Emergency & Exit Lighting
When the power cuts out, the way out has to light up.
In a fire, the power usually goes first. Emergency lights and exit signs exist for exactly that moment, and the only proof they’ll perform is the NFPA 101 test cycle: a 30-second function test every month and a full 90-minute battery load test every year.
We test, document, repair, and replace emergency lighting across commercial properties: battery packs that won’t hold a charge, dark exit signs, and egress paths that were never lit right in the first place.
What we do
- Monthly 30-second function testing programs
- Annual 90-minute full-duration battery load tests
- Battery and lamp replacement, fixture repair
- Exit sign replacement and new installations
- Egress path illumination surveys against NFPA 101
- Test logs ready for AHJ and insurance review
The required cycle
| Interval | What happens |
|---|---|
| Monthly | 30-second functional test of every unit |
| Annual | 90-minute full battery-duration load test |
What inspections typically find
The most common exit lighting deficiencies in commercial buildings — each one gets a priority tier and a clear correction path on your report.
- Batteries that pass a 30-second push-button test but die minutes into a real outage
- Exit signs that are dark, dim, or pointing the wrong direction after remodels
- Egress paths with lighting gaps created by tenant improvements
- No test log — making every unit a question mark during inspection
Why it matters
Egress failures are life safety failures in the most direct sense — and they’re among the most commonly cited deficiencies in fire inspections because monthly tests quietly stop happening. A documented program makes this category disappear from your citation list.
Exit Lighting questions, answered
What is the 90-minute emergency lighting test?
Once a year, NFPA 101 requires every emergency light to run on battery power for a continuous 90 minutes, simulating a real extended outage. Units that dim or die before the mark need new batteries or fixtures. It’s the test that separates working units from ones that only look alive on the wall.
Who can perform emergency light testing?
Building staff can do the monthly 30-second checks if they’re documented. The annual 90-minute test and any repairs usually fall to a fire protection contractor so results are properly load-tested and recorded. We run both programs for clients who want the whole category handled.
Put exit lighting on a schedule that defends itself.
One assessment, one calendar, documentation your insurer and fire inspector can actually read.
714-465-8801We respond within one business day — emergencies, immediately.