The short version: push the test button on every emergency light and exit sign once a month. Once a year, every unit should run on battery for its full rated time, usually 30 minutes. Lights that dim or quit get a new battery or a new unit.
Emergency lights are easy to forget because they sit there doing nothing, right up until the power goes out. That's exactly when they have to work.
Two tests, two different jobs
| Test | How often | How long | What it proves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Push-to-test | Monthly | A few seconds | The lamps come on and the unit switches to battery |
| Duration test | Yearly | The full rated time, usually 30 minutes | The battery can actually carry the lights long enough to get everyone out |
Why a light passes one and fails the other
The monthly button press only shows the battery can light the lamps for a moment. Batteries wear out slowly: an old one will still flash on for the button test, then fade out 8 or 10 minutes into a real outage. The yearly duration test is the one that catches it.
What happens at the yearly test
We run every emergency light and exit sign on battery and time it. Anything that dims or shuts off early gets fixed:
- Weak battery: replaced on the spot. We carry the common sizes.
- Burnt-out lamp or head: replaced.
- Unit past repair: replaced with a new emergency light or exit sign.
- Wiring problem: flagged so you can call an electrician before the inspector finds it.
Every unit goes on your report by location with its run time, so you have proof for the fire inspector and your insurer.
A few things to watch for between tests
- An exit sign that's dark or flickering.
- An emergency light with a red or amber fault light on.
- A unit that's been painted over, blocked by shelving, or turned to face a wall.
Any of these is worth a quick call. Book your emergency lighting test with your yearly extinguisher inspection and it's all done in one visit.