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Fire services

Emergency lighting.

Emergency lighting
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What is emergency lighting?

Emergency lighting provides essential illumination when normal power fails, helping people safely evacuate a building during a fire or power outage. These systems are legally required in all commercial premises and must meet BS 5266-1 standards. Whether it’s lighting stairwells, corridors, or open areas, well-designed emergency lighting protects people, supports evacuation, and ensures full compliance with fire safety regulations.

Why choose Complii?

How we can help.

Protect your people, property, and business. Here’s why we’re the right choice for emergency lighting.

Maintained and non-maintained systems

There are two main types of emergency lighting. Maintained systems stay on at all times, functioning as both regular and emergency lighting, and are commonly used in public buildings such as theatres or shopping centres. Non-maintained systems activate only during a power failure, automatically illuminating escape routes in workplaces, offices, and factories.

Essential for compliance and safety

Emergency lighting is not optional. It is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and must comply with BS 5266-1. Proper installation and maintenance ensure that escape routes, stairwells, and open areas remain visible even in complete darkness or smoke, reducing panic and improving evacuation times.

Design and installation

Every building is different, which is why our emergency lighting solutions are tailored to each environment. Our engineers assess your premises, plan suitable lighting positions, and install high-quality, fully compliant systems that deliver consistent performance. From small offices to large industrial sites, we design systems that keep people safe and meet all legal obligations.

Testing and maintenance

To guarantee reliability, emergency lighting must be tested and serviced at least once a year. Our comprehensive maintenance programmes include visual inspections, full illumination tests, and certification to demonstrate compliance. Regular testing ensures your lighting performs as intended when it’s needed most.

Types of emergency lighting

There are three primary types of emergency lighting used across commercial buildings:

  • Escape route lighting: keeps evacuation routes clearly illuminated during an emergency.

  • Open area lighting: provides visibility in larger spaces to guide occupants safely towards exits.

  • High-risk task area lighting: supports safe shutdown of hazardous equipment and processes.

Your questions answered.

  • Yes. All commercial buildings in the UK must have compliant emergency lighting that meets BS 5266-1 and the Fire Safety Order 2005.

  • A full annual test is required, alongside regular monthly function checks to ensure lights operate correctly.

  • Maintained lights remain on at all times, while non-maintained lights activate only when normal power fails.

  • They should be placed along escape routes, at exits, stairwells, changes in direction, and near firefighting equipment or alarms.

  • Failure to maintain your system can result in legal penalties, insurance issues, and serious safety risks during an emergency.

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