Emergency lighting certificates and testing, explained

There is no single statutory emergency lighting certificate. In England and Wales the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires emergency routes and exits that need illumination to have emergency lighting of adequate intensity if normal lighting fails, and requires the premises and safety equipment to be maintained in an efficient state. The certificate an electrician issues is evidence that the system has been inspected and tested, usually against BS 5266-1. BAFE says functional operation should be checked at least every month and a full rated duration test done on each luminaire at least annually.

Sources last checked 19 October 2026.

What the law requires

Article 14 of the Fire Safety Order requires that emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in the case of failure of their normal lighting. Article 17 requires the responsible person to make sure premises, and the facilities, equipment and devices provided, are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state.

The Order extends to England and Wales only. It does not apply to domestic premises, with the exception that where a building contains two or more sets of domestic premises it covers the common parts. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire safety legislation.

The responsible person is the employer where the workplace is under their control. For other premises it is the person in control of them in connection with a trade, business or other undertaking, or otherwise the owner.

BS 5266 and what the system should be

BAFE's guidance refers to BS 5266-1 and says that if a risk assessment shows emergency safety lighting is needed, it should meet the recommendations in the standard. The type of system should be chosen based on the size, function and risk assessment of the premises. NICEIC's emergency lighting certificate is listed against BS 5266-1:2025, so a 2025 edition exists. Put the edition you worked to on the certificate, and check it is current before you reuse an old template.

Testing and records

BAFE's guidance says functional operation should be checked at least every month, and a full rated duration test on each luminaire carried out at least annually. Failures should be logged, with alternative safety procedures in place until the fault is repaired by a competent person. BAFE also says to record all testing and repair information in a logbook.

GOV.UK's fire safety risk assessment guide for offices and shops says, where practicable, to visually check daily that emergency lighting units are in good repair and working, that the emergency lighting should be tested and maintained by a competent person, and that a log book of all maintenance and testing is of benefit. It also says records help you show the enforcing authority you have complied with fire safety law.

What the certificate should show

The Order does not prescribe a form. NICEIC publishes a periodic inspection and testing certificate for emergency lighting, and BAFE runs third-party certification for maintenance, so what you issue should follow whichever scheme you work under. As a practical minimum a useful record names the premises and the responsible person, identifies each luminaire by location, says which test was done (monthly functional or annual full rated duration), gives the result, lists defects and the remedial action or interim arrangements, and carries the date, the tester's name and the signature.

The responsible person owns the duty. BAFE says the functional operation of the system falls to the user, meaning the person responsible for the premises, while repairs should be made by a competent person. Your certificate records your work and findings. It does not move the legal duty off the responsible person.

Who can issue one

The Order does not restrict who can carry out the testing, but the work needs a competent person. BAFE says to check a provider's third-party certification on the BAFE Fire Safety Register, and its SP203-4 scheme covers maintenance of emergency lighting systems. Whether a customer or their insurer wants a BAFE-certified provider is a contract question, not one the Order answers.

Common mistakes

• Treating a quick monthly functional check as the annual full rated duration test.
• Not logging failures, or logging them without saying what interim arrangements were made.
• Issuing a certificate that implies the system is adequate for the premises when nobody has seen the fire risk assessment.
• Reusing an old template that cites a superseded edition of the standard.
• Assuming the Order applies in Scotland or Northern Ireland.