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BS 5266-1 / BS EN 1838
Monthly
Annual, 3 hours
Digital logbook
Mon–Fri 8am–5pm. 24/7 emergency line out of hours.
Emergency lighting is the least-inspected life safety system in most buildings and the one most likely to fail when it matters. Batteries degrade quietly, luminaires get removed during refurbishment, and the logbook stops being filled in.
Recall runs the full cycle: monthly function testing, annual three-hour duration testing, luminaire replacement and design work where coverage does not meet the standard. Every test is recorded against the individual luminaire, not just the building.
Where a building has changed — new partitions, altered escape routes, a change of use — we re-survey coverage against BS 5266 rather than testing lights that are now in the wrong place.
Boards, accessories, containment, signs of overheating, damage or unsafe modification.
Continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance and RCD operation.
Every finding coded C1, C2, C3 or FI with a plain-English explanation of the risk.
Full test results per circuit, so next inspection can compare against a baseline.
Testing must not leave the premises without emergency cover — duration tests are timed so batteries can recharge before occupancy.
Brief simulated mains failure confirming each luminaire and exit sign illuminates.
Full three-hour discharge proving batteries hold up for the rated period.
Every fitting located, numbered and tracked so failures are traceable year to year.
Escape route, open area and high-risk task lighting assessed against BS 5266 and EN 1838.
Failed batteries, drivers and fittings replaced with like-for-like or upgraded LED.
Digital records kept in the format a fire officer or insurer expects to see.
We locate and number every luminaire and exit sign, and record type and battery age.
Escape routes, changes of level, stairs, final exits and high-risk areas checked for compliance.
Monthly function and annual duration tests scheduled into your compliance calendar.
Failures replaced and coverage gaps quoted with drawings where new fittings are needed.
Yes, and many do — the standard allows a competent person on site to run function tests and record them. We supply the logbook and take the annual duration test, or run both if you would rather not own it.
Mains supply to the fittings is isolated and the batteries run the luminaires for the full three hours. We return to confirm which fittings survived and restore the supply.
Not every room. Escape routes, stairs, changes of level, final exits, plant rooms, lifts, toilets over a certain size and high-risk task areas are the usual scope — the survey confirms it.
Typically three to five years. We track battery age per fitting so replacements can be budgeted rather than discovered.
One survey establishes the asset list; after that it runs on schedule.
