Exit Light Requirements In Australia

Do you actually need exit lights in your building? What are the requirements you need to follow? We get a lot of questions about exit light requirements in Australia and what specifically businesses need to have to be compliant. 

There are a lot of legal regulations that dictate where exit lights and other fire safety equipment needs to be located. It can be difficult for each individual person or business to stay on top of, that’s why people rely on fire service professionals to manage it for them.

Key exit light requirements in Australia

As part of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) 2010, there are specific requirements depending on the class of building you occupy. 

For example, Class 6 buildings over 100m² and built after 1st July 1994 require exit and emergency lighting and at least one exit sign. Class 6 buildings encompasses shops or other buildings operating for the sale of goods by retail or supply of service direct to the public. 

Some other key requirements include:

• Emergency lighting systems need to be installed in every fire-isolated stairway, fire-isolated ramp or fire-isolated passageways. 
• They also need to be installed in every storey of a Class 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 building where the storey has a floor area greater than 300 m2. 

It’s easy to see that requirements can change from building to building and size of the space, so while someone running the same kind of business as you doesn’t necessarily need the same kind of exit lights. 

This is why to save time and peace of mind, many businesses get the help of a professional service to advise on their specific requirements and manage the emergency light testing that all fire safety equipment needs regularly. 

Testing requirements for exit lights

Under Australian Standard 2293.2 for fire safety, exit and emergency light testing is required to happen periodically. Exit lights need to be inspected, tested, and light tubes replaced and cleaned under these regulations. 

These periodic tests need to happen at 6 and 12 months and to meet compliance, must be accurately recorded and conducted by licenced professionals.

During these tests, a manual discharge test is required to simulate a power failure, which is when exit lights will be relied upon for safe exit of a building. During this manual discharge, the lights must stay illuminated for no less than 90 minutes to meet compliance. 

Exit lights are essential in emergency situations. They illuminate exits and ensure that staff and visitors in workplaces and businesses can exit safely. Having clear and working exit lighting is particularly important in low visibility conditions.

Our exit light testing

At Brisbane Fire Services, we carry out testing and inspections of fire safety equipment across the Brisbane region. We specialise in fire safety for commercial businesses and can manage regular compliance testing, as we fire safety training, professional advice and supply of fire safety equipment. 

When carrying out inspections we ensure that emergency lights are located in all the right places. This helps with meeting regulations but also maintaining the safest working environment for staff and customers. We will also advise you on what kinds of lights you need for your specific system and be able to manage regular testing for you, so you don’t have to worry. 

About Brisbane Fire Services

On top of testing emergency lighting, we also specialise in supplying, installing and servicing an array of fire extinguishers, hydrants, and hose reels. 

It’s important to remember that not only do different buildings and locations require different fire safety equipment, there are also different grades of fire that require different fire extinguishers. Using the wrong extinguisher on a fire can actually make it more dangerous, so it’s important to have the right ones in place and also know how to use them. 

This is why fire safety training is just as important as having fire safety equipment in place. We offer evacuation and fire equipment training for staff and business owners so that everyone knows what to do in the case of an emergency. This can make the difference between a close call and a deadly fire emergency. 

Placement, service and maintenance of fire equipment is required by law to make sure equipment is in working order and prepared to handle any situation that may arise. 

We take fire safety very seriously. By being proactive with fire safety requirements, you can:

• Identify potential hazards before they become an issue
• Prevent fires in your workplace
• Prevent workplace injuries and damage
• Give you peace of mind and time to focus your attention on your business operations

Get in touch with us to arrange an inspection of your Brisbane premises. We also offer free quotes for our services. 

We hope this article has answered your questions about exit light requirements in Australia. If you have any questions about exit lights or any of the other services and equipment we offer, you can reach out to our team online here or call us on 0499 198 427.