Emergency and exit lighting is a legal requirement for commercial buildings. Here is what AS2293 demands, what happens during an inspection, and how to avoid costly failures.
AS2293 is the Australian Standard that governs the installation, testing, and maintenance of emergency lighting and exit signage in buildings. It exists for one reason: to ensure that when mains power fails, people can find their way out of a building safely.
The standard applies to emergency luminaires (battery-backed lights that activate during a power failure) and illuminated exit signs. It specifies where they must be installed, how bright they must be, how long they must operate on battery power, and how often they must be tested.
Emergency lighting is required in any building classified under the Building Code of Australia as a Class 2 through Class 9 building. In practical terms, this includes:
If you own or manage any of these building types, emergency lighting compliance is your responsibility. The obligation sits with the building owner or the body corporate, not the tenants.
AS2293 mandates two levels of testing:
Every six months, each emergency luminaire and exit sign must be tested by simulating a mains power failure. The test confirms that the unit switches on, provides adequate light, and the battery holds charge for a minimum period. This is a visual inspection combined with a functional test.
Once a year, every emergency lighting unit must undergo a full duration discharge test. This means running each unit on battery power for its full rated duration - typically 90 minutes for standard emergency luminaires. The purpose is to confirm that batteries can sustain the required illumination level for the entire rated period.
This is where most failures are detected. Batteries degrade over time, and a unit that passes a brief simulated test may fail well before the 90-minute mark during a full discharge.
In our experience across commercial buildings on the Sunshine Coast, the most common emergency lighting failures are:
A compliant emergency lighting inspection involves:
The inspection must be carried out by a licensed electrician, and the results documented in the building’s emergency lighting logbook. This logbook must be available for inspection by local authorities or fire services at any time.
Non-compliance with emergency lighting requirements is a serious matter. Building owners can face:
The financial and legal exposure far outweighs the cost of maintaining a proper testing and maintenance program.
The most effective approach to emergency lighting compliance is a planned maintenance program. Rather than reacting to failures during inspections, a maintenance program proactively replaces batteries before they fail, upgrades aging fittings, and keeps the system in continuous compliance.
Leading Edge offers planned maintenance contracts for commercial buildings across the Sunshine Coast. We schedule and complete all required testing at the correct intervals, maintain the logbook, provide detailed reports, and handle any repairs or replacements as part of the program.
For building owners and body corporate managers, this removes the administrative burden and the risk of missed testing deadlines.
Whether you need a first-time emergency lighting assessment, routine testing, or a planned maintenance contract, call Joel on 0418 416 481 to discuss your building’s requirements.
Emergency lighting requires a simulated discharge test every six months and a full duration discharge test annually. Both tests must be conducted by a licensed electrician and documented in the building’s emergency lighting logbook.
Yes. Common areas in strata buildings - including hallways, stairwells, car parks, and lobby areas - require compliant emergency lighting and exit signage. The body corporate is responsible for ensuring compliance and maintaining testing records.
The cost depends on the size of the building and the number of emergency lighting fittings. We provide a fixed annual quote that covers all required testing, documentation, and minor repairs. Contact us for a tailored quote based on your building’s specific requirements.
