Emergency Lighting Requirements for Commercial Premises Explained

Emergency lighting is a legal and safety-critical requirement in most commercial buildings. In the UK, the design, installation and maintenance of emergency lighting systems is governed by BS 5266, supported by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Building Regulations.

As an electrical design consultancy, we regularly help clients interpret BS 5266 correctly and translate it into practical, compliant lighting designs that satisfy Building Control, Fire Risk Assessors and insurers.

This article summarises the key requirements of BS 5266 and explains how professional design input can simplify compliance.

What is BS 5266?

BS 5266 is a suite of British Standards covering emergency lighting. The most commonly applied parts in commercial premises are:

• BS 5266-1 – Code of practice for emergency lighting

• BS EN 1838 – Lighting performance requirements

• BS EN 50172 – System inspection, testing and maintenance

Together, these standards define:

• Where emergency lighting is required

• Minimum illumination levels

• Duration of battery backup

• Testing and documentation requirements

Which commercial premises must comply?

BS 5266 applies to most non-domestic buildings, including:

• Offices and business parks

• Retail units and shopping centres

• Industrial buildings and warehouses

• Hotels, leisure centres and gyms

• Schools, colleges and healthcare facilities

If a building is occupied by employees or members of the public, emergency lighting is almost always required.

Key BS 5266 requirements (in plain English)

1. Emergency escape lighting

Emergency lighting must operate automatically when normal lighting fails and provide safe illumination to:

• Escape routes (corridors, stairways, lobbies)

• Open areas where people may congregate

• Areas where a sudden loss of light could be dangerous

  
  

Minimum illuminance levels include:

• 1 lux along the centre line of escape routes

• 0.5 lux in open (anti-panic) areas

  
  

2. Illuminated safety features

Emergency luminaires must highlight specific hazards and safety equipment, including:

• Fire alarm call points

• Fire extinguishers and hose reels

• First aid points

• Changes in level and direction

• Final exits and exit signage

Poor positioning is one of the most common reasons systems fail inspection.

3. Emergency lighting duration

For most commercial premises:

• Emergency lighting must operate for a minimum of 3 hours

This ensures safe evacuation and allows time for emergency response or controlled shutdown.

4. Types of emergency lighting systems

BS 5266 allows for different system types, depending on risk and building use:

• Self-contained luminaires (integral battery)

• Central battery systems

• Maintained or non-maintained fittings

Selecting the wrong system type can increase costs and future maintenance burden.

5. Testing, certification and records

BS 5266 requires:

• Monthly functional tests

• Annual full-duration discharge tests

• Accurate logbooks and compliance documentation

While testing is an operational responsibility, correct design is essential to make testing practical and cost-effective.

How our electrical design services help you achieve compliance

1. Emergency lighting design & layout

We provide fully compliant emergency lighting designs by:

• Assessing escape routes and risk areas

• Calculating luminaire spacing to meet lux requirements

• Coordinating exit signage and safety point coverage

• Ensuring compliance with BS 5266 and BS EN 1838

For an office refurbishment, we designed an emergency lighting layout that reduced fittings by 20% compared to a contractor’s initial proposal, whilst still achieving full compliance.

2. Integration with the building

Emergency lighting should not be an afterthought.

We integrate emergency lighting with:

• General lighting layouts

• Building aesthetics

• DALI and smart lighting systems

• Central battery or monitoring systems

In a large entrance foyer, we coordinated emergency lighting with architectural lighting to maintain aesthetics without compromising compliance.

3. Fire risk assessment support

We regularly work alongside Fire Risk Assessors to:

• Interpret recommendations

• Translate findings into compliant designs

• Address enforcement notices or insurer comments

Following a fire risk assessment identifying insufficient escape lighting in a large office facility, we redesigned the system to improve vertical illumination and signage visibility.

4. Tender & construction support

Our design packages include:

• Emergency lighting drawings

• Luminaire schedules

• System specifications

• Compliance notes for Building Control

  
  

  We work closely with reliable and local electrical contractors that can carry out your installations to ensure compliance.

  
  

5. Existing building reviews & upgrades

Many older buildings have emergency lighting that:

• No longer meets current standards

• Has been compromised by layout changes

• Lacks documentation

We carry out design reviews and upgrade strategies to bring systems back into compliance.

Why professional design matters

Emergency lighting failures are one of the most common issues raised during:

• Fire risk assessments

• Building Control inspections

• Insurance audits

Engaging a qualified electrical design consultancy ensures:

• Compliance from day one

• Efficient, cost-effective layouts

• Reduced long-term maintenance issues

• Clear documentation and peace of mind

  
  

How we can help

If you are:

• Planning a new commercial development

• Refurbishing an existing building

• Responding to a fire risk assessment

• Unsure whether your emergency lighting is compliant

We provide independent, standards-based emergency lighting design tailored to your building and business needs. Also if required we can work closely with local and reliable electrical contractors to deliver your project from start to finish.

 Contact us to discuss your project or request a compliance review.