Emergency and Exit Light Test Requirements for Australia

According to Australian Standard 2293-2005 and the Victorian Building Code, all commercial properties built or substantially renovated after 1994 require Emergency and Exit Lighting to comply. All properties with Emergency & Exit Lighting installed require a 90-minute discharge test every 6-months, which is to be carried out by a qualified technician.

Exit Lighting 

• Directional illuminated Exit Signs positioned in path of travel to direct building occupants to building exits 
• Final illuminated Exit Signs positioned above exit doors 
• All Exit Signs must be a maintained fitting, meaning they should be illuminated at all times 

Emergency Lighting 

• Emergency Lights are designed to provide enough illumination in the event of a power outage or emergency such that building occupants can safely exit the building without encountering hazards 
• Emergency Lights can be either maintained or non-maintained depending on the type 

Switchboard 

• In order to carry out the Emergency & Exit Light discharge test the mains power supply to Emergency & Exit Light fittings needs to be isolated at the switchboard 
• Emergency & Exit Light fittings may either be on the same circuit breaker as general lighting or their own dedicated circuit 

If the Emergency & Exit Lighting is on the same circuit as the general lighting at the property, during the 90-minute discharge test there may be interruption to the general lighting supply. Where possible we will always aim to limit any interruption. 

When installing new Emergency & Exit Lighting we recommend connecting the fittings to their own circuit breaker, as to not disrupt the general lighting during the discharge test.

If an Emergency or Exit Light does not pass the 90-minute battery discharge test it will require replacement 

If an Exit Light is not illuminated at all on either mains or battery back-up power, it will will require replacement 

If a maintained light fitting is illuminated under mains power but not battery back-up, it will require replacement 

If an Exit Light decal is faded, missing or incorrectly marked, it will need to be replaced.

At Compliance Services we exclusively use Clevertronics Emergency & Exit Light fittings which are designed in Australia to comply with all Australian building regulations. Clevertronics fittings are supplied with a minimum 3-year warranty, with some fittings eligible for a 6-year warranty.

Clevertronics has an ISO-9001 Quality Management certification to guarantee quality. Cheaper alternatives may be available but typically require more frequent replacement and consume more energy, costing more in the long-term

Compliance Services has been testing, servicing, repairing and installing Emergency and Exit Lighting for more than 20-years. Our team of experts will ensure your property’s emergency lighting is fully compliant and operational. Contact our team for more information.