In UK schools, emergency lighting should have a short functional test at least monthly and a full rated duration test at least annually (often a 3-hour test), with results and any faults recorded in a logbook.
Daily checks are typically only expected where you have a central battery system.
As an Azure Electrical Engineer, a big chunk of the week is spent in schools across London and surrounding areas, doing compliance testing and sorting the issues that crop up in busy buildings. Emergency lighting is one of those systems that’s easy to forget about until you need and that’s exactly why the test routine matters.
If you’re building a full testing plan (EICR + PAT + emergency lighting), our school electrical testing overview ties it all together in one place.
What emergency lighting covers in a school
In plain terms, emergency lighting is the lighting that comes on when normal lighting fails, so people can move safely to exits.
On school sites, it usually includes:
escape route lighting (corridors, stairwells, changes of direction)
exit signs and directional signage
open area lighting (halls or larger spaces where pupils/staff gather)
It’s worth remembering that the “escape route” in a school is not always just the corridor. It’s the route your fire risk assessment expects people to use, including stair cores, final exits and sometimes external walkways.
Monthly vs annual emergency lighting tests
Monthly functional test
This confirms the fittings switch into emergency mode when the mains supply is interrupted and that nothing obvious is dead or struggling. BAFE’s guidance describes checking functional operation at least monthly, and recording the results and any failures.
The IHEEM pocket guide notes that, for most systems, each luminaire should have a short functional test every month (often around 10 minutes).
Annual full duration test
This proves the fittings stay on for the rated duration. BAFE calls for a full rated duration test at least annually (full discharge to confirm operation).
The Fire Protection Association explains the annual test requirement as a three-hour duration test.
In schools, we see more failures on the annual test than the monthly test, because batteries can be “good enough to turn on” but not good enough to last.
How are monthly emergency lighting tested in a school?
Here’s the routine that works best on real school sites (and keeps disruption down).
1) Pick the right time window
For London schools and busy sites, we usually aim for:
end of day (after pupils leave, before evening lettings)
early morning (before staff arrive)
inset days for larger areas
The monthly test shouldn’t feel like a major project. It’s a regular routine.
2) Use the correct test method
Many schools have a test key switch. That’s ideal because it lets you simulate a failure for emergency lighting without killing power to everything else.
If you don’t have a key switch (or it’s not clearly labelled), it’s worth getting that checked. It’s one of the small changes that makes ongoing compliance easier.
3) Walk the escape route and look for the “real world” issues
Don’t just glance and tick a box. When we walk a route, we’re looking for:
dead fittings (obvious, but common)
flickering or slow start-up
dim output (still on, but not doing the job)
exit signs that are lit but not clearly visible from approach angles
fittings blocked by new noticeboards, storage, displays or changed layouts
In schools, layout changes happen all the time. A corridor that was clear last term can suddenly have a trophy cabinet or stacked chairs in the line of sight.
4) Restore the system and confirm it returns to charge
After the test, make sure:
the system returns to normal
indicators show the fitting is charging/healthy (if applicable)
The annual 3-hour test (and how to make it manageable)
The annual duration test is the one that needs planning. The FPA summarises the annual requirement as a three-hour duration test, which is why most schools schedule it carefully.
Planning tips that actually work
Do it when the building is empty where possible (holiday window is best).
Phase it on larger sites: the IHEEM guide notes annual testing can be done in phases.
Tell anyone on site what’s happening so you don’t get calls saying “half the lights have gone weird”.
What failures usually mean
If lights drop out early during a duration test, it often points to:
battery end-of-life
poor charging
failing driver/control gear
It’s much better to find that out in a planned test than during an actual incident.
What do you need to record in the emergency lighting logbook?
This is where a lot of sites fall down, especially after staff changes.
BAFE’s guidance is clear about:
logging failures
introducing alternate safety procedures until repaired
recording all testing and repair information in a logbook
A caretaker-friendly log entry should include:
date and time
who performed the test
what areas/routes were tested
pass/fail summary
list of failed fittings/signs (with locations)
actions taken (or job reference raised)
date rectified and retest confirmation
If you manage multiple sites, keeping the same format across all schools makes life easier for local authority estates teams and auditors.
What to do if something fails a test?
When a fitting fails, the main thing is not to let it “sit in the logbook” for weeks.
A sensible process is:
Record it immediately (location matters more than technical detail).
Assess if it’s on a key escape route or creates a dark spot on stairs/corridors.
Put temporary measures in place if needed (for example, restricting access to a poorly lit stair route until fixed, depending on your site rules and risk assessment). BAFE explicitly references alternate safety procedures until repaired.
Arrange repair and then retest that fitting (and note it in the log).
If the failures are recurring, it’s usually a sign you need a planned remedial visit rather than one-off swaps. For more information, visit our Electrical Remedial Work and Repairs overview for how we approach fixes after testing highlights issues.
Common emergency lighting issues we see in schools around London
These are the repeat patterns we see across schools (especially older, extended buildings):
fittings that turn on but won’t last the duration test (battery decline)
exit signs that are technically working but poorly positioned after refurb changes
broken diffusers/casings in sports halls or busy corridors
missing or incomplete logbooks after caretaker changeovers
test key switches that exist, but nobody is sure where the key is
None of this is unusual. Schools evolve fast. The win is having a simple routine that catches problems early.
Keeping emergency lighting part of your wider compliance plan
Emergency lighting testing sits alongside your EICR and PAT programme. If you’re responsible for school safety, it helps to keep all of this joined up rather than treated as separate “tick box” tasks.
You might find these Azure pages helpful to link the wider picture together: