Emergency and exit lights are only useful if they work during a power failure. In NSW, emergency lighting is a core life-safety system — and it’s one of the most common things we find overdue or failing during inspections.
What standard covers emergency & exit lighting?
Emergency escape lighting and exit signs are governed by AS 2293. It covers:
- Routine inspection and testing intervals
- Battery duration requirements
- Record keeping and compliance documentation
- Maintenance expectations for building owners/occupiers
Emergency & exit light testing frequency in NSW (AS 2293)
In practical terms, most NSW sites follow a simple rhythm: every 6 months plus an annual full-duration test.
Simple way to remember it:If you service fire extinguishers every 6 months, it’s smart to test emergency/exit lights on the same schedule. One visit, one set of records, less disruption.
What’s included in an emergency lighting test?
A proper inspection isn’t just “does the light turn on?”. We check:
- Activation: We simulate a mains power failure to confirm the unit activates automatically.
- Exit sign visibility: Exit signs must be clearly visible, correctly oriented, and unobstructed.
- Battery condition: We assess battery performance and identify units likely to fail before the next service.
- Lamp/LED condition: We identify dim or failed lamps/LED arrays that reduce illumination.
- Tagging & records: We tag units and provide documentation for audits and compliance records.
Common emergency & exit light failures (what we see most)
- Dead or degraded batteries (very common in older units)
- Units that don’t activate on power failure
- Dim or failed lamps/LEDs
- Exit signs obstructed by fit-outs or signage
- Units painted over during renovations
How to stay compliant (without chasing dates)
- •Align emergency lighting testing with your 6-monthly fire equipment schedule.
- •Keep your records in one place (digital is easiest for audits).
- •Replace failing batteries before they become a compliance issue.
- •Set reminders — or use a provider that sends them automatically.
Need emergency & exit light testing in Sydney/NSW?
We can test emergency/exit lights alongside fire extinguishers and electrical test & tag in one visit — with same-day certificates.