Emergency Lighting in Care Homes

In a care home, emergency lighting supports the assisted evacuation of residents who may be frail, immobile or asleep. It has to give staff enough light to move people safely — often for a longer rated duration than a standard building. This guide covers emergency lighting in care homes.

Why care homes are different

Residents cannot be relied on to evacuate unaided, and evacuation is often progressive and staff-led. Emergency lighting must therefore illuminate escape routes, refuges and the areas where staff assist residents, and last long enough for a slower evacuation.

Where it's needed

• Escape routes — corridors, stairs and exits (escape route lighting).
• Open areas — lounges, dining and communal rooms (open area lighting).
• High-risk and plant areas where staff must act before leaving (high-risk task-area lighting).

Testing to BS 5266

• Monthly functional tests (monthly testing).
• Annual full-duration tests (annual duration testing).
• Logbook records maintained (logbooks).

Coordinating the work

Emergency-lighting testing sits alongside the EICR, fire alarm servicing and planned maintenance within the home's compliance programme, with results filed in the compliance documentation.