Thorlux, a manufacturer of commercial, industrial, and emergency lighting equipment, is warning that more than 2,000 premises a year are breaching fire regulations following an analysis of data from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
The figure was released as the company launched its latest generation of Firefly, an emergency lighting range designed to support facilities managers in maintaining compliance with building safety regulations.
According to the NFCC data, fire services issued 2,066 enforcement and prohibition notices between June 2024 and May 2025. These included notices served on hospitals (10), schools (6), and care homes (140).
While not all were specific to emergency lighting, the findings offer an indication of the scale of non-compliance across public and commercial buildings.
Emergency lighting plays a role in supporting safe evacuation during power outages or fire incidents and is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Regulations also require that such systems be maintained and tested regularly to ensure proper operation.
According to the lighting firm, the new Firefly range includes a ten-year warranty, extended battery life, and improved environmental performance.
A choice of new optical designs allows for wider luminaire spacing, meaning fewer units are required to meet compliance standards.
The fittings also integrate with Thorlux’s SmartScan system, which allows for self-testing, real-time status monitoring, and automated test logs.
The reduced number of units and lower maintenance requirements hope to help cut costs for facilities teams. Thorlux claims that, in some cases, the upgrades could halve the number of units required while doubling battery lifespan.
Liam Greene, Product Manager for Emergency Lighting at Thorlux, says, “Emergency lighting is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
“Despite the critical importance of compliance, many employers, occupiers, or property owners remain unaware of their responsibilities or the fact that they may already be non-compliant.
“Breaches of these regulations can result in significant consequences, including personal liability for the designated responsible person, site closures, and restricted access due to safety concerns.
“A common challenge is the lack of clarity around who holds responsibility, which can lead to serious safety risks for occupants and legal exposure and fines with no maximum amount for organisations.
“In response to these challenges, the Thorlux team set out to create a product that simplifies ongoing compliance – making it more effective, reliable, and cost-efficient. The result is Firefly, the next generation of discreet emergency lighting.
“With increased luminaire spacing, reduced battery maintenance, enhanced sustainability, and a fully integrated wireless reporting and control system, Firefly ensures that you’re never left in the dark and, more importantly, never non-compliant.”