Why Schools Across the UK Are Upgrading Their Emergency Lighting for BS 5266-1:2025

The Winstanley Team
5 hours ago
2 min read

With the release of the new BS 5266-1:2025 emergency lighting standard, schools across the UK are reviewing and upgrading their lighting systems to ensure full compliance. From 3-hour duration upgrades to anti-panic lighting and system audits, education settings are taking proactive steps to maintain safety, meet inspection requirements and protect pupils, staff and visitors.

At Winstanley Electrical & Mechanical Services, we’ve seen a marked increase in enquiries from schools and academies seeking BS-compliant installations and testing schedules ahead of the 2026 inspection cycle.restoring functionality and minimising disruption.

What the BS 5266-1:2025 Update Means for Schools

The updated British Standard provides clearer guidance for emergency lighting in educational environments. It focuses on:

✔ Enhanced lighting coverage for escape routes and stairwells

✔ 3-hour battery duration capability

✔ Clearer signage visibility requirements

✔ Anti-panic lighting for large areas such as halls and canteens

✔ Annual testing and record-keeping procedures

For schools, these changes ensure that emergency lighting systems support safe evacuation and reduce confusion during power loss or fire alarms.

Why Schools Are Acting Now

Education sites are unique — they combine multiple building types, long corridors and high-occupancy spaces. A failure in emergency lighting could compromise safe evacuation and breach fire safety law.

Most local authorities and multi-academy trusts (MATs) are therefore requesting full compliance audits and upgrades before the next school year. Planning this work in advance helps avoid last-minute disruptions and ensures enough time for testing, certification and remedial work.

How Winstanley Supports Schools & Academies

Our engineers deliver full emergency lighting design, installation and testing tailored for the education sector. We work safely around timetables, completing projects during half-terms, inset days and holidays.

Our services include:

BS 5266-1:2025 Compliance Audits
3-Hour Duration Testing & Upgrades
Anti-Panic Lighting Design
System Repairs & Battery Replacements
Combined Fire Alarm & EICR Testing

We also provide centralised compliance documentation for MATs, helping estate managers monitor all sites under one report.

Did You Know?

A recent review by several education authorities showed that over 60% of schools audited in 2024 required upgrades to their emergency lighting systems to meet the latest standards.Early action not only ensures safety but also spreads costs across multiple budget years.

Our UK-Wide School Support

We work with schools and academies nationwide, including:

✔ Liverpool

✔ Manchester

✔ Leeds

✔ Birmingham

✔ Sheffield

✔ Cardiff

Summary

The BS 5266-1:2025 update marks an important step forward in emergency lighting safety for schools.Winstanley Electrical & Mechanical Services offers nationwide support, expert guidance and compliant installation to help your school or academy meet the new standards quickly and efficiently.

For more information or emergency assistance, call 01942 367 170 or email info@winstanley-electrical.com. Our team is available 24/7 to support your business.