Emergency lighting test record template

Use this log to record what was tested, which fittings passed or failed, what action was taken and who verified the result. It is a working record for emergency escape lighting, not a substitute for the fire risk assessment, an appropriately designed system, manufacturer instructions or competent inspection. A completed row should let the next responsible person find the tested equipment and understand any remaining loss of escape-lighting coverage.

In England and Wales, Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a suitable maintenance system for relevant fire safety facilities and equipment where necessary to safeguard people. The precise legal framework differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland. GOV.UK's office-and-shop fire risk assessment guidance describes typical daily visual checks, monthly function tests and annual full-discharge tests, with competent testing and records. The appropriate method and schedule for a particular system depend on its design, manufacturer guidance, current standard and fire risk assessment. Do not treat a generic form as a blanket statutory frequency for every building.

Copyable site and system header

Before use: Give each luminaire, exit sign or relevant central component a stable asset ID and location. If the system has automatic self-testing, record how results are retrieved and verified. Ensure the schedule reflects the actual equipment and current fire strategy. A test key used on the wrong circuit can leave an apparently complete log while a fitting remains untested.

Copyable monthly function-test log

For a large building, attach an asset-level sheet and put its reference in the row. Do not record “all passed” unless the test method actually covered each relevant unit. If an area was inaccessible, identify it and arrange a catch-up test; “not tested” is a valid factual status, but it is not a pass.

GOV.UK guidance describes a monthly function test as operating the test facility long enough to confirm each emergency lamp illuminates. It also advises testing at an appropriate time because systems may need to recharge after testing. Follow the system supplier's instructions and competent advice for the exact method. A short function test does not establish that a battery will provide its full designed duration.

Copyable annual duration and competent-service log

The GOV.UK guide describes a typical annual full-discharge test by a competent person and warns that batteries may need time to recharge after a full test. Plan the test so that required escape-lighting coverage is not casually lost during occupancy. Record the interim arrangement agreed by the responsible person if the premises would otherwise be occupied while the system cannot perform its safety function. Do not state a universal recharge period; confirm the equipment's actual characteristics.

The form should preserve the competent person's report reference rather than replace it. If a service company uses its own detailed sheet, cross-reference it here and retain both under the fire-safety records policy.

Copyable defect and repair tracker

Do not close a defect just because a replacement part was ordered. Record installation and a proportionate functional or duration retest, depending on what failed. If an exit route is affected, have the responsible person decide immediately whether occupancy, route use, temporary lighting or fire procedures need changing. A red cell on a dashboard is not an interim control.

How to use the template without creating false assurance

1. Check coverage against the asset register. Match test rows to installed units and zones. Account for new or removed fittings after building works. A log with no asset IDs cannot reliably show what was checked.

2. Record the test type. A monthly function check, annual duration test, routine visual check and remedial retest answer different questions. Put the type in the record rather than relying on a generic “test completed” tick box.

3. Capture exceptions. Record failures, missing tests, obscured signs, damaged fittings and abnormal indicators. Note the affected route or area, not only the room number. A failed remote storeroom fitting and a failed primary stairwell fitting can require different urgent decisions.

4. Protect the building while defects are open. Decide who assesses the fire-safety impact, who implements interim controls and who tells occupants or contractors if their route changes. Seek competent advice when coverage is uncertain. The form can document the decision; it cannot decide the building remains safe.

5. Verify repairs. Attach the service report, replacement details and retest outcome. The responsible person or delegate reviews closure and updates the building fire risk assessment or maintenance plan where the failure suggests a broader issue.

6. Review patterns. Repeated battery failures in one zone, missed monthly checks or recurring access problems may signal a maintenance or design issue. Bring them into the fire-safety review rather than simply filing each year's log.

Worked example

During a monthly function check, a caretaker finds that exit sign EL-17 at the rear stair does not illuminate when the test facility is operated. The row names EL-17, the test time and result. The caretaker reports the failure to the fire safety manager, who checks whether the stair remains an available escape route and arranges an interim control with competent advice. A contractor replaces a failed component. The service report is linked to defect EL-17, and the fitting is retested before the defect is marked verified closed. The annual duration test remains a separate future check; the repair's short function retest must not be labelled as a full-duration pass.

Common questions

Is a monthly tick enough? No. A useful record identifies what was tested, result, tester and defects. GOV.UK guidance calls a test log good practice and describes typical test methods, but the responsible person must maintain a suitable system under the applicable fire law.

Can a self-testing system replace this sheet? Its output can provide evidence if the system is correctly configured, reviewed and defects acted on. Record how results are retrieved, who reviews them, and the competent maintenance arrangement. Automatic test messages alone do not repair a failed fitting.

Does the template certify BS 5266 compliance? No. A current standard and competent design/maintenance assessment may be relevant, but this free form cannot certify installation or compliance with a copyrighted standard. Record the standard and system specification used by the competent person rather than reproducing a technical test method from a standard here.

Complys and internal links

Use the verified Complys fire-safety or asset-record product page as the money-page link after its exact UK route and current functionality are checked. A product demonstration can show whether a user can store asset IDs, test dates, attachments and open repair actions. Do not claim automatic emergency-lighting testing, BS certification or regulator sign-off without implementation evidence. Link to the existing fire risk assessment owner for premises-wide strategy and to a corrective-action owner for cross-system defect management, while this template remains the owner of the emergency-lighting test record.

Source and writer-side QA record

Intent/cannibalisation: A usable log, distinct from fire risk assessment or system design. Public search on 6 October 2026 found no exact Complys owner at the proposed path; repository check remains open. Product truth: no testing, certification or automated repair claim. Internal links: exact host and routes pending integration verification. Writer-side disposition: READY.