Most industrial and warehouse facilities carry out the standard annual emergency lighting test.
During this test the main power supply is turned off and emergency lighting fittings are checked to confirm that they remain illuminated for the required duration.
If the lights come on and stay on, the system is usually considered operational.
However, this test only tells part of the story.
Why Emergency Lighting Tests Can Be Misleading
Emergency lighting is designed to ensure that people can safely evacuate a building during a power failure or emergency situation.
For this to work properly, escape routes and working areas must be illuminated to a minimum light level, typically measured in lux.
The standard emergency power test confirms that fittings operate.
It does not confirm whether the actual light levels across the building are sufficient.
In warehouses and industrial buildings, layouts change frequently.
Racking moves. Aisles shift. Work areas expand.
But the lighting system often remains unchanged.
Over time this can create dark spots along escape routes that remain undetected.
Why Lux Measurement Matters
Lux measures the amount of light reaching a surface, such as the floor or a workstation.
In emergency lighting systems, lux measurements determine whether evacuation routes provide adequate visibility during a power failure.
Without measuring these levels, facilities teams cannot be certain that their emergency lighting system is delivering the illumination required for safe evacuation.
Emergency Lighting Performance Surveys
To help organisations understand how their systems are performing, we now offer a dedicated Emergency Lighting Performance Survey.
The survey includes:
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digital mapping of the building lighting system
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calibrated lux measurements across escape routes
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identification of dark spots and risk areas
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a detailed compliance and safety report
This provides facilities teams with clear visibility of how their emergency lighting performs in real conditions.
You can learn more about the survey here
Why Many Businesses Are Reviewing Their Emergency Lighting
With increasing focus on workplace safety and regulatory compliance, many organisations are now reviewing systems that may not have been assessed for years.
Understanding how emergency lighting performs today helps ensure that buildings remain safe and compliant as layouts and operations evolve.
