Emergency lighting testing
Keep your building safe and escape routes visible with emergency lighting testing services from Acorn. With over 30 years’ experience, nationwide coverage, and fast digital reporting, our qualified engineers keep your building compliant with UK safety regulations.
Why do I need emergency lighting testing?
Businesses need emergency lighting testing to make sure that backup lighting systems activate when normal lighting fails. This helps people leave a building safely during power failures, fires, and evacuations. For property owners and facilities managers, this is mandatory under fire safety compliance standards like BS 5266, which states that escape routes and exits need to be made visible in case of emergencies.
Why is emergency lighting testing so important?
Regular emergency lighting testing is important because it helps make sure your lighting system works properly if your normal power fails. It also gives you clear evidence that your building is responsibly managed, and escape routes will be visible during an emergency.
For commercial buildings, routine testing and maintenance help you meet your fire safety responsibilities under recognised standards, such as BS 5266. If you’re a facilities manager or compliance officer, this helps you:
- Protect occupants during a power cut or emergencies
- Reduce the risk of expensive, damaging legal action
- Provide the records needed for inspections and audits
Our accreditations
What’s included in our emergency lighting testing service?
Our emergency lighting testing service gives you a clear picture of system condition, compliance status, and anything else needed to keep your building safe.
Step 1: Inspecting your emergency lighting
We start by checking for any visible damage, missing parts, or anything that could block the exit route. We then run a simple function test by cutting the power to make sure the emergency lights switch over properly.
Step 2: Testing your emergency lighting
If needed, we also do a full-duration discharge test to make sure your emergency lighting works for as long as it should (about 3 hours). This helps us check how reliable your system is in case of a prolonged incident or evacuation.
Step 3: Providing reports and guidance
Once we’re done testing, you’ll get clear compliance documentation, including test results, logbook updates, and any recorded defects. If issues are found, we’ll recommend the next best steps for repairs and maintenance.
Book your emergency lighting test today
Are you a facilities manager? Don’t wait for a failed inspection or an emergency to expose a fault in your lighting system. Book your compliance inspection with Acorn today for expert, nationwide help – backed by 30 years of experience and audit-ready reporting tools.
Who needs emergency lighting testing?
Emergency lighting testing is necessary for any commercial building where people may rely on clearly lit escape routes if normal lighting fails. For example:
- Offices need safe, well-lit evacuation routes for staff, visitors, and contractors during working hours.
- Schools and universities need reliable lighting coverage across classrooms, corridors, and the wider campus.
- Care homes depend on emergency lighting to support vulnerable residents and help them safely evacuate.
- Hotels and hospitality need clear backup lighting systems to guide guests who may be unfamiliar with the premises.
- Leisure centres require visible escape routes through changing areas, reception spaces, and more.
- Industrial sites need reliable visibility throughout all high-risk environments with more complex layouts.
- Retail premises need safe customer exit routes in busy public-facing spaces that could quickly get crowded.
- Apartment buildings need compliant emergency lighting in communal stairwells, corridors, and entrances.
If you are the responsible person, duty holder, facilities manager, or building owner, you need to make sure emergency lighting is tested, maintained, and recorded.
Why choose Acorn for emergency lighting testing?
Qualified engineers you can rely on
Our in-house engineers carry out emergency lighting and fire alarm testing with minimal disruption to your day-to-day operations.
30+ years of operational experience
With decades of expertise behind us, you can trust our accredited team to help you stay compliant at all times.
Audit-ready reports when you need them
Your emergency lighting testing records and documentation are stored digitally via ServiceTracker, giving you clear evidence for inspections.
Fast, nationwide support
We support UK businesses with testing, last-minute callouts, and emergency lighting maintenance so you can address any compliance needs or concerns.
What are our industry accreditations?
When you choose Acorn, you work with a reliable partner you can count on to help meet your legal responsibilities:
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CHAS-recognised & accredited
Demonstrates our commitment to compliant emergency lighting testing services, with robust health and safety standards, clear risk controls, and contractor competence on site.
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SafeContractor-accredited & certified
Highlights that our working practices meet strict requirements for health and safety, environmental management, and workforce welfare.
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Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP)
Confirms our health and safety arrangements meet compliance criteria expected by public and private sector clients.
What are the UK regulations for emergency lighting?
The main emergency lighting regulations in the UK include:
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- The Workplace (Health, Safety, and Welfare) Regulations
- BS 5266 (for emergency lighting testing, installation, and inspection)
If you are a facilities manager or the duty holder of your building, you must follow these regulations and test your emergency lighting:
- Monthly to confirm the lights operate when the mains power is interrupted
- Annually to confirm the system can run for its rated emergency duration
From our clients
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"I couldn't recommend Acorn highly enough, I've used them for over 3 years on my portfolio. Nothing is to big or to small, reporting is excellent and I've had operatives onsite in less than an hour when required. Acorn are my go to for pest control, jetwashing, tree services and biological clean up. They really go the extra mile whenever needed!"
Nathan Markey
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"I had a great experience with Acorn Environment Services. From the first call to the completed service, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. They took the time to explain the issue, walked me through the treatment plan, and answered all my questions. The service was prompt, thorough, and effective—I noticed a huge improvement right away"
Katie Markey
Emergency lighting testing FAQS
How often should emergency lighting compliance testing be carried out?
Is emergency lighting testing a legal requirement?
What happens during a fire safety emergency lighting inspection?
Who is responsible for emergency lighting testing?
How long does emergency lighting testing take?
Do you provide emergency lighting maintenance services if faults are found?
Why is emergency evacuation lighting important for commercial buildings?
Book your emergency lighting test now
Get in touch today to arrange a professional emergency lighting test for your site and schedule.
With certified engineers, responsive nationwide support, and audit-ready reporting through ServiceTracker, we help businesses keep their emergency lighting compliance simple and easy to evidence.
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