BS 5266 mandates monthly functional tests and an annual full-duration discharge test for emergency lighting in care homes. Failures must be remediated within 24 hours for occupied premises.
Why this matters
Emergency lighting failure during an evacuation is a life-safety event. Regulators treat gaps in test records as seriously as the absence of the system itself.
What to do
- 1Schedule monthly functional tests and an annual 3-hour (or rated duration) discharge test in your maintenance calendar.
- 2Log every test with the date, tester name and result keep records for at least 3 years.
- 3Remediate any failures within 24 hours and document the fix before the building is re-occupied.
Primary source
BSI BS 5266: Emergency Lighting
Get the full picture every morning.
Briefing is updated daily. Join early access to unlock every article.