated? How should escape Read more
BS 5266-1:2025 is the current British Standard providing guidance on emergency lighting in premises. Published in October 2025, it replaced BS 5266-1:2016 and provides recommendations for the design, installation and application of emergency lighting systems when the normal lighting supply fails. The new edition represents a full revision of the Read more
Yes, emergency light testing can typically be done during business hours, but there are some considerations: Monthly Functional Test – A short, functional test (BS 5266 recommends 30 seconds per light) is often done during working hours since it causes minimal disruption. Annual Full Duration Test – This involves a Read more
LED emergency lights are generally considered better than traditional ones for several reasons: Energy Efficiency: LEDs consume significantly less power compared to traditional incandescent or fluorescent lights, reducing energy costs. Longer Lifespan: LED lights have a much longer operational life, often lasting 50,000 hours or more, which means fewer replacements Read more
The main difference between maintained and non-maintained emergency lighting is how they operate during normal conditions and power failures: Maintained Emergency Lighting: Always On: Maintained lights are on at all times, even during normal power supply conditions. Dual Function: They can serve as standard lighting during normal operations and switch Read more
In the UK, the required duration of emergency lighting depends on how the premises are used, the evacuation strategy and whether the building may need to be reoccupied shortly after a power failure. Standard Duration Requirements 1-hour duration A 1-hour emergency lighting system may be appropriate where the premises are Read more