Checker · Emergency lighting · BS EN 1838
Emergency lighting lux checker
Choose the type of area and enter the lowest lux reading you measured. You get the minimum for that area and whether the reading passes. For an escape route you can also enter the highest reading to check the uniformity.
Result
Enter a reading to see the result.
Working
escape route 1 lux · open area 0.5 lux · fire equipment 5 lux · high risk the higher of 15 lux and 10% of normal
- Escape route: at least 1 lux across the whole width of the route, less a border: 0.5 m each side for routes over 2 m wide, and a quarter of the width each side for routes up to 2 m wide.
- Open area (anti-panic): at least 0.5 lux, leaving out a 0.5 m border. The shortest obvious route through the area is lit as an escape route.
- Points of emphasis: at least 5 lux, measured vertically, near fire-fighting equipment, call points, door releases and similar.
- High-risk task area: 15 lux, or 10% of the normal light level if that is higher. Confirmed for the 2013 edition, not found quoted for 2024.
- Uniformity: the highest reading divided by the lowest should not be more than 40 to 1 along the route. Confirmed for the 2013 edition, not found quoted for 2024.
Source: BS EN 1838:2024 and BS 5266-1:2025, as set out by the Lighting Industry Association, NICEIC and emergency lighting makers. The 2024 edition changed how escape routes are lit: the whole width, not just the centre line.
Record readings in the emergency lighting log book. For test dates, use the test due date calculator.
For guidance only. Always check against the current edition of the standard and the manufacturer's data.
Built by the engineer behind Kerova, certificate software for fire and security firms.