Emergency and Exit Lighting Testing Requirements for Businesses

Emergency lighting and illuminated exit signs let occupants see and follow exit routes when the normal power supply fails. In an office, store, restaurant or apartment building, these devices sit unused for years until a power outage or fire makes them necessary. A unit that has not been tested may not work at that moment.

This guide explains how these systems work, the testing intervals found in NFPA 101 (the Life Safety Code published by the National Fire Protection Association), how Minnesota's fire code differs, and what fire inspectors check.

What are emergency lights and exit signs for?

Exit signs mark the way out of a building. Emergency lights provide enough illumination along the path of egress (the route from any point in the building to the outside) for people to walk safely. Both are required to stay lit or to turn on automatically when normal power is interrupted.

Which spaces need them, where they must be placed and how bright they must be depend on the building's occupancy type, the adopted building and fire codes, and the local fire official's rulings. A design professional or emergency and exit lighting contractor can confirm the requirements for a particular building.

What are the ways to power emergency lighting?

Emergency lighting needs a power source that works when the utility supply is lost. The most common options are:

• Self-contained battery units. A fixture or a standalone unit has its own rechargeable battery and a charger that keeps it full. When power fails, the unit switches on. These are the most common choice in small and mid-size commercial buildings.
• Battery-backed LED exit signs. The sign is lit by normal power and switches to its internal battery during an outage.
• Inverter systems. A central battery system supplies selected light fixtures through an inverter. These suit larger buildings and are often installed with a central monitoring panel.
• Generators. An on-site generator supplies emergency circuits after a short transfer delay. Generators have their own testing and maintenance requirements under the fire code.

Any of these may be combined with the building's regular commercial lighting, for example by installing a battery pack inside an ordinary fixture so it lights during an outage. The unit must be listed for the purpose and installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

How often does emergency lighting need to be tested?

NFPA 101 calls for functional testing of emergency lighting at two intervals. A monthly test runs for at least 30 seconds, and an annual test runs for at least 90 minutes, which is the length of time NFPA 101 expects emergency lights to provide illumination. The equipment must stay fully operational through the full period of the annual test. Written records of the tests must be kept available for the authority having jurisdiction (the fire official or inspector who enforces the code).

NFPA 101 also allows self-testing and self-diagnostic units that run their own short test and diagnostic routine at least every 30 days and show a failure on a status indicator. Those units still need an annual duration test.

Minnesota State Fire Code intervals

NFPA 101 is not the only code that applies. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal cites sections of the Minnesota State Fire Code that call for a monthly 30-second activation test and an annual 30-minute power test, with written records kept available for the fire code official. The State Fire Marshal recommends keeping those records for at least three years.

What are the most common emergency lighting failures?

Most failures are found during the monthly or annual test, or by a fire inspector. In cold climates such as Minnesota, units installed in unheated vestibules, loading docks and parking structures can have shorter battery life.

• Batteries that no longer hold a charge for the required time. Sealed lead-acid and nickel-cadmium batteries wear out and need replacement.
• Units that were disconnected or whose charging circuit was turned off during other work, which leaves the battery empty.
• Failed lamps or LED boards, and cracked or missing lenses.
• Exit signs with burned-out or dim illumination, or signs blocked by new walls, shelving or decorations.
• Lights aimed at the wrong place after a remodel, leaving dark areas along the exit route.
• A missing or incomplete test log.

What do fire inspectors look for?

Inspectors check that exit signs are visible and lit, that emergency lights operate when a test is run, and that the units cover the exit path, stairs and exit discharge. They also ask to see test records. A building with working equipment but no records can still be cited.

• Does every exit sign light up, and is any sign hidden or pointing the wrong way?
• Do emergency lights turn on when the test button is pressed or power is removed?
• Do lights stay on for the required duration?
• Are test records available, dated and signed?
• Do changes from remodels, such as new partitions, still have lighting along the exit route?

Tenants and property managers should confirm who is responsible for testing under the lease. Landlords of buildings with shared exits can also review common area lighting and electrical service for hallways and stairwells, and corrections cited by an inspector may be handled as electrical code corrections.

What are the next steps to bring emergency lighting into compliance?

Start with a walk-through of the building at night or with the lights turned off. Test every unit, note which fail, and record the results. Replace failed units or batteries, correct dark areas along the exit route, and start a log for monthly and annual tests.

Prime Time Electric MN, LLC (Minnesota Electrical Contractor License #EA807704) installs and repairs emergency and exit lighting and commercial lighting for Twin Cities businesses. To discuss a building, request a quote or call 612-445-2794.