Intervals & requirements
Do Emergency Lights Really Need Testing Every Month?
Yes — and the monthly test is the easy one. The test that actually determines whether your emergency lighting works is the annual one, and it is the one buildings most often fail.
Two tests, two different questions
| Test | Interval |
|---|---|
| Functional — brief activation, confirm illumination | Monthly |
| Duration — full-length discharge on battery | Annually |
The monthly test asks: does this fixture light up? The annual test asks: will it still be lighting up long enough to get everyone out? Those are very different questions, and a battery near the end of its life answers the first one confidently and the second one not at all.
The monthly check
- Press and hold the test button on each unit.
- Confirm both heads illuminate at full brightness.
- Confirm exit signs are lit and arrows point the correct way.
- Note anything dead or dim.
- Record the date and result.
Self-testing fixtures
Self-testing units run their own activation on a schedule and show status on an indicator LED. They are genuinely useful, and they do not remove the requirement for documented annual testing. The indicator itself can also fail, which means a green light is evidence rather than proof.
Common questions
How long does the annual test run?
The unit must sustain illumination for its full required duration under battery power. The requirement for your specific building is set by your local authority having jurisdiction.
Our building is only occupied during the day. Does it still apply?
Yes. A power failure at 2pm leaves interior corridors, windowless rooms, and stairwells dark, and daytime occupancy is usually when the most people are in the building.