In this article, Chris Anderson, Technical Manager at Ansell Lighting, provides an update on recent changes to emergency lighting legislation and looks at new products that will support easier monitoring and maintenance for customers.
Keeping up with evolving regulations and the latest technological advancements is critical for everyone involved in designing, installing and maintaining emergency lighting systems. These systems play a pivotal role in safeguarding lives during power outages and emergencies, and are a core element of safety regulations in public buildings.
When it comes to emergency lighting, there are a number of laws and standards that govern its design, installation and maintenance in the UK. These include The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, The Health and Safety at Work Act, Building Regulations, The EU Workplace Directive and Fire Safety Regulations.
The most recent changes to regulations that have been made include updates to the British Standard BS EN 50172:2004; now known as BS EN 50172:2024.
According to BS EN 50172:2024, which applies to emergency escape lighting illumination specification and system testing, emergency lighting systems now require an additional bi-annual test of emergency luminaires on top of pre-existing monthly and annual tests. This revision is to ensure that luminaires are undamaged and that their intended function is not impaired due to the presence of dirt, dust or visible material degradation.
With this added testing obligation in mind, now, more than ever, contractors should be focused on specifying products which have automated, self-test functionality, to ease the time burden this additional requirement will have on building operators and facilities managers. As a manufacturer, Ansell Lighting often hears from such groups that ongoing maintenance and compliance checks take up a significant amount of their time, so implementing self-test systems can greatly streamline these processes, reducing labour intensity, any margin for human error, and adding value to the client’s maintenance and operational efficiency.
Easy to install and operate, products with intelligent self-test lighting features make the testing process much quicker and easier for users. These products perform tests automatically on a selected date each month and year as required and in compliance with legal regulations. They feature a small LED button on each fitting which indicates regular function or signals a fault, leading to a quicker and more cost-effective testing and maintenance process. Emergency exit signs, emergency exit boxes, emergency downlights, emergency twin spots and emergency bulkheads are all available with this innovative technology.
Taking this intelligent testing one step further, light monitoring dashboards are a brand new technology which further ease the process of emergency lighting testing and monitoring. Suitable for use alongside smart lighting systems, they monitor all emergency lighting assets in real time, providing instant alerts if any component fails. This constant vigilance ensures that building occupants are protected, and safety standards are consistently met, whether in a single office or across an entire portfolio of buildings.
They also provide a convenient hub from which all lighting data and reports can be accessed and stored, meaning that the status of every emergency lighting device at any time, past or present, within a building or across multiple sites can be viewed easily in one place.
In another change to existing regulations, the British Standard BS EN 1838:2013 has also been revised, recommending that Adaptive Emergency Escape Lighting Systems (AEELS) should now be used in all types of buildings.
AEELS are highly intuitive, advanced lighting systems that help guide building occupants to safety. Using sensors and monitoring devices, they can detect changes in the environment, harnessing intelligent control technology to automatically modify factors such as escape route direction, the visibility of emergency signage and lighting levels on escape routes dependent on changing conditions. This adaptability makes them particularly effective in complex or high-occupancy buildings, ensuring safe evacuation under dynamic circumstances.
Emergency lighting is far more than a box-ticking exercise – it’s a lifesaving measure. As regulations evolve, it is important that everyone involved in the emergency lighting process stays informed and adaptive to new technologies to ensure installations are not only compliant, but also effective. Electrical contractors play a pivotal role in ensuring all lighting systems meet compliance standards while delivering reliable, long-lasting performance. Embracing innovations and staying ahead of the curve will not only improve safety outcomes but also position contractors as trusted, forward-thinking professionals in the industry.