Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs in Australia: The Quiet Compliance Risk Most Buildings Get Wrong

By Pryce Sprague

IN SUMMARY 

If you manage a building in Victoria – whether it's a commercial property, a strata complex or a large facility – emergency lighting and exit signs are two of the most critical fire safety systems you're responsible for. And in my experience, they're also two of the most quietly misunderstood. 

In this article, I'll walk you through what Australian regulations for emergency lighting and exit signs actually require, what the 90-minute test involves, why failures are more common than most people expect and what a well-maintained emergency lighting and exit signage program should look like.  

What you’ll learn in this article: 

• what emergency lighting and exit signs are – and why they matter above all other fire safety systems 

• the 90-minute battery discharge test requirement and what it actually means for your building 

• why emergency lighting failures are so common (and so often overlooked) 

• what building managers, property managers and strata managers need to do to stay compliant 

• how Fire & Wire approaches emergency lighting and exit signage testing and maintenance 

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I want to be upfront: emergency lighting and exit signs aren’t the most glamorous part of any building.  

You won't get compliments on them during a routine inspection. Nobody is walking through your facility saying, “great emergency lighting in here!” 

But here's the thing:  

• Nobody notices a fire extinguisher until there's a fire.  

• Nobody thinks about their smoke alarm until it goes off.  

• And nobody realises emergency lighting was never working properly until the power goes out in the middle of the night and they can't see their hand in front of their face. 

Emergency lighting and exit signs are the silent, quiet compliance risk in Australian buildings. 

The systems often look perfectly fine on a normal day, under normal lighting conditions, in a building that's never had an incident. And that's precisely the problem! 

At Fire & Wire, I think about this every single day.  

Because as a Victorian Essential Service Maintenance (ESM) provider, I've seen what happens when these emergency lighting and exit sign systems aren't properly maintained. And I've sat with facility managers, property managers and strata managers who didn't realise there was a problem – until there was. 

What are Australian Building Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs? 

Before we get into the compliance requirements and testing obligations, it's worth being clear on what we're actually talking about.  

Emergency Lighting 

Emergency lighting refers to battery-backed lighting systems installed throughout a building that automatically activate when the main power supply fails.  

Their job is simple but critical: to illuminate pathways, corridors, stairwells and exit routes so that building occupants can safely find their way out of a building during a power failure or fire event. 

Under Australian Standards – specifically AS 2293.1 – building emergency lighting must provide sufficient illumination for safe evacuation. And critically, it must remain operational for a minimum of 90 minutes after a power failure. 

Exit Signs and Exit Signage 

Exit signs and exit signage are the illuminated signs that identify emergency exits and the pathways leading to them. These are the green signs with the running figure that you see above doors and at corridor intersections throughout commercial buildings. 

Like emergency lighting, exit signs must be continuously illuminated and must remain operational during a power failure. 

Together, emergency and exit lighting are the most important fire safety systems for ensuring people can actually escape a building safely.  

• Everything else – sprinklers, fire panels, smoke alarms – is focused on detecting, suppressing or alerting.  

• Emergency and exit lighting is about getting people out. 

Why the 90-Minute Emergency Lighting matters more than Most People Realise 

Emergency lighting isn’t about whether it turns on. It’s about whether it lasts when it matters. 

The Australian building emergency lighting and exit sign standard: 

• Every 6 months, systems must undergo a 90-minute discharge test 

• This simulates a complete power failure 

• It confirms that each fitting can sustain illumination for the full duration 

Now, here's where things get interesting – and where I see a lot of buildings run into trouble. 

A quick visual check might show that a fitting APPEARS to be working. The light comes on. It looks bright. You might tick a box. But that doesn't tell you whether the battery will last for 90 minutes. 

What gets missed with emergency lighting and exit signs in buildings: 

• A fitting that lights up can still fail under load 

• Common failures happen at: 
  20 minutes 
  40 minutes 

• That gap is where real risk sits 

At Fire & Wire, our building ESM safety technicians stay on site for the full 90-minute test. Not 45 minutes. Not 60 minutes. The full 90. Because that's what the regulations require and that's what it takes to genuinely confirm compliance – not just on paper, but in practice. 

When an emergency lighting fitting fails the 90-minute test, we don't just note it and move on.  

We identify it, report it and arrange immediate repair or replacement. 

That's what a structured, compliant emergency lighting maintenance program looks like. 

Why Emergency Lighting Failures are so Common in Australian Buildings 

If building emergency lighting safety is so important, why do failures happen so often? It's a question I get asked a lot and the answer is actually straightforward.

Because emergency lighting is invisible during normal operations in Australian buildings. 

Everything can look fine until it’s not. 

• Main power keeps everything looking operational 

• Batteries degrade quietly over time 

• Visual checks create false confidence 

• Replacement costs lead to delayed action 

• Failure only shows up when it matters most 

But I always come back to the same questions:  

• what is the cost of someone not being able to get out of your Victorian building safely during a fire or power outage?  

• What is the reputational, legal and human cost of that outcome? 

That's why I treat emergency lighting compliance in Victoria not as a cost, but as a non-negotiable responsibility. 

Emergency Lighting Compliance Obligations in Victoria 

For building managers, property managers and strata managers in Victoria, here's a practical summary of your emergency lighting and exit signage obligations: 

• Six-monthly 90-minute discharge testing: Required under AS 2293.1. Each emergency lighting fitting must be tested to confirm the backup battery sustains 90 minutes of illumination. 

• Monthly functional testing: A brief test to confirm fittings are operational and activating correctly when a simulated power failure occurs. 

• Annual inspections: Comprehensive inspection of all emergency lighting and exit signage systems to identify any fittings showing signs of deterioration or failure. 

• Exit sign compliance: All exit signs must be continuously illuminated and functioning correctly as part of your Essential Safety Measures (ESM) obligations. 

• Documentation and reporting: All testing must be documented. These records form part of your Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR) and are critical evidence during compliance audits. 

• Defect rectification: Where fittings fail testing, they must be repaired or replaced promptly. Outstanding defects must be tracked and documented. 

In Victoria, emergency lighting and exit signage are listed as Essential Safety Measures under the Building Act 1993 and the Building Regulations 2018. 

This means they’re a mandatory compliance obligation, not an optional maintenance item. 

What to Look For in an Emergency Lighting Testing and Maintenance Provider 

When you're choosing a fire safety compliance provider in Melbourne to manage your emergency lighting and exit signage in Victoria, there are some specific things I'd encourage you to ask about. 

1. Do they conduct the full 90-minute test? Not a simulated test. Not a shortened version. The full 90 minutes. If they can't confirm this, ask why. 
   
2. Do they use A-grade electricians? Emergency lighting work involves electrical systems. In Victoria, this work must be completed by licensed electricians. At Fire & Wire, all our emergency lighting and signage work is carried out by A-grade electricians – not subcontractors, not generalists. 
   
3. Can they repair and replace on the spot? Identifying a failed fitting is only half the job. The other half is fixing it. Ask whether your provider can carry out immediate repairs during the same visit or whether you'll be waiting for a separate booking.  
   
4. Do they provide clear, detailed reporting? Your compliance records are your proof of compliance during audits. Ask for a sample report. It should clearly identify every fitting tested, the result, any defects identified and the rectification status. 
   
5. Is it all done in-house? At Fire & Wire, our emergency lighting and signage services are entirely in-house. That means consistent quality, clear accountability and no hand-offs between contractors. 

If a Victorian ESM provider can’t clearly answer these questions, that’s your signal. 

(Discover how to choose the best contractor for testing and maintenance. Read Contractor Pre-Qualification Made Simple: 10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Fire Safety Compliance Provider) 

The Fire & Wire Approach to Emergency Lighting and Exit Signage 

At Fire & Wire, we've been providing emergency lighting and exit signage services to Victorian building managers, property managers and strata managers for over 20 years. And our approach has always been the same: thorough, accountable and completely in-house. 

Here's what our emergency lighting and exit signage service in Melbourne includes: 

• Installation, inspection, maintenance and repairs of all emergency lighting and exit signage systems 

• 90-minute discharge testing conducted by our in-house A-grade electricians 

• Monthly functional testing to confirm that fittings are activating correctly 

• Immediate identification and rectification of defective fittings during testing visits 

• Detailed, real-time compliance reports that document every fitting, every test result and every defect 

• Records suitable for inclusion in your Annual Essential Safety Measures Report 

We don't just visit, test and leave.  

• We stay for the full 90 minutes.  

• We fix what needs to be fixed. We document everything clearly.  

• And we make sure that when you receive our report, you have genuine confidence that your emergency lighting will work when it matters most. 

Because that's what this comes down to. Not a compliance checkbox. Not a certificate on a wall. The genuine, tested emergency lighting and exit signage certainty that if the power goes out tonight, your occupants can find their way out safely. 

FAQ Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs in Australia 

How often does emergency lighting need to be tested in Australia? 

Emergency lighting must be tested every six months with a 90-minute discharge test, in accordance with AS 2293.1. Monthly functional testing is also required to confirm that fittings are operational between full-discharge tests.  

What happens if an emergency light fails the 90-minute test? 

If an emergency lighting fitting fails the 90-minute discharge test, it must be repaired or replaced as soon as practicable. The failure must be documented and the defect must be tracked until rectification is confirmed. At Fire & Wire, our technicians carry out immediate repairs where possible during the same testing visit. 

Can Fire & Wire repair emergency lighting immediately? 

Yes. Our team of in-house A-grade electricians is equipped to identify and repair defective emergency lighting fittings during the same visit wherever possible, reducing the time your building has non-compliant fittings and ensuring your safety systems are restored quickly. 

Do exit signs need to be tested separately from emergency lighting? 

Exit signs are typically tested as part of the same emergency lighting testing program. Both emergency lighting and exit signage are essential safety measures that must be inspected, tested and maintained at regular intervals under Australian Standards and Victorian fire safety regulations. 

Ready to Ensure Your Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs Are Genuinely Compliant? 

As Melbourne's trusted ESM provider, Fire & Wire helps building owners, property managers, facility managers and strata managers across Victoria maintain safe, compliant and properly documented emergency lighting and exit signage systems. 

Our experienced Victorian ESM team supports building owners and property managers with: 

• 90-minute discharge testing by A-grade electricians 

• Monthly functional testing and inspections 

• Immediate repair and replacement of defective fittings 

• Clear, detailed compliance reports for audits and AESMR documentation 

• End-to-end emergency lighting and exit signage installation and maintenance 

If you're not confident your emergency lighting will work when the power goes out, we're here to help you fix that – with expertise, accountability and the peace of mind that comes from 20+ years of Victorian fire safety experience. 

Let’s talk fire safety! 

Contact Fire & Wire and let’s talk about how we can support your essential safety measures compliance in Victoria with clarity and confidence.