Emergency Lighting Test Log: 9 Fields, Digital Logs for Small UK Sites

Published 16 October 2026 · gribit

Manager testing an emergency corridor light

A compliant emergency lighting test log records the date, test type, duration and result, luminaire location or ID, any fault, the remedial action, the date it was cleared, and the tester’s signature. The usual regime is a monthly functional test plus an annual full-duration test, following manufacturer instructions and BS 5266-1. Keep the records available for inspection.

TL;DR:

Assign every fitting a unique ID linked to a floor plan; generic labels such as corridor make repeat failures difficult to trace.

For monthly checks, use a fish key to simulate a failure of normal lighting, inspect each fitting, and record its pass or fail result.

Have a competent person supervise the annual discharge for the battery’s rated duration, then recharge fully before the premises rely on the system again.

Since October 1, 2023, testing and maintenance arrangements must be recorded in writing; keep certificates, service reports, floor plans, and older logs accessible for inspection.

Call a specialist for repeated failures, batteries that fall short of rated duration, central supply faults, unsafe access, or uncertainty about the system’s design standard.

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What should you write in an emergency lighting log book?

Fire service log books ask for the same core details every time you test. Local fire service templates list date, duration, result, location and fault, fault cleared and signature. Our own advice is to add the test type, so a reader can tell a monthly check from an annual one at a glance.

Every entry should carry:

The date of the test
Test type: visual, monthly or annual
Duration, where the test is timed
Luminaire ID or location
Pass or fail result
Fault description, if any
Remedial action taken
Date the fault was cleared
Tester’s name and signature

Give each fitting a unique ID, such as “G-04, ground floor corridor, exit sign”. If you only write “corridor”, nobody can tell which luminaire failed. Number fittings on a floor plan and use the same IDs in every entry.

Two short examples show the level of detail to aim for:

Monthly flick test: “12/03/2026. Monthly. 30 seconds. G-01 to G-12. All lit, G-07 lens dirty, cleaned same day. Cleared 12/03/2026. A. Patel.”
Annual full-duration test: “14/09/2026. Annual. 3 hours. All luminaires. G-09 failed at 2h10m, battery replaced by engineer. Cleared 21/09/2026. Supervised by competent person, J. Smith.”

How do you carry out each emergency lighting test?

Whatever the interval, test at times of least risk, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and allow batteries to recharge before anyone relies on the area again. Avoid testing just before opening hours or a busy event.

Daily or weekly visual check. Look at central indicators and any charging lights, and note obvious damage. Fire service log books advise daily visual checks of indicators. A one-line entry is enough: “Indicators on, no damage seen.”
Monthly functional test. Simulate a failure of normal lighting with a fish key or the test switch, and keep it short. Check that every luminaire lights, that lenses are clean and undamaged, and that nothing blocks the light. A fish key is preferable to switching off at the consumer unit, which can leave circuits dead while you work. Log each fitting as a pass or fail. Official fire service advice is to test once each month.
Annual full-duration test. Repeat the monthly checks, then run the discharge for the battery’s rated duration, typically up to three hours. Check the charging arrangements as well. Log the duration and the result for each luminaire, and note who supervised.
Recharge and restore. After any discharge, leave the system to recharge before the premises are occupied or relied upon. Record the time you restored normal supply.

Pro Tip: Schedule the annual test for a closed day and book your competent person early, because a three-hour discharge leaves the building without battery backup for a while afterwards.

Who should test emergency lighting, and when should you call a specialist?

As the responsible person for the premises, you must make sure tests happen and records exist. Fire service guidance says a nominated competent person should monitor and test emergency escape lighting. Staff can usually handle visual and monthly checks after a short briefing. The annual full-duration test should be carried out or supervised by someone competent.

Call a specialist when you see:

The same luminaire failing repeatedly
Batteries that fail well before the rated duration
Faults on a central battery or central supply
Fittings you cannot reach or open safely
Any doubt about the standard your system was designed to

When an engineer attends, log the visit date, what they found, what they did and the date the fault was cleared. File their report with the log book.

If you hand testing to a new member of staff, show them the procedure and the log format, then sign off their first entries. The duty stays with you, so check the log yourself on a regular schedule.

How should you store emergency lighting records?

There is no single prescribed format for a logbook. Records must be complete, legible and easy to produce. From 1 October 2023, the Fire Safety Order requires testing and maintenance arrangements to be recorded in writing.

Keep these together:

The chronological test log
Engineer and service reports
Installation and commissioning certificates
Floor plans showing luminaire IDs

Inspectors tend to look for:

Tests in date order with no unexplained gaps
Faults with a remedial action and a date cleared
Signatures on every entry
Evidence that a competent person supervised the annual test

The quality of your records also reflects how well your fire safety is managed overall. Keep older records accessible rather than discarding them, and have the current log and the last annual report ready to hand over on arrival.

How does a digital logbook help at a small UK site?

The revised BS 5266-1:2025 expands scope to local area and standby lighting as well as escape lighting, so more fittings may need tracking. A digital logbook turns each requirement above into a feature:

Timestamped entries show when each test happened
Photo attachments evidence faults and repairs
Automated reminders stop monthly tests slipping
Remedial-action tracking records completion dates
Secure storage keeps certificates and service reports with the log
Exportable records are quick to produce for an inspector

To set one up, work through this checklist:

Map every luminaire to an ID and location
Set monthly and annual reminders
Assign testers, so each entry has a named person
Create templates for monthly and annual entries
Upload service reports and certificates

Small sites gain less paperwork, faster follow-up on faults and fewer missing signatures. Fitting-level detail also makes inspection evidence easier to find. Networked lighting can add automatic self-testing, and PoE lighting networks are one route facilities and IT teams look at.

Pro Tip: Photograph each luminaire’s label when you assign its ID, so a replacement or a repeat fault is easy to trace later.

Manager photographs an emergency light label

Why tidy logs matter more than most people think

Most failed paperwork checks I have seen described come down to gaps, not neglect: a missed month, an unsigned entry, a fault with no cleared date. Fire authorities treat the quality of the log as a signal of how the whole building is managed. A tidy log lets an inspector check your lighting quickly and move on, while a messy one invites closer questions about everything else. Clear logs are the cheapest risk reduction you have.

— Jon

A simple way to keep your emergency lighting log compliant

Gribit

We built our Site Logbook Annual Plan for small sites that want the record-keeping above handled without paper. It gives you:

Test entries for every check
Reminders so monthly and annual tests are not missed
Remedial-action tracking
Secure storage for certificates and service reports

The plan costs £49 per year per site. See the details and start your subscription on our Site Logbook Annual Plan page.

FAQ

How often should emergency lighting be tested in the UK?

Emergency lighting is normally tested monthly with a short functional check, plus an annual full-duration test. Both are recommended in Gov. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions and current British Standards.

What is the monthly emergency lighting flick test?

It is a short simulated failure of normal lighting, usually done with a fish key. Check that each luminaire lights and that lenses are clean and undamaged, then log the result for every fitting.

Do you need a log book for emergency lighting?

There is no single mandated format, but test and maintenance arrangements must be recorded in writing. A log book is the simplest way to show your tests, faults and repairs to an inspector.

Who can carry out an emergency lighting test?

Trained staff can usually do visual and monthly checks. The annual full-duration test should be carried out or supervised by a competent person, as the FPA explains in its testing guidance.