BS 5266-1:2016 – Emergency Lighting Standards: Everything You Need to Know

Emergency lighting is essential in all buildings as it provides backup lights in case of power failure. Emergency lighting is essential because:

• It assists building occupants in evacuation of the building safely in an emergency.
• It minimises panic as a well-lit escape route helps people to identify a means of escape quickly.
• It assists first responders to reach their targets safely.
• It is required as part of work health and safety compliance.

This blog will cover key aspects of the Standard, including its requirements, benefits, and practical applications for businesses and building managers.

What is BS 5266-1:2016?

The BS 5266 emergency lighting code of practice explains the types of emergency lighting a building must have to provide a safe means of escape, an area of safety or continued operation of the premises. It provides guidance on:

• The types of emergency lighting systems and what each system will cover.
• Design and installation of emergency lighting systems.
• Minimum duration lighting.
• Response times.
• Maximum and minimum ratio of illuminance, disability, glare and colour.
• Installation and wiring of emergency lighting systems.
• Commissioning and testing requirements.
• Certificates, logbooks and maintenance.

The Standards apply to a variety of buildings, such as:

• Commercial premises such as shops, offices, factories and warehouses
• Premises that provide care, such as hospitals
• Community halls
• Schools
• Pubs, clubs, and restaurants
• Tents and marquees
• Hotels and hostels
• Common areas in residential complexes

The BS 5266 code is part of a larger family of Standards addressing different aspects of emergency lighting systems. It may be supplemented by and work in conjunction with other UK Standards and legislation, which are all essential to how emergency lighting systems are designed, installed, and commissioned.

Key Requirements of BS 5266:1:2016

The code establishes four stages of establishing a suitable emergency lighting system:

1.     Design

The areas that should be considered in the design process include:

• System integrity – to ensure emergency lighting is provided when required
• Failure of Standard “normal” lighting
• Failure of emergency lighting luminaire – to avoid being caught in total darkness
• Mounting height of luminaires
• Spacing between luminaires
• Classification of operation of emergency lighting systems
• Selection of appropriate emergency lighting systems
• Duration of emergency lighting 

2.     Installation

• The installation of an emergency lighting system must follow the design plan and be appropriate for the building's size, type and usage.
• The designer should include instructions on the system's installation, operation and maintenance.
• The instructions should preferably be a manual for retention by the building occupier or manager.

3.     Commissioning

• The person handing over the system to the person responsible for the system should provide adequate training on the regular monthly tests and inspections, how to use and check the facilities, or to check the automatic test facilities.
• Documents must be kept up to date.

4.     Maintenance

• The person appointed with responsibility for the premises is responsible for the functional operation of the emergency lighting system.
• Recommended routine testing of the system includes:

-        Checking functional operation every month

-         Annual full-rated duration test on each luminaire

-     Logging of any system failures and introducing alternate safety procedures until failure is repaired

-          Recording all testing and repair information in a logbook

-          A competent person should be used to repair any faults

Regular servicing and testing of emergency lighting systems is essential to ensure their reliability and compliance with BS5266.

Types of Emergency Lighting Covered Under BS 5266-1:2016

There are four types of emergency lighting:

1.     Escape route lighting assists in an emergency, fire, or security incident. It includes emergency lighting bulkheads and illuminates fire exit signs. It helps reduce panic by ensuring a safe exit route is sufficiently illuminated so that building occupants can safely evacuate.
2.     Open area lighting, or anti-panic lighting, ensures sufficient light is provided to areas to enable building occupants to identify an escape route in an emergency. Open area lighting applies to floor areas larger than 60m². It is typically used in large buildings such as museums and shopping centres where visitors will not be familiar with the layout of the building.
3.     High-risk task area lighting provides higher levels of illumination where higher-risk tasks are performed and allows potentially dangerous processes to be shut down in an emergency, such as turning off machinery during an evacuation.
4.     Standby lighting allows normal activities to continue during a power outage.

Properly installed, maintained, and functional emergency lighting ensures the safety of building occupants in an emergency and provides adequate illumination to facilitate safe evacuation. A thorough understanding of the emergency lighting BS 5266 code enhances the safety and peace of everyone in the building. It avoids legal liability and significant penalties for building owners and managers.

Who Needs to Comply with BS 5266-1:2016?

The Emergency Lighting BS 5266 code identifies the people responsible for complying with the Standards, and these include:

• Building designers
• The building owner/organisation
• Facility managers
• Electricians and emergency lighting system installers
• Tenants (in multi-occupancy buildings)
• Landlords (for common areas of the building)
• Those carrying out maintenance on the emergency lighting system

The person responsible must ensure they engage only competent people throughout all stages of the procurement and operation of the system.

The Standard is essential for all building construction. Although it recommends minimum Standards and backup lighting durations for all types and categories of premises, higher specifications may be required for particular types of applications.

It is essential, as businesses often fail to update their emergency lighting systems during renovations or logbooks are not updated by electricians and maintenance workers when a system has been upgraded. Many things can be overlooked, and the consequences of non-compliance are serious.

Consequences of non-compliance include:

• Legal penalties in the form of significant fines.
• Increased liability and lawsuits if inadequate lighting leads to accidents or fatalities.
• Insurance issues as insurance policies often require compliance with safety Standards. Non-compliance may lead to denial of insurance claims, which will leave businesses financially vulnerable.
• Reputational damage leading to long-term negative impacts on a business’s operations and profitability.

The Importance of Regular Testing and Maintenance

Regular testing and maintenance are essential to ensure the emergency lighting systems remain effective and compliant with BS EN 5266. The code specifies the minimum provision and testing required for different premises.

The following minimum tests are required at recommended intervals, and the regulating authority may also require specific tests:

1. Daily emergency lighting inspections

•  Applies to lighting systems with a central battery system. Indicators on the central power supply are visually inspected daily to ensure it is operational. This does not apply to lighting systems with self-contained backup batteries. 

1. Monthly emergency lighting tests

• The monthly test as per BS EN 50172/BS 5266-8 must be carried out.
• All luminaires must be checked to ensure they are present, clean and functioning correctly.

1. Annual emergency lighting tests

• A test for the full rated duration of the emergency lights must be carried out, and the lights must still be working after the test.

Regular testing and servicing are essential to prevent failures during emergencies and to ensure the safety of building occupants. Servicing and maintenance must be carried out only by a competent person.

Benefits of Complying with BS 5266-1:2016

Non-compliance with BS 5266-1 can have serious consequences. The benefits to a company or business of compliance include:

1. Enhanced safety for building occupants – a properly functioning emergency lighting system will:

• provide light when the building’s power source fails
• help occupants safely evacuate the building
• minimise panic in an emergency
• guide first responders to their targets 

1. Reduced liability for building owners and managers, saving them from potentially costly lawsuits.
2. Avoid fines and penalties—fines can run into the hundreds of thousands and, in severe cases, prison sentences.
3. Improved confidence in the building’s safety systems during inspections or audits

• Insurance companies are more likely to pay out in the event of accidents if there is a properly functioning emergency lighting system in place
• Potential employees and customers will have confidence in the building’s safety systems, boosting the business’ reputation
• A good reputation can positively impact a company’s share prices

Conclusion

Complying with emergency lighting BS 5266 Standards is essential to ensure safe, reliable, and compliant emergency lighting systems in all buildings.

Building owners and facility managers are responsible for reviewing their current emergency lighting systems and ensuring they are compliant to protect occupants, meet legal obligations, and protect themselves from legal liability, penalties and loss of reputation.

On our website, you can purchase individual emergency lighting Standards in digital PDF or printed (hardcopy) formats. Or you may wish to manage your Standards with i2i, our secure, configurable, cloud-based platform, made available through our subscription service.