Emergency Lighting system design isn’t just about installing a few extra lights. It’s a life-saving system that ensures safe evacuation in a crisis. Many businesses assume that any qualified electrician can handle the installation. While your general electrician can fit the lights, designing a emergency lighting system that is compliant with BS 5266-1 is beyond their capability. That’s where your BAFE-accredited engineers come in.
If you rely solely on an electrician, you might end up with a system where certain Emergency Lights turn on during an outage, but others do not. Leaving your system outside of BS 5266-1 compliance. More importantly...
Will they guide people to safety in an emergency? Will they function reliably when it matters most? Get it wrong, and your premises or facility could be woefully under-protected... like this Essex activity centre that employed an electrician. The electrical work itself was completed to a high standard, but the venue was left with Emergency Lighting that was unfit for purpose.
The difference between an electrician and a BAFE-accredited engineer isn’t just technical... it’s about compliance, safety and risk reduction.
Many business owners assume that Emergency Lighting system design is just another electrical installation, but the truth is that it’s far more complex. Below is a comparison of what a BAFE-accredited fire safety specialist offers compared to a standard electrician.
| Task | Electrician | BAFE-Accredited Engineer |
|---|---|---|
| Basic emergency light installation | ✅ | ✅ |
| System design for BS 5266-1 compliance | ❌ | ✅ |
| Ensure correct lux levels & uniformity | ❌ | ✅ |
| Regular compliance audits & certification | ❌ | ✅ |
| Integration with fire alarms & safety systems | ❌ | ✅ |
| Risk assessment & placement strategy | ❌ | ✅ |
| Ongoing maintenance, testing & logbooks | ❌ | ✅ |
| Pass BAFE audits & ongoing compliance checks | ❌ | ✅ |
Emergency lighting system design for safe evacuation
The British Standard BS 5266-1:2016 sets the legal requirements for Emergency Lighting system design in commercial and public buildings across the UK. It covers:
Your general electrician might install luminaires, but ask yourself, are they trained to meet all these requirements? The answer is most likely, certainly not!
A compliant Emergency Lighting system design consists of multiple interconnected components. Each one plays a crucial role in ensuring safe evacuation and regulatory compliance.
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Emergency Luminaires | Provide automatic illumination in power failures. |
| Backup Batteries | Ensure lights remain operational for at least three hours. |
| Smart Control Units | Automate system management, self-testing, and alerts. |
| Illuminated Exit Signs | Guide occupants to safety in low-visibility conditions. |
| Central Battery Systems | Provide a scalable power solution for large buildings. |
| Automatic Testing & Monitoring | Detect faults and ensure system readiness. |
| Secure Wiring & Circuits | Keep lights functional even in compromised areas. |
| Photocells | Adjust Emergency Lighting based on ambient conditions. |
| Power Flow Management | Direct power where it’s needed most. |
| Centralised Monitoring & Building Integration | Allow real-time system tracking. |
| Inverters | Convert DC battery power to AC for luminaire operation. |
| Charging Circuits | Maintain battery charge and monitor battery health. |
| Fault Indicators | Provide visual/audio warnings of system issues. |
| Manual Test Switches | Enable on-demand compliance checks. |
| Voltage Regulators | Ensure stable power delivery to luminaires. |
| Emergency Lighting Management Software | Enables remote monitoring and compliance tracking. |
A BAFE-accredited fire safety company, like Blake Fire & Security, is independently audited to prove their competence in designing, installing and maintaining fire protection systems. Including Emergency Lighting, this includes:
With a BAFE-accredited provider, such as Blake Fire & Security, your Emergency Lighting system isn’t just installed once... it’s designed to be compliant and reliable for years to come.
Many businesses cut corners by using an electrician instead of a specialist, only to fail a fire safety inspection later. When that happens, the cost of replacing non-compliant Emergency Lighting usually far exceeds the original savings.
Worse still—if Emergency Lighting fails in an evacuation, lives could be at risk.
Choosing a BAFE-accredited expert ensures:
And you won't fall victim to the Hours of Darkness myth! If you're unsure if your property needs Emergency Lighting, try this simple rule-of-thumb test. You'll know in a jiffy!
When lives are on the line, cutting corners isn’t an option. Blake Fire & Security team are a BAFE-accredited provider. We bring expertise, compliance assurance and a deep understanding of Emergency Lighting beyond simple electrical work. By choosing an accredited specialist, you ensure your Emergency Lighting system design is reliable, fully compliant and ready to ensure an efficient evacuation when it matters most.
Need expert advice on your Emergency Lighting system design? Contact Blake Fire & Security today for a professional site survey and quotation; click the button below.
Here's an example of compliant Emergency Lighting work we provided for a school in Chelmsford
