What emergency and exit lighting does
Emergency lighting switches on automatically when normal lighting fails, giving enough light along escape routes for people to move safely to an exit. Exit signs show the way out and the direction to travel. In most commercial buildings both run on battery-backed fittings, although larger sites sometimes use central battery systems.
The National Construction Code sets out which buildings need emergency lighting and exit signs and where they must go. The Australian Standard AS/NZS 2293 series covers the detail. Part 1 deals with system design, installation and operation, Part 2 with inspection and maintenance, and Part 3 with the luminaires themselves.
Our emergency lighting services
- Design and installation of emergency and exit lighting for new buildings and fit-outs
- Six-monthly inspection and testing to AS/NZS 2293.2
- Full discharge testing to confirm each fitting runs for its required duration
- Battery, lamp and fitting replacement for failed units
- Upgrades from older fluorescent fittings to LED emergency and exit fittings
- Relocation and additions when layouts change during a fit-out
- Logbooks, test reports and defect lists
How testing works
AS/NZS 2293.2 sets out routine inspection and testing of emergency lighting, typically at six-monthly intervals. On each visit we check that every fitting and exit sign is present, clean, correctly oriented and working on normal supply, then simulate a mains failure so the fittings run on battery. The fittings need to stay illuminated for the full test duration. Any that dim, flicker or fail are recorded as defects.
Results go into the site logbook, listing each fitting by location, the test date, the outcome and any repairs made. We label fittings with an identification number so they can be matched to the logbook and to a floor plan, which makes the next test faster and makes it easy for anyone to see what has been done.
Testing needs lighting circuits to be isolated for a period, and afterwards the batteries take time to recharge. In occupied buildings we plan around this. Testing is often done out of hours or in sections, so that the building is never without working emergency lighting while people are inside. For a more detailed look at what the standard asks for, read our guide to emergency lighting testing to AS 2293.
Common problems we find
Batteries are the usual failure point. Most fittings rely on rechargeable batteries that lose capacity with age and heat, and fittings in hot ceiling spaces or plant rooms tend to fail sooner. Other common issues include exit signs pointing the wrong way after a fit-out, fittings blocked by new partitions or signage, missing fittings where a layout has changed, and emergency fittings wired to the wrong circuit so they never see a mains failure during testing.
Older fluorescent emergency fittings are also becoming harder to maintain. Replacing them with LED fittings usually means lower energy use, longer battery life and less ongoing maintenance, and many modern fittings have built-in self-test features that help with record keeping.
Responsibilities for owners and occupiers
Emergency lighting forms part of a building’s fire and life safety systems. Building owners and occupiers are generally responsible for keeping it maintained and for holding up-to-date records, and these are commonly checked during fire safety inspections, insurance reviews and building sales. The exact obligations depend on the building and the state. If you are unsure what applies to your property, we can talk it through, and the relevant fire safety authority in Queensland or NSW can confirm the requirements.
For property managers and bodies corporate, the simplest approach is to put emergency lighting on a fixed schedule as part of a maintenance contract, so the six-monthly tests happen on time and the logbook never falls behind.
New installations and fit-outs
On new builds and fit-outs we install emergency and exit lighting to the design drawings and AS/NZS 2293.1, then commission the system and complete the initial logbook entries before handover. If there is no formal design, we can lay out the system to suit the escape routes and building use, and work with the builder or certifier to confirm it meets the requirements. Where the layout changes late in a project, we check the emergency lighting coverage again before handover, because partitions and joinery often block fittings that were correctly positioned on the original plan.
Where we work
We test and maintain emergency lighting in offices, retail centres, warehouses, childcare centres, medical practices, hospitality venues and strata buildings across the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Logan and the Northern Rivers. Monty Electrical is licensed, insured and owner-led, and we provide upfront written quotes for both one-off testing and ongoing scheduled maintenance. Many clients combine emergency lighting testing with test and tag on the same visit to cut down on site disruptions.