At 24/7 Fire and Security Protection Ltd, we’ve seen some real horror stories over the years. Our FIA-trained lads have walked into countless premises where emergency lighting systems have been completely forgotten about, neglected or just taken for granted. The consequences can be absolutely devastating – both legally and when it comes to people’s safety.
If you think emergency lighting maintenance is just another tick-box exercise, you need to think again. Here’s what actually happens when businesses don’t bother maintaining these crucial safety systems properly.
The Legal Nightmare That’s Waiting for You
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, emergency lighting isn’t optional for most non-domestic premises, it’s the law. But here’s what lots of business owners don’t get, just having the systems stuck up on the wall isn’t enough.
BS 5266-8 and fire safety law are pretty clear about regular testing requirements. When we’re doing our surveys, we constantly find businesses that had emergency lighting fitted years ago and haven’t touched it since. They reckon they’re sorted because the lights are there, but they’re actually breaking the law every single day.
The penalties for getting caught can be severe. We’ve seen business owners slapped with unlimited fines, and in the worst cases, they end up in prison. But that’s nothing compared to what happens when systems pack up during an actual emergency.
When Everything Goes Dark: What Really Happens
Picture this: It’s 6 PM on a busy Tuesday evening. Your office building loses power because of a fault in the local supply. You’ve got staff working late, cleaners are about, and there are still visitors in meetings. Your emergency lighting should kick in automatically to light up the escape routes, but half the units haven’t been tested in three years.
The batteries in several units have given up the ghost. The LED bulbs in others have degraded so much they’re useless. Corridors that should be properly lit stay pitch black. Exit signs can’t be seen. What should have been a straightforward evacuation turns into a dangerous scramble in the dark.
This isn’t some made-up scenario – we’ve been called out to buildings where exactly this has happened. The human cost when emergency lighting fails can be enormous: people getting hurt from falls, crush injuries when everyone’s trying to get out at once, and in the worst cases, death.
The Financial Reality When Systems Fail
Beyond the immediate safety concerns, emergency lighting failure can absolutely cripple a business financially. Insurance claims often get knocked back when they discover that mandatory safety systems weren’t looked after properly.
We’ve seen businesses hit with:
- Massive legal bills when accidents happen during evacuations with failing emergency lighting
- Insurance policies cancelled when insurers find out safety systems weren’t compliant
- Complete business shutdown whilst safety systems get brought up to scratch
- Reputation in tatters that takes years to rebuild
- Prosecution by the authorities with eye-watering financial penalties
One client told us that after a workplace accident, the insurance assessor’s first question was: “When did you last test your emergency lighting?” The business couldn’t show any records, and their claim got thrown out immediately.
The Dangerous Myths That Put People at Risk
In our experience, there are several really dangerous ideas floating about regarding emergency lighting maintenance:
“LED lights last forever” – Complete rubbish. Whilst LED emergency lighting does last longer than the old fluorescent systems, the batteries still deteriorate, circuit boards can fail, and even LEDs eventually lose their effectiveness.
“If they come on during power cuts, they’re fine” – Not necessarily. Emergency lighting has to illuminate at specific levels for specific amounts of time. A light that comes on but only gives you 20% of what’s required has effectively failed.
“We can test them ourselves” – Basic monthly testing can be done by your own people, but annual testing needs the right equipment and know-how. We regularly find systems that look fine on a quick check but fail actual testing.
“They’re just lights – how hard can it be?” – Modern emergency lighting systems are quite sophisticated, often linked up with fire alarm systems and building management systems. Proper maintenance needs specialist knowledge.
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