--- title: How to Test Emergency Lighting in a Commercial Building description: The monthly 30-second test, the annual 90-minute test, self-testing units, and the records to keep. Includes a printable emergency lighting test log. image: https://www.cdielectric.com/hubfs/How%20to%20Test%20Emergency%20Lighting%20in%20a%20Commercial%20Building-Commercial%20Electrician%20in%20Cincinnati%20%26%20NKY-%20CDI%20Electric%20(1).jpg --- Call Us:[859-291-9189](tel:8592919189) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 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A printable test log is at the end. The short answer - Every month: Test each battery-powered unit for at least 30 seconds. - **Once a year:** Run each battery-powered unit for 90 minutes on battery power. - **Always:** Keep written records of every test and inspection. Fire inspectors ask for them. Self-testing units replace the manual monthly test with a monthly visual check. They still need the annual 90-minute test, unless they are computer-based and run it automatically. ## Where these requirements come from The familiar schedule comes from NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code, section 7.9.3. It gives building owners three ways to test emergency lighting: manual testing, self-testing units, and computer-based self-testing systems ([NFPA Journal)](https://www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/nfpa-journal/2020/07/01/nfpa-101-july) State fire codes follow the same pattern. Ohio's fire code requires a monthly activation test of at least 30 seconds and an annual 90-minute test for battery units. It also requires records that show where each unit is, whether it passed, the test date, and who did the test ([Ohio Fire Code, 2017 edition, section 604.8](https://up.codes/s/exit-and-emergency-lighting-equipment); [Portage County Safety Council summary](https://portagecountysafetycouncil.com/2020/07/27/pathways-lighting-requirements-august-2020-safety-hygiene-corner/)). Section numbers change between editions. In Kentucky, the state fire code is the Kentucky Standards of Safety. Your local fire code official decides which code and edition apply to your building. The schedule below is what most buildings in the region will be asked to show. #### The three ways to test | Your equipment | Monthly | Annual | Records | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Standard battery units** (test button on each unit) | Functional test of at least 30 seconds. Tests 3 to 5 weeks apart. | Functional test of at least 90 minutes | Written records of every test | | **Self-testing / self-diagnostic units** (status light on each unit) | The unit tests itself. You inspect each status indicator at least every 30 days. | Functional test of at least 90 minutes | Written records of the visual checks and the annual test | | **Computer-based self-testing system** (units report to a panel or software) | The system tests automatically. | The system runs the 90-minute test automatically. | The system must be able to produce a history of tests and failures |   Source: NFPA 101, section 7.9.3.1, as summarized by [NFPA](https://www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/nfpa-journal/2020/07/01/nfpa-101-july)and the [University of Colorado](https://www.colorado.edu/firelifesafety/sites/default/files/attached-files/fls_emergencylights.pdf). The units must work at full output for the entire test. A light that comes on but fades before 90 minutes has failed. Exit signs with battery backup follow the same schedule. Emergency lighting powered by a generator is tested under NFPA 110, the generator standard, instead of the 90-minute battery test.  ## Why the annual test matters The monthly 30-second test shows that a unit switches to battery power and that the lamps light. It does not show whether the battery can last. Batteries lose capacity as they age, so a unit can pass every monthly test and still go dark partway through an outage. *The annual 90-minute test finds weak batteries.* ## How to do the monthly test 1. Walk the building with a list of every unit and its location. Include stairwells, corridors, restrooms, mechanical rooms, and exterior egress lights. 2. Press and hold each unit's test button for at least 30 seconds. On self-testing units, check the status indicator instead. 3. Confirm that the lamps come on at full brightness right away, stay on for the full 30 seconds, and are aimed at the path of travel. 4. Check for damage, missing covers, blocked lamps, and units with no charging or power indicator lit. 5. Record the result for each unit: location, pass or fail, date, and your name. 6. Report failures right away, and treat each one as open until it is fixed and retested. Test about the same time each month. The code allows 3 to 5 weeks between tests to work around weekends and holidays, not to skip months. ## How to do the annual test 1. Schedule it for a low-occupancy time, and tell occupants that you will be testing the lights. 2. **Remove normal power from the emergency units for 90 minutes.** In many buildings, this means switching off the circuits that feed them. If that requires opening or switching breakers in an electrical panel, use a qualified person, or follow your facility's established procedure. 3. **Check every unit at the start, partway through, and at 90 minutes.** Record the time any unit dims or fails. 4. **Restore power and confirm** that each unit's charging indicator comes back on. 5. **Let the batteries recharge.** Check the manufacturer's recharge time, and don't schedule the test right before the building is busy. 6. **Record the results** and list every unit that failed and what was done to fix it. ### When a unit fails Some fixes are simple. Others point to a wiring problem. #### Usually a parts or replacement issue: - The lamp is out, but the unit transfers to battery. - The unit works on the 30-second test but fails before 90 minutes. This usually means the battery needs replacing. - The unit is physically damaged. #### Call an electrician when: - A unit shows no charging or power light. It may have lost its normal power supply. - Several units on the same circuit fail together. - A unit does not switch to battery when normal power is removed. - You smell burning, see scorching, or find water in or around a unit. - A renovation changed the layout, and you are not sure the exit paths are still covered. - You need units added, moved, or wired to a different circuit. ## Emergency lighting test log Print one sheet per month. Keep twelve months of records, plus the most recent annual test, where an inspector can see them. Building: Month/Year: Tested by: | Unit # | Location | Type (standard / self-test / exit sign) | Monthly 30-sec test or indicator check: Pass / Fail | Annual 90-min test: Pass / Fail / Time failed | Problem found | Corrective action and date | Retest: Pass | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | |                    Annual test date: Normal power removed at: Restored at: Total duration: minutes ## What you can do, and what needs a licensed electrician Facility staff can do the monthly test, check self-test indicators, keep the records, and replace lamps where the manufacturer allows it. Switching breakers in electrical panels should follow your facility's safety procedures or be done by a qualified person. Repairing circuits, replacing hard-wired units, adding units, and correcting lost normal power need a licensed electrician. ## How CDI Electric can help CDI Electric installs, repairs, and tests emergency and exit lighting for commercial buildings across Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. We can run your annual 90-minute test, document the results, and fix what fails. View our commercial electrical services or talk with a commercial electrician at [859-291-9189](tel:8592919189). Requirements are based on NFPA 101 and the Ohio Fire Code. Your fire code official determines which code and edition apply to your building. #### About the author Michael Zilliox [Follow me on my website](https://www.cdielectric.com/) [Follow me on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/CDIElectric/) Michael Zilliox is Project Manager at CDI Electric. He has earned a Master License. He enjoys making projects a reality for customers from design to final completion . "It's what makes the job worth it." Topics:   [Lighting](https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog/tag/lighting) ,   [Maintenance and Testing](https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog/tag/maintenance-and-testing) ,   [Emergency](https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog/tag/emergency) ,   [Backup Power](https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog/tag/backup-power) Recent posts [How to Test Emergency Lighting in a Commercial Building](https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog/how-to-test-emergency-lighting-commercial-building) [How Often Should Electrical Equipment Be Tested? NFPA 70B Guide](https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog/how-often-should-electrical-equipment-be-tested) [Commercial Electrical Maintenance: A Facility Manager’s Guide](https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog/commercial-electrical-maintenance/commercial-electrical-maintenance-plan-guide) [Industrial Electrician for New Equipment Installation](https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog/industrial-electrician-for-new-equipment-installation) [How Do I Find a Contract Maintenance Electrician Near Me?](https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog/contract-maintenance-electrician-near-me-cincinnati-nky) [![CDI Electric](https://www.cdielectric.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CDI%20Logo.jpg?width=1624&height=716&name=CDI%20Logo.jpg "CDI Electric")](https://cdielectric.com/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/CDIElectric/) - [Service Area](https://www.cdielectric.com/commercial-electrician-in-nky-and-cincinnati) - [Industrial](https://www.cdielectric.com/services/industrial-electrician-cincinnati-nky) - [Commercial](https://www.cdielectric.com/services/commercial-electrician-cincinnati-nky) - [Contact Us](https://www.cdielectric.com/contact-us) - [Projects](https://www.cdielectric.com/projects) - [Residential](https://www.cdielectric.com/services/residential-electrician-cincinnati-nky) - [About Us](https://www.cdielectric.com/about-us) **Office Location:** 2018 Uhl Road|Crestview, KY 41076  [859-291-9189](tel:8592919189) [info@cdielectric.com](mailto:mzilliox@cdielectric.com) **Mail Location:** PO Box 76531 | Highland Heights, KY 41076 [859-291-9189](tel:8592919189) © 2025 CDI Electric  |  [Privacy Policy](https://www.cdielectric.com/privacy-policy) Powered by [Analytics That Profit](https://www.analyticsthatprofit.com/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Michael Zilliox", "url" : "https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog/author/michael-zilliox" }, "dateModified" : "2026-11-03T14:28:05.790Z", "datePublished" : "2026-11-03T14:28:00.000Z", "headline" : "How to Test Emergency Lighting in a Commercial Building", "image" : [ "https://www.cdielectric.com/hubfs/How%20to%20Test%20Emergency%20Lighting%20in%20a%20Commercial%20Building-Commercial%20Electrician%20in%20Cincinnati%20&%20NKY-%20CDI%20Electric%20(1).jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog/how-to-test-emergency-lighting-commercial-building", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.cdielectric.com/hubfs/CDI%20Logo.jpg" } } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog#blog", "@type" : "Blog", "description" : "Educational articles, service insights, and commercial electrical resources from CDI Electric.", "inLanguage" : "en-US", "name" : "CDI Electric Blog", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.cdielectric.com/path-to-logo.png" }, "name" : "CDI Electric", "url" : "https://www.cdielectric.com" }, "url" : "https://www.cdielectric.com/cdi-electric-blog" } ```