In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires emergency routes and exits that need illumination to have emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case the normal lighting fails, and requires that lighting to be maintained. The detailed guidance comes from British Standards. BS 5266-1 is the code of practice for emergency lighting of premises. BS EN 1838 sets the lighting levels. BS EN 50172 covers emergency escape lighting systems, including testing. Your fire risk assessment decides what a particular building needs.
This guide summarises the emergency lighting regulations and standards that apply in the UK, and what they mean for the people responsible for premises.
The law: the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the "Fire Safety Order") applies to most non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including the common parts of blocks of flats and HMOs. It places duties on the responsible person, usually the employer, owner or occupier in control of the premises. Two articles matter most for emergency lighting:
- Article 14(2)(h): "emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in the case of failure of their normal lighting".
- Article 17: the responsible person must ensure that equipment and devices provided under the Order are "subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair".
The Order does not specify light fittings or lux levels. These follow from the fire risk assessment, and the British Standards below are the recognised way to meet the requirement. Scotland has equivalent duties under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Northern Ireland has them under the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
BS 5266-1: the emergency lighting code of practice
BS 5266-1 is the UK code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises. The current edition, BS 5266-1:2025, was published at the end of October 2025 and supersedes the 2016 edition. Its main change is a wider scope. As well as emergency escape lighting, it now covers local area lighting, which lets people finish vital tasks safely during a power failure, and standby lighting, which lets normal activities continue. The code covers design, installation, commissioning, verification and maintenance, and it works alongside two European standards adopted in the UK.
The BS 5266 series also has other parts, for example on low-mounted way guidance and photoluminescent systems.
BS EN 1838 and BS EN 50172
BS EN 1838: lighting levels
BS EN 1838:2024 specifies the illuminance and other photometric requirements for emergency lighting. Commonly quoted minimums include:
- Escape routes: at least 1 lux horizontal illuminance on the floor. The 2024 edition extends this across the width of the defined escape route, not only along its centre line.
- Open areas (anti-panic): at least 0.5 lux at floor level, excluding a 0.5 m border at the edges.
- Fire-fighting equipment and fire alarm call points: at least 5 lux vertical illuminance.
High-risk task areas have their own, higher requirements. Consult the standard for the exact figures.
BS EN 50172: emergency escape lighting systems
BS EN 50172:2024 supersedes the 2004 edition, which was also published in the UK as BS 5266-8. It sets requirements for emergency escape lighting systems, including initial verification, handover documentation, maintenance, periodic testing and record keeping. The updated standards also introduce a five-yearly verification of photometric performance, which confirms that the system still meets its original design.
Types of emergency lighting
- Escape route lighting helps people identify and safely use the escape route.
- Open area (anti-panic) lighting helps prevent panic and lets people reach a point where an escape route can be identified.
- High-risk task area lighting keeps people safe during a dangerous process and lets them carry out shutdown procedures.
- Standby lighting lets normal activities continue. It is not escape lighting in itself.
Maintained and non-maintained luminaires
For a fuller comparison, see maintained vs non-maintained emergency lighting. A non-maintained emergency luminaire lights only when the normal lighting supply fails. It is typical in workplaces where the normal lighting is on whenever the building is occupied. See non-maintained emergency lighting. A maintained luminaire stays lit during normal operation and continues on its battery when the mains fails. It is generally used in places of assembly such as theatres, cinemas, clubs and halls, where the normal lighting may be dimmed. See maintained emergency lighting.
Where is emergency lighting needed?
Luminaires are positioned to light the escape route and to highlight "points of emphasis". Typical examples include:
- near each exit door intended for use in an emergency, and outside each final exit
- near stairs, so that each flight receives direct light, and near any other change of floor level
- at each change of direction and at each intersection of corridors
- near fire-fighting equipment, fire alarm call points and first aid points
- at exit and safety signs on the escape route
Products commonly used include emergency bulkhead lights for corridors, stairs and exterior exits, recessed emergency downlights for offices and retail, and illuminated exit signs over exits and along routes. For photoluminescent and non-illuminated signage, see our fire exit signs.
How long must emergency lighting last?
BS 5266-1 guidance is that emergency escape lighting should normally have a rated duration of 3 hours. This is essential for sleeping accommodation and for premises that may be reoccupied before the batteries have recharged. A 1-hour duration is only acceptable where the premises are evacuated immediately when the normal supply fails and are not reoccupied until the batteries have fully recharged. The fire risk assessment should record which applies.
Testing, maintenance and records
Under Article 17, the system must be maintained. BS 5266-1 and BS EN 50172 recommend:
- a short monthly functional test of every luminaire and internally illuminated sign
- an annual full-rated-duration test
- a log book recording tests, defects and remedial work
A key-operated test switch, used with an emergency light test key, lets you simulate a mains failure on the emergency lighting circuit without switching off the building's normal lighting. For step-by-step test procedures, see our emergency lighting testing guide.
Buying compliant emergency lighting
Choose luminaires with the correct mode (maintained or non-maintained), rated duration (typically 3 hours), IP rating for the location and light output for the spacing in your design. JEM Systems UK supplies genuine, brand-new, factory-sealed emergency lighting, with fast, tracked UK delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Is emergency lighting a legal requirement in the UK?
For most non-domestic premises, yes. In England and Wales, Article 14 of the Fire Safety Order requires emergency lighting on escape routes and exits that need illumination. The fire risk assessment determines the extent.
What is BS 5266?
BS 5266 is the British Standard series for emergency lighting. Part 1, currently BS 5266-1:2025, is the code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises.
How long should emergency lighting last?
Normally 3 hours. A 1-hour duration is only acceptable where the premises are evacuated immediately and not reoccupied until the batteries have recharged.
What is the minimum lux level for an escape route?
BS EN 1838 sets a minimum of 1 lux on the floor of the escape route and 0.5 lux in open (anti-panic) areas.
Who is responsible for emergency lighting?
The responsible person under the Fire Safety Order, usually the employer, owner or person in control of the premises. They should use a competent person for design, installation and servicing.
This guide is general information; follow your fire risk assessment and a competent person's advice.