Professional Guide

Best Emergency Lighting for Safety & Compliance: 2025 Expert Review

Oli at OR Electrics

18th Edition Qualified Electrician

Published 17 December 2025

Sudden darkness in a home isn't just inconvenient; it can be dangerous. For landlords, particularly those managing HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation), emergency lighting isn't optional—it is a legal requirement under British Standards (BS 5266) to ensure tenants can escape safely during a fire or power failure.

In Leeds, I see a mix of needs. I visit student properties where compliant bulkheads are essential, and family homes in the suburbs where a reliable torch near the consumer unit is all that's needed to safely reset a tripped RCD.

In this review, I've selected three distinct options: a budget-friendly wall torch for domestic peace of mind, a fully compliant self-testing bulkhead for landlords, and a high-power rechargeable torch for serious outages.

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Specs vs. The Real World

The Spec: "Battery Duration Claims"

The Theory

"Packaging often claims lights will stay bright for 12+ hours."

The Reality

In emergency mode, brightness often fades significantly after the first hour. For compliant escape route lighting, we look for a guaranteed 3-hour duration at specific lux levels.

The Spec: "'Self-Testing' Features"

The Theory

"Fit and forget—the light checks itself."

The Reality

Whilst the light performs its own functional tests (saving you time), as a landlord, you must still visually check the indicator LED monthly and keep a log. It reduces labour, but not responsibility.

My Top 3 Recommendations

Three options to cover different needs and budgets

Emergency Torches Wall Mounted LED Flashlight

Budget Pick

Yosoo Health Gear

This is a simple, effective solution for residential homeowners. It mounts to the wall and is always ready. I often recommend mounting this near the fuse box (consumer unit) so you aren't fumbling in the dark when trying to reset a breaker.

Price£10.42 (at time of writing)

Power Source4 x AAA Batteries

MountingWall bracket included

The Good

Very affordable peace of mind
Red housing makes it easy to spot in low light
No wiring required - DIY install

The Bad

Batteries not included (requires 4x AAA)
Not compliant for HMO escape routes (requires mains power)
Plastic build is functional but not heavy-duty

Installer Tip:

Use high-quality lithium batteries rather than standard alkaline ones. Alkaline batteries can leak over time if left sitting in a device, ruining the contacts right when you need the light most.

Priced at £10.42 at the time of writing

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Knightsbridge LED Emergency Lighting with Selftest, 4W

Quality Choice

Knightsbridge

For HMO landlords in Leeds, this is the gold standard for value and compliance. The 'Self Test' feature is a game-changer; it automatically simulates a power cut to check battery health, saving you the cost of a manual discharge test. It's robust, bright, and meets regulatory standards.

Price£32.00 (at time of writing)

FeatureAutomatic Self-Test Function

Wattage4W LED (Energy Efficient)

The Good

Self-testing saves massive time/money on maintenance checks
Compliant for rental properties and commercial spaces
Robust polycarbonate construction ideal for communal areas

The Bad

Requires professional installation (hardwired)
Industrial look might not suit a domestic living room
More expensive upfront than standard bulkheads

Installer Tip:

When installing in student accommodation or communal hallways, ensure this is wired to the local lighting circuit (unswitched live feed). This ensures it triggers correctly if that specific lighting circuit fails. Keep the instruction manual for the blink codes—you'll need to know what a 'fast flash' means during inspections.

Priced at £32.00 at the time of writing

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Lepro Torch Rechargeable USB-C, 1000 Lumens

Problem-solving

Lepro

Sometimes you need more than a passive glow; you need to see exactly what has happened. This reliable rechargeable torch is excellent for inspecting external wiring, checking trip switches in dark basements, or navigating unlit streets during a total grid failure.

Price£13.98 (at time of writing)

Brightness1000 Lumens

ChargingUSB-C Rechargeable

The Good

USB-C charging is modern and convenient (no hunting for batteries)
Extremely bright - 1000 lumens illuminates large areas
Water-resistant (IPX4) useful for outdoor checks in the rain

The Bad

Reliance on internal battery means you must remember to charge it
Not a fixed installation (can be misplaced by children)

Installer Tip:

Keep this torch in a fixed 'emergency station' in your kitchen drawer or utility room. Because it holds a charge well, checking it every 6 months is usually sufficient. It's handy for when I ask a client to check their external meter box before I arrive!

Priced at £13.98 at the time of writing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need emergency lighting in my home?

For a standard single-family home, it is not a legal requirement, but it is highly recommended for safety. Having a torch near the consumer unit (fuse box) is a minimum sensible precaution. For HMOs (rentals with unrelated tenants), compliant emergency lighting is a legal requirement under BS 5266.

What is the difference between Maintained and Non-Maintained lighting?

Maintained lights can be on all the time (like an exit sign in a cinema) and stay on during a power cut. Non-Maintained lights (like the Knightsbridge unit reviewed) usually stay off and only illuminate when the main power fails. For most residential communal areas, Non-Maintained is standard.

How often should emergency lights be tested?

If you are a landlord, you need to perform a short functional test monthly (flick the test key switch) and a full duration test (usually 3 hours) annually. The self-test unit reviewed here automates these tests, but you still need to log the results.

Can I install emergency lighting myself?

Battery-powered units like the Yosoo torch are fine for DIY. However, hardwired emergency lighting (like the Knightsbridge bulkhead) falls under electrical work that should be certified. In Leeds, I frequently rectify unsafe DIY jobs—it's safer and more compliant to hire a qualified electrician.

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