INSTALLATION GUIDE

Emergency Lighting Installation UK: BS 5266 Complete Guide

Everything electricians and responsible persons need to know about emergency lighting installation in the UK — BS 5266 Part 1 requirements, lux levels, system types, maintained vs non-maintained, installation rules, and certification.

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12 min readUpdated 2026-05-18Andrew Moore, Founder of Elec-Mate

Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.

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Key Takeaways

  • 1BS 5266 Part 1 is the UK standard governing emergency lighting design, installation, and testing. Compliance is a legal requirement for most non-domestic buildings under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
  • 2Escape route lighting must achieve a minimum of 1 lux along the centre line of the escape route. Open area (anti-panic) lighting requires a minimum of 0.5 lux across the core area.
  • 3High-risk task areas require emergency lighting at a minimum of 10% of the normal working illuminance, or 15 lux, whichever is greater.
  • 4Emergency luminaires must reach full rated illuminance within 5 seconds (or 0.5 seconds for high-risk task areas) and sustain it for the rated duration — typically 1, 2, or 3 hours.
  • 5Monthly function tests and annual full-rated-duration discharge tests are mandatory. All results must be recorded in a BS 5266-1 compliant logbook.
01 · Installation Guide

What Is Emergency Lighting?

Emergency lighting is a secondary lighting system that automatically activates when the normal power supply to the main lighting fails. Its purpose is to enable the safe evacuation of a building and, where required, to allow essential tasks to continue safely until the emergency is resolved or evacuation is complete.

In the UK, emergency lighting is a legal requirement in most non-domestic buildings. The primary legal driver is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which places a duty on the responsible person to ensure adequate means of escape are maintained — and those means of escape must be adequately lit. BS 5266 Part 1 is the technical standard that defines exactly how emergency lighting must be designed, installed, and maintained.

  • Legal basis — the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to ensure adequate emergency lighting. Building Regulations Part B (Fire Safety) and Part M also reference emergency lighting requirements.
  • Technical standard — BS 5266 Part 1:2016 is the UK standard for emergency lighting in premises other than cinemas and certain other specified premises. It covers design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance.
  • Scope — offices, retail premises, factories, warehouses, hotels, schools, healthcare facilities, sports venues, leisure centres, licensed premises, communal areas of residential blocks, car parks, and any other building where lighting failure would create a risk to occupants.
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02 · Installation Guide

BS 5266 Part 1: The Emergency Lighting Standard

BS 5266 Part 1:2016 (Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises) is the definitive UK standard for emergency lighting. It is harmonised with the European standard EN 1838 and covers the design philosophy, performance requirements, and maintenance obligations for emergency lighting systems.

The standard defines three categories of emergency lighting, each serving a distinct purpose within a building's fire safety strategy:

  • Escape route lighting — illuminates designated escape routes to allow safe evacuation. Must achieve 1 lux minimum along the centre line of the route and illuminate exit signs and fire safety equipment.
  • Open area (anti-panic) lighting — provided in large open areas to prevent panic and enable occupants to reach an escape route. Minimum 0.5 lux across the core area, which is the floor area excluding a 0.5 metre border around the perimeter.
  • High-risk task area lighting — required in areas where hazardous processes or equipment are in use and must be brought to a safe state before evacuation. Minimum illuminance is 10% of the normal working illuminance or 15 lux, whichever is greater. Must reach full illuminance within 0.5 seconds.

The standard also specifies requirements for standby lighting — lighting provided to allow continued work in the event of normal supply failure — though standby lighting is distinct from escape lighting and is subject to different design criteria.

03 · Installation Guide

Types of Emergency Lighting

Emergency lighting encompasses several different luminaire and sign types, each serving a specific function within the escape strategy.

  • Emergency luminaires — general-purpose fittings that provide illuminance along escape routes and in open areas. Modern fittings are typically LED-based with a self-contained battery and automatic test capability.
  • Emergency exit signs — internally illuminated signs indicating escape route directions. Must comply with BS EN 1838 and display the running person pictogram. Required above all final exits and at changes of direction on escape routes.
  • Combination units — a single fitting that provides both escape route illumination and an illuminated exit sign. Common above final exit doors.
  • High-risk task area units — high-output fittings designed to reach full illuminance within 0.5 seconds. Often directional to illuminate specific machine controls or hazardous processes.
04 · Installation Guide

Illuminance Requirements Under BS 5266

The illuminance values specified in BS 5266-1 are minimum requirements that must be maintained at floor level throughout the rated duration of the emergency lighting system. These are measured values, not design values — the design must account for luminaire depreciation over the battery duration.

  • Escape routes (corridors, stairways) — minimum 1 lux along the centre line. Maximum-to-minimum ratio along the centre line must not exceed 40:1. Stairways must be lit so that each tread receives direct light.
  • Open areas (anti-panic) — minimum 0.5 lux across the core area (total floor area less a 0.5 m border). Anti-panic lighting is required in open areas exceeding 60 m² or where the escape route passes through an open area.
  • High-risk task areas — minimum 10% of normal maintained illuminance or 15 lux, whichever is greater. Must be achieved within 0.5 seconds of normal supply failure.
  • Activation time — for escape routes and open areas, 50% of the required illuminance must be achieved within 5 seconds of normal supply failure, and 100% within 60 seconds. For high-risk task areas, 100% must be achieved within 0.5 seconds.
05 · Installation Guide

Self-Contained vs Central Battery Systems

The two principal system architectures for emergency lighting are self-contained systems (each luminaire has its own battery) and central battery systems (a single battery supplies multiple luminaires via a dedicated wiring circuit).

  • Self-contained (BS EN 60598-2-22) — the most common type in the UK. Each luminaire contains its own rechargeable battery, charger, and control circuitry. Installation is straightforward — just a permanent live feed and neutral to each fitting. Battery life is typically 4 years before replacement is required. Suitable for most commercial and light industrial premises.
  • Central battery (BS EN 50172) — a single battery bank (usually located in a dedicated plant room or secure cupboard) supplies the emergency circuit. Luminaires are standard fittings wired on a separate circuit from the battery unit. Advantages include: simpler battery management, lower whole-life cost in large installations, and the ability to test all luminaires simultaneously from one location. Common in hospitals, large hotels, underground car parks, and multi-storey commercial buildings.
  • Addressable (automatic test) systems — self-contained or central battery systems with addressable luminaires that perform automatic function and duration tests and report results to a central monitoring panel. These systems satisfy the BS 5266-1 testing requirements automatically and log results electronically, greatly reducing maintenance burden in large buildings.

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06 · Installation Guide

Maintained vs Non-Maintained Emergency Lighting

Emergency luminaires are classified by their operating mode: maintained fittings are lit at all times; non-maintained fittings only illuminate on mains failure.

  • Maintained — the lamp is energised at all times (normal and emergency modes). Required by BS 5266-1 in premises used by the public or where people may be unfamiliar with the building layout — including cinemas, theatres, concert halls, sports venues, shopping centres, and licensed premises.
  • Non-maintained — the lamp only illuminates when the normal mains supply fails. Suitable for workplaces where lighting is only needed when the building is occupied during normal working hours and occupants are familiar with the layout. Most appropriate for offices, warehouses, and factories.
  • Sustained — a combined luminaire with separate lamp circuits for normal and emergency modes. The emergency lamp is non-maintained but shares the fitting with a normal lamp that is mains-powered. Less common in modern installations as LED emergency modules in standard fittings achieve the same result more elegantly.

The choice between maintained and non-maintained is determined by the fire risk assessment and the type of premises. Where in doubt, maintained fittings are the safer specification as they also serve as normal lighting, reducing the total number of fittings required.

07 · Installation Guide

Installation Requirements

Emergency lighting installation must comply with BS 5266-1, BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations), and any additional requirements specified in the fire risk assessment or building regulations approval. Key installation considerations include:

  • Circuit arrangement — self-contained luminaires require a permanent live feed (not switched) so the battery remains charged at all times. The supply must not be on the same circuit as the normal lighting it is designed to replace. The emergency circuit must be protected by a dedicated RCD or RCBO.
  • Luminaire positioning — fittings must be positioned to achieve the required illuminance at floor level. Key locations include: above every final exit door, at changes of direction on escape routes, at stairways (each landing must be lit directly), adjacent to fire alarm call points and fire-fighting equipment, near first-aid points, and in toilet areas exceeding 8 m².
  • Spacing calculations — the maximum spacing between luminaires depends on the mounting height and the photometric data for the specific fitting. Manufacturers provide spacing data in their technical sheets. Photometric calculations using software (DIALux, Relux, or manufacturer-specific tools) are recommended for larger or complex installations.
  • Exit signs — internally illuminated exit signs must display the BS EN ISO 7010 E001 running-person pictogram. Arrow direction must be correct for the escape route direction. Signs above final exit doors must be horizontal; directional signs at changes of direction must incorporate an appropriate arrow.
08 · Installation Guide

Testing & Certification

BS 5266-1 mandates a structured programme of tests following commissioning. All test results must be recorded in a dedicated logbook, which must be kept on the premises and made available for inspection by the fire authority or responsible person.

  • Monthly function test — simulate a mains failure for a short period (typically 1 minute using a test key or inhibit switch) to confirm each luminaire illuminates. The test must be brief enough not to significantly discharge the battery. Record the date, result, and any failed fittings.
  • Annual full-duration test — discharge the batteries to their full rated duration (1 hour, 2 hours, or 3 hours depending on the fitting rating). All luminaires must remain fully illuminated throughout. This test should be performed at a time when the building is unoccupied, as it renders the emergency lighting inoperative during the discharge and recharge period.
  • Six-monthly intermediate test — where the full-duration test cannot be carried out annually (due to operational constraints), BS 5266-1 permits an intermediate test of half the rated duration. However, a full-duration test must still be performed at least every three years.
  • Commissioning certificate — on completion of a new or modified installation, the installer must issue a BS 5266-1 Completion Certificate. This is a legal document confirming the system has been designed, installed, and tested in accordance with the standard.

Failed luminaires identified during testing must be replaced promptly. A failed luminaire on the escape route constitutes a breach of the fire safety obligations of the responsible person. Electricians should advise clients to carry out monthly tests themselves between annual visits.

09 · Installation Guide

For Electricians: Emergency Lighting Work

Emergency lighting installation and testing is a recurring revenue stream for electricians serving commercial, retail, and industrial clients. Every non-domestic premises with emergency lighting requires an annual test and periodic system upgrades as batteries degrade.

Issue Certificates on Site

Use the Elec-Mate certificate app to issue BS 5266-1 Emergency Lighting Certificates and log annual test results on site. Send the completed certificate to the client before you leave the premises — no evening paperwork.

Typical Costs (2026)

Self-contained LED emergency luminaire: £15–£60 supply. Installation per fitting (including cable and commissioning): £40–£100. Annual test per fitting: £5–£15. A 20-fitting commercial installation is typically worth £1,500–£3,000 in installation revenue plus £200–£400 per year in testing and maintenance.

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