One of the most taken for granted fixtures in any retail store is the emergency lighting system. Fixed in place above doors and along corridors, they remain silent every day. The units glanced at by customers and staff alike while walking around, before attention turns to something more important.

But when an emergency does happen, they spring into life. People look to them for guidance. They point the way from harm and towards safety. Lighting that gives people hope of survival. So, when they don’t turn on when needed, confusion and chaos take their place. And that can result in the most severe consequences. All for a light that did not work.

With 2026 now underway, emergency lighting and compliance has evolved. The legislation itself is not changing. But installations and their performance, responsibility for maintaining them, and any faults they may have, are now being taken much more seriously.   A stricter regime, which will not tolerate low or casual attitudes to emergency lighting, and with sharper teeth to act, is now in place.

Why Emergency Lighting Has a New Focus In 2026

Emergency lighting legislation in the UK is amongst the most stringent in the world. So, there is little appetite within Westminster to make any further changes. Instead, the focus is on how current guidance in place is taken, enforced, and applied in properties.

One of the biggest long-term impacts of the tragic Grenfell fire is the change in safety culture. Parties involved in safety now place a main emphasis on property owners to document and prove their emergency lighting system works correctly. This shift from authorities to an evidence-based approach has in turn pushed maintenance of emergency lighting towards proactive rather reactive. Waiting until something breaks before making changes is now not good practice; reviewing and updating before inspections and independently of other facilities plans is much more the norm.

The issue around the competence and suitability of emergency lighting is also changing. Simply meeting basic guidelines is now not going to guarantee your system is compliant. Entire systems are now to be reviewed around their fitness for purpose relating to how a property is actually used.

This has a major implication for retailers, whether they own or lease their properties. Regardless of age, installations are to be checked against the current usage of the building. If it does not competently support people to escape when required, it will not comply. The old maxim of the emergency lighting system meeting regulations when installed can’t be used and won’t be considered.

What UK Legislation Applies to Emergency Lighting?

In the UK there are several areas of regulations and standards which combine to apply to emergency lighting.

BS 5266-1: The Core Emergency Lighting Standard

This standard address how emergency lighting should help people to evacuate a property in the event of a power failure. It is a fundamental aspect of your emergency lighting system. It covers how it is designed, installed and maintained.

Within the standard you will find guidance around where emergency lighting is required within a building, such as:

• Stairways and changes in level
• Open areas used as escape routes
• Escape routes and corridors
• Fire safety equipment points
• Toilets and plant rooms

The standard also sets out expectations for the performance of the emergency lighting. Units should be able to work for at least three hours in most non-domestic buildings and provide enough illumination for people to evacuate.

Building Regulations and Approved Document B

This is an element of the Building Regulations. It covers fire safety design, in this instance how people can evacuate. In this, emergency lighting holds an important role:

• Defined clearly the escape routes in place
• The distance people must travel to reach safety
• Fire exit signage and its effectiveness
• How emergency lighting fits in with the overall approach to fire safety

The components within the emergency lighting plan all have to work together seamlessly. For example, lighting must be seen from one unit to another, guiding people along the way. If one element in the system is broken, performing below standard, or missing, then the system as a whole does not comply.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

This is the legal statute which clarifies the duties which must be undertaken by a ‘Responsible Person’. For a retailer, this person could be within the business if they own the property. If the building is leased, then this will be the landlord, agent, or building owner.  The duties the Responsible Person must abide by include the following:

• Undertaking and regularly reviewing a fire risk assessment
• Making sure the emergency lighting is appropriate for the building
• Ensuring the emergency lighting is tested and maintained
• Resolve issues within a reasonable timeframe

If any of the above are not undertaken the retailer can face a punishment ranging from an enforcement notice through to fines and court appearance.

This more comprehensive, integrated view, utilising the different standards and legislation covering emergency lighting, is a new approach being taken by safety inspectors this year.

 The Key Changes to Safety Enforcement For 2026

A retailer who does not conduct tests regularly will have to change their ways; testing and documentation will this year be monitored far more closely.

• The monthly functional testing required under law must now be completed.
• The annual full-duration tests, where you put the emergency lighting through a complete cycle for the full rated duration, is a mandated expectation.
• Maintaining accurate logbooks is now obligatory, and digital records are the preferred method of recording.

If your fire safety log has gaps in the entries, or the content is not clear to a reader, then you can expect to be served with some form of enforcement.

A fire safety inspector will also raise the extent of your emergency lighting system. You now must assume you need emergency lighting across more of your property, with units located in storage areas, plant rooms, back-office corridors washrooms/toilets. The aim here is for your emergency lighting to assist someone who is not familiar with the layout of your building and can escape regardless of where they may be at the time. If your current system does not meet this need then it can be at risk of non-compliance.

Going Smart with Emergency Lighting

An important feature to look at for your emergency lighting is the use of self-testing units in a smart system. Fire safety inspections are increasingly looking for these installed by retailers as they provide some clear benefits that help with mitigating risk.

If you consider that your current emergency lighting system has the following duties placed on you:

• A requirement to keep a logbook
• Conduct monthly flick tests and annual full duration cycles
• Proactive battery replacement
• Planned maintenance schedule

That is a lot to remember and complete, and human error means some will inevitably not get done at some point.

Smart emergency lighting takes a huge amount of all the above away. The units self-test (both monthly and full cycle) on a regular basis and can connect to a central dashboard which you then view on your laptop. This will give you instant information at near real-time, so you will see if any units are not performing correctly. The data around their performance, including test results, is automatically stored and available for review on demand.

For any retailer, smart emergency lighting is a major step forwards in delivering reliable and dependable fire safety.

You Need to Act Today

Fire safety inspectors will be taking an interest in any building used by a lot of people. This means retail and hospitality will be on their radar. With the emphasis being on how you approach and care for your emergency lighting, waiting for an inspection to provide guidance is not a good option to take. So, here are some tips to help you get started in keeping your emergency lighting compliant in 2026.

• Review your current system. Is it still relevant to how the property is used? Is it integrated with your fire safety strategy?
• Look at where your emergency lighting is located. Are there gaps in the guidance? Are units installed in back-office areas? Has the floorplan changed since the lighting was installed or last checked?
• Change old units to LED illumination. LED lighting is brighter, uses less energy and lasts far longer than old, obsolete lighting technologies.
• Look at introducing smart self-testing systems, which will help you to move to digital recording of your emergency lighting system.

Understanding the best direction to take your emergency lighting can be fraught with difficult choices. Store Maintenance can provide you with highly experienced advice, inspections and services that keep you compliant with Fire Safety regulations. So, if you are unsure whether your systems are compliant, need help in developing a maintenance schedule, or want to investigate smart emergency lighting, contact us today.