Emergency Lighting
Winning emergency lighting business
Following the latest update for emergency lighting standards, many buildings are no longer compliant.
H
ere, Anthony Martindale, senior product manager at Collingwood Lighting, explains how wholesalers can profit by understanding both what they and the contractor need to consider. Emergency lighting in many buildings is too often not compliant. New standards introduced in 2025 offer a no grace period for rectifying systems making the “responsible person” under the Building Safety Act legally liable.
A big problem for many buildings has been the ongoing cost to maintain and replace fittings on a regular basis, and many have systems that are well past their service life.
There are also requirements for testing emergency lighting and recording the results. In practice such testing is inconsistent, records are incomplete and there is inadequate maintenance to ensure ongoing compliance.
The latest revision BS 5266-1:2025 has prompted many fire risk assessors and emergency lighting designers to identify what needs improving. Typically, these will include older buildings, those that have been altered, and high risk or complex buildings that need more luminaires and improved coverage.
So how can you help the contractor ensure that they specify a compliant system and win the business?
“Higher risk areas, such as production lines or control rooms, need more light. A simple solution is to suggest converting some of the mains lighting to emergency fittings using the manufacturer’s plug in kits.”
Who uses the building? Specification starts with a thorough risk assessment that considers the type of building, the people likely to be in it, and what they use it for. By asking the right questions you can help the contractor get the best solution and win the business.
Think about who uses the building and how familiar they are with its layout. And what about people with impairments? Mobility problems may mean it takes them longer to get to safety, and poor eyesight makes it harder to identify signage. If the public use the building, then they may be unfamiliar with its layout, and an emergency could cause panic. If this is the case, it will need maintained or always on exit signs. There are also places where people are less aware of their surroundings, for example in an entertainment venue or if they are asleep
22 | electrical wholesaler August 2026
in a hotel. Here they will respond slowly to an emergency, so any signage and escape routes need to be more clearly lit.
Type of building
The type of building and what it is used for will also affect the products needed.
For an office, a shop, or a general circulation area, the installer may only need escape and anti- panic lighting with low illumination levels. But if people are using control panels, in an industrial building or a kitchen for example, then they will need to light both this and the task so that people can stop the process and safely leave the area.
How easy is it to evacuate?
The size and complexity of a building can make evacuation harder.
High rise buildings, defined as at least seven storeys or with a height of greater than 18 metres, are an obvious example. It will take longer for people to safely leave the premises, especially if they are asleep when the emergency happens. This means the emergency lighting should stay on for longer and will need higher illumination levels. Older buildings often do not meet current regulations. They may not have enough escape routes, and they might not be wide enough. They may also contain materials that are flammable
ewnews.co.uk
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