Why emergency lighting is a requirement

When the power fails without warning, people need to see where they are going. They need to recognise escape routes, locate exits and move safely without panic. That is the job of emergency lighting.

In the UK, the obligation comes from several sources. The main ones are:
– fire safety legislation, such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, which requires the responsible person to provide suitable emergency lighting where needed;
– BS 5266-1, the code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises, which sets out how systems should be designed, installed and maintained;
– BS EN 1838, which defines minimum illuminance levels for escape routes and open areas, and BS EN 50172, which covers emergency escape lighting systems and their testing.

The result is that in almost every commercial and public building, emergency lighting is not optional: it is a design requirement.

The problem: safety versus aesthetics

In interior and architectural lighting projects, emergency lighting is often a compromise.

The lighting designer specifies clean, continuous lines of light, integrated into the architecture. Then the emergency fittings arrive: additional luminaires, surface-mounted on ceilings or walls, breaking up the surfaces and sitting at odds with the rest of the lighting scheme.

The EM1500 and EM3000 kits resolve this conflict with a simple idea: the line of light itself becomes the emergency light. No additional fittings, no visual interruption. Safety is built into the scheme, not bolted on afterwards.

How the EM1500 and EM3000 kits work

The operating principle is straightforward.

With the mains supply present, the LED strip operates normally, powered by its driver. The emergency kit remains on standby.

When the mains fails, the kit switches in automatically and powers the LED strip at reduced output, keeping the line lit for its full rated duration.

When the mains is restored, the strip returns to normal operation.

This is non-maintained operation: the emergency function comes into play only when the normal mains supply fails.

Two durations for different requirements

– EM1500: 1.5-hour duration. For applications where a minimum of 1 hour is acceptable, with additional margin.
– EM3000: 3-hour duration. For premises where regulations, the fire risk assessment or the specification call for a longer duration. Under BS 5266-1, 3 hours is the duration generally recommended for most premises, particularly where people sleep or where the building may be reoccupied soon after a power failure.

Important note: the stated durations, 1.5 hours for the EM1500 and 3 hours for the EM3000, are based on use with LEDCO SL60 LED strips. With other strips, the actual duration may vary: contact our technical team to verify it for your project.

The required duration always depends on the use of the building and the fire risk assessment, and should be confirmed with the emergency lighting system designer.

Compatible with 12V, 24V and 48V LED strips

One system, three voltages. The EM1500 and EM3000 kits work with 12V, 24V and 48V LED strips, covering the full range of linear applications: from small 12V backlighting details to long continuous 48V runs.

For the specifier, this means emergency lighting can be integrated into any linear lighting scheme, without changing the light source chosen for normal operation.

Installation: what to know at design stage and on site

A few practical points for electrical contractors and designers.

Provide an unswitched permanent live. Like all emergency kits, the EM1500 and EM3000 need to detect mains failure. They must therefore be connected to a permanent live supply that is not interrupted by the local light switch. Otherwise, switching the lights off would be read as a power cut.

Calculate illuminance in emergency mode. In emergency operation the strip runs at reduced output, so it emits less light than in normal mode. The minimum levels set out in BS EN 1838 must be verified against this reduced output, not the nominal one.

Decide which runs need emergency cover. Not every line of light needs a kit: you only need to equip the runs that light escape routes, exits and areas where emergency lighting is required.

Plan routine testing from the start. BS EN 50172 and BS 5266-1 require regular functional checks and periodic full-duration tests. Building the kits into the maintenance schedule at design stage makes the building easier to manage over its service life.

Applications: where emergency kits make the difference

Hotels and hospitality. Corridors, stairwells and lobbies lit by coves or ceiling slots that, in a power failure, guide guests towards the exits. The EM3000 meets the need for longer durations.

Offices and corporate workplaces. Continuous ceiling lines in open-plan areas and corridors that double as emergency lighting with no additional fittings.

Retail and shopping centres. Perimeter and circulation lighting that stays on during evacuation, keeping the store’s visual identity clean.

Restaurants and bars. Spaces where atmosphere matters, and where an out-of-place emergency fitting stands out more than any other detail.

Museums and galleries. Visitor routes lit by linear light, where architectural integration is part of the brief.

Residential and multi-occupancy buildings. Stairwells, entrance halls and communal corridors, where a well-designed line of light can also serve as emergency lighting.

Frequently asked questions about LED strip emergency kits

Can an LED strip be used as emergency lighting?

Yes, when paired with an emergency kit such as the EM1500 or EM3000. If the mains fails, the kit powers the strip and keeps it lit for its full rated duration.

What is the difference between the EM1500 and the EM3000?

The duration: the EM1500 keeps the strip lit for 1.5 hours, the EM3000 for 3 hours. Both values are based on LEDCO SL60 LED strips.

Which LED strips are they compatible with?

12V, 24V and 48V LED strips.

Does the strip run at full output in emergency mode?

No, in emergency mode the strip runs at reduced output. This is why the required illuminance levels must be verified in emergency mode.

Does the kit come on when I switch the lights off?

No. The kit only operates when the mains supply fails, provided it is connected to an unswitched permanent live.

What duration do I need for my project?

It depends on the use of the building and the fire risk assessment. In the UK, BS 5266-1 generally recommends 3 hours for most premises; 1 hour may be acceptable only in specific circumstances.

Build safety into your lighting scheme

With the EM1500 and EM3000 kits, the line of light you have designed also becomes your emergency lighting. Safety and aesthetic quality, in a single system.

→ Discover LEDCO emergency kits: EM1500 and EM3000 Emergency Kits

→ Need help with your specification? The LEDCO technical team will help you select the right kit and configuration for your project. Contact the technical team