Emergency lighting is crucial for any commercial building in the UK, providing essential illumination if primary lighting fails, ensuring a safe evacuation. UK legislation, notably the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, mandates emergency lighting with few exceptions. There are two main types of emergency lighting systems: maintained and non-maintained.

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Maintained vs. Non-Maintained Emergency Lighting

Both maintained and non-maintained emergency lighting systems aim to ensure safety during an emergency, but they function differently:

• Maintained Emergency Lighting: This system operates continuously, providing constant illumination as part of the regular lighting setup. It serves a dual purpose, offering both standard and emergency lighting. For example, an illuminated exit sign is a type of maintained emergency lighting.
• Non-Maintained Emergency Lighting: These lights remain off under normal conditions and activate only during a power failure or emergency. This system is generally more energy-efficient as it is inactive most of the time.

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Power Usage of Emergency Lighting

Maintained emergency lighting systems are usually installed in high-traffic areas and consume more power because they are always on. In contrast, non-maintained lighting systems use less energy since they remain off until needed.

Businesses concerned about energy costs might consider non-maintained emergency lighting. However, these systems still require a constant trickle charge to keep their backup batteries ready. While non-maintained lights can save energy, the primary consideration should always be safety. Non-maintained lighting is suitable for areas where occupants are familiar with their environment, like offices, whereas maintained lighting is preferable in public areas, such as shopping centres, to ensure visibility and safety.

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