Warehouse emergency lighting
Posted on 14th April 2025
We recently visited our client’s warehouse in Swindon to complete their annual emergency lighting compliance checks.
Installation of extra racking means they’ll also need lighting alterations and additions, so there’s a new lighting project ahead too.
Emergency lighting requirements
During an emergency, lighting provides clear guidance to help people leave a building safely. Reliable systems help to make sure evacuations are safe and well organised. Emergency lighting is especially important in:
large commercial buildings
rental properties
high-risk areas where people risk injury or death during a power cut.
Regulations protect building owners, businesses, employees and visitors. They include:
Legal requirements. Failing to follow the regulations can lead to fines, enforcement action and even prison sentences.
Safety. To protect people from the risk of injury, emergency lighting must work as designed, especially in high-occupancy buildings.
Insurance. Full compliance with fire safety regulations is often an insurance requirement. Insurance claims can fail following fire-related incidents without proper installation and maintenance.
The Regulations apply to several types of emergency lighting:
Escape lighting. Well-designed lighting can highlight exits and signage so people can quickly and safely leave a building. This is a legal requirement for non-domestic buildings, including commercial spaces and public parts of houses in multiple occupation.
Escape route lighting. Corridors, stairwells, and designated exit routes all need minimum lighting levels in an emergency.
Open area lighting. Large unlit areas such as auditoriums or warehouses can cause confusion and panic in an emergency. Lighting helps people find their way to safe exits.
High-risk task area lighting. In many workspaces employees must safely shut down equipment before evacuating a building. These areas need emergency lighting equivalent to normal conditions to allow this to take place safely.
Emergency lighting maintenance
make sure everything continues to work properly. Regular testing and maintenance make sure everything continues to work as it should. Responsible people in each building must also carry out regular functionality checks. Minimum levels of testing vary according to the types of sites and their use.
Please get in touch if you’re reviewing the energy efficiency and lighting for your commercial property.
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