What is the primary function of escape route lighting?

Escape route lighting ensures escape routes remain clearly visible and navigable from any location to the final exit.

To provide anti-panic illumination across large open floor areas of a building

To allow any dangerous processes to be shut down safely on failure of the normal supply

To enable normal work activities to continue during a failure of the supply

To enable safe and effective identification of escape routes leading to final exits

What minimum illuminance is required across the width of an escape route?

BS EN 1838:2024 requires a minimum of 1 lux across the FULL WIDTH of an escape route. The 2013 edition required it only along the centre line; the 2024 revision extended it to the whole width, excluding borders (0.5 m each side above 2 m width, or a quarter of the width at 2 m or less).

1 lux across the full route width

0.5 lux across the full route width

5 lux across the full route width

0.2 lux across the full route width

What is the maximum permitted ratio between maximum and minimum illuminance on escape routes?

BS EN 1838 specifies a maximum uniformity ratio of 40:1 to prevent dangerous variations between bright and dark areas.

Free mock exam

System Types — Emergency Lighting (BS 5266) Practice

Free topic-focused mock exam: 30 random questions from a pool of 57 on System Types, drawn from the wider Emergency Lighting (BS 5266) bank. 35-minute timer, 70% to pass, worked explanation on every question. Use this when you've taken the full mock once and want to drill the topics you got wrong.

Questions: 30
Time limit: 35 min
Pass mark: 70% · 21/30
Question bank: 57

Free, no sign-up. Retake as many times as you like — different questions each time.

Sample questions

01What is the primary function of escape route lighting?
- ATo allow any dangerous processes to be shut down safely on failure of the normal supply
- BTo enable normal work activities to continue during a failure of the supply
- CTo enable safe and effective identification of escape routes leading to final exits
- DTo provide anti-panic illumination across large open floor areas of a building
Why: Escape route lighting ensures escape routes remain clearly visible and navigable from any location to the final exit.
02What minimum illuminance is required across the width of an escape route?
- A0.5 lux across the full route width
- B5 lux across the full route width
- C0.2 lux across the full route width
- D1 lux across the full route width
Why: BS EN 1838:2024 requires a minimum of 1 lux across the FULL WIDTH of an escape route. The 2013 edition required it only along the centre line; the 2024 revision extended it to the whole width, excluding borders (0.5 m each side above 2 m width, or a quarter of the width at 2 m or less).
03What is the maximum permitted ratio between maximum and minimum illuminance on escape routes?
- A40:1
- B10:1
- C100:1
- D20:1
Why: BS EN 1838 specifies a maximum uniformity ratio of 40:1 to prevent dangerous variations between bright and dark areas.

Common questions

Is the System Types mock exam free?

Yes — 100% free, no sign-up needed. Questions are pulled at random from a substantial bank, with a worked explanation on every question after you submit.

Can I retake the mock exam?

Yes. Every attempt picks a different random selection and reshuffles the options, so each retake gives you genuinely new questions. No limit on retakes.

Does this count towards the real qualification?

No — this is independent practice material. To gain the actual qualification you need to sit the official assessment through an approved provider.