Should emergency lighting be on all the time?
Emergency lighting does not have to be on all the time, but it should always be linked to a power source. Emergency light fixtures that are self-contained (i.e., have their own batteries in each one) may be placed as maintained or non-maintained devices. If they are maintained, they may be turned on and off like a regular light fixture while also having a second, un-switched live supply called the permanent live, whose purpose is to keep the batteries charged. If they are not maintained, they will often be off and only turn on when there is a power outage.
How can I tell whether the emergency lights I have is functional?
There are three major techniques to determine whether or not your emergency lights is functional:
1. Each emergency light fixture will have a green indication LED that will be lighted. As a result, the emergency fitting's batteries are charging and it is linked.
2. If the fixture's power source is cut off, the green LED indication will turn off and the fixture will turn on its battery power to light. Another indication of proper operation is this.
3. Emergency lights should be quickly checked each month and fully tested (often for three hours) at least once a year. A "Competent Person" (as that term is used in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) should handle this. If it fails the test, it must be fixed, or the "Responsible Person" must be notified.
How frequently should the batteries in emergency lights be changed?
The batteries for emergency lights should be replaced as soon as possible, preferably:
when they stop functioning for the intended time (about 3 hours).
the manufacturer's recommended end-of-life. This lasts approximately three years for nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries; for lithium batteries, it lasts longer and varies from one manufacturer to the next.
