Are you sure your emergency lights would work if the power went out today?
It is not always easy to tell. A weak battery or problem with your backup power can stay hidden while your building has normal electricity. Everything may look fine until the power goes out and your emergency lighting is actually needed.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through Alberta’s emergency lighting testing requirements, how backup batteries work, and what to watch for before a real outage puts your system to the test.
What Does Emergency Lighting Do During a Power Outage?
Emergency lighting helps keep important exit routes lit when your building loses normal electrical power. This can include areas such as corridors, exits and other parts of the path people use to leave the building safely.
Your emergency lighting is different from your regular building lights. It is also different from your exit signs. While these systems work together to help people leave the building, they each have their own job.
Depending on your building, emergency lighting may be powered by:
- Self-contained battery units.
- A building emergency-power system.
- A generator.
- Another approved backup-power source.
Why Emergency Lighting Problems Can Be Easy to Miss
One of the biggest problems with emergency lighting is simple: normal building power can hide a problem with the backup system. In fact, in our experience, emergency lighting is one of the most overlooked building safety systems.
During normal building operation, regular power is available, so there may be no obvious sign that an emergency-lighting battery or backup power source is weak. The problem may only show up when normal power is lost. Even then, an emergency light turning on does not necessarily mean it will keep working for the full required period.
That is why regular testing matters. It checks the system under the conditions it is actually designed for, rather than relying on how it looks during day-to-day operation.
How Often Should Emergency Lighting Be Tested in Alberta?
Alberta has clear testing requirements for self-contained emergency-lighting units.
Under the current National Fire Code – 2023 Alberta Edition, self-contained emergency-lighting equipment must be inspected at least once every month. It must also be tested monthly to make sure the emergency lights operate if the main power supply fails.
The monthly inspection includes basic equipment conditions such as:
- Pilot lights.
- Battery surfaces.
- Battery terminals.
- Terminal clamps.
Additionally, building owners must conduct a longer test at least once every 12 months. During this annual test, the unit must operate under a simulated power failure for the amount of time required by the building’s design. The charging system must also be checked after the test to make sure it is recovering properly.
For more detailed information about emergency lighting inspections and requirements in Edmonton and surrounding areas, contact our office.
What Should Emergency Lighting Testing Confirm?
Emergency lighting testing should tell you more than whether a light turns on for a few seconds. It should confirm that your system works as it should when the power fails, including continuous operation for the required amount of time.
For self-contained units, testing helps answer several important questions:
- Does the emergency light turn on when normal power is lost?
- Can the battery keep it running for the required time?
- Are the battery and connections in good condition?
- Is the charging system working properly after the test?
That is why both the monthly function test and the longer annual test matter. They are checking different parts of the system’s performance.
Where Does Emergency Lighting Fit Into Your Building’s Life-Safety System?
Emergency lighting is only one part of a building’s overall safety plan.
Other systems may include:
- Fire alarms.
- Exit signs.
- Emergency power.
- Fire suppression systems.
- Other electrical and life-safety equipment.
These systems do different jobs.
Your fire alarm helps detect and warn people about a fire. Your exit signs help show where exits are located. Your emergency lighting helps keep the route to those exits usable when normal lighting is lost. Your generator or other emergency-power equipment may support some of these systems, depending on how your building is designed.
Interested in learning more about your complete fire protection and suppression system? Read our ultimate guide to fire safety systems for Edmonton businesses.
Choose Karlen-Kada for Emergency Lighting Maintenance and Other Fire Protection Services in Edmonton
Your emergency lighting should be ready before you need it.
Karlen-Kada installs and maintains emergency-lighting systems as part of our comprehensive fire protection services. Plus, as a single service provider, we can assess your emergency lighting alongside the electrical and life-safety systems surrounding it.
If your emergency lights are due for inspection or maintenance, have failed a test, or are raising concerns, contact Karlen-Kada today to get started.