Emergency lighting in care homes. Reliable around the clock.
Care homes house people who often cannot get to safety on their own – and at night only a small shift is on duty. When the power fails, staff must see immediately where to take residents. We design the safety lighting for this and keep it ready with self-test and a maintenance contract.
Care homes and facilities with care or support needs are special buildings. Requirements for escape routes and safety lighting follow from regional law – sometimes with dedicated guidelines for care facilities –, the building permit and the fire safety concept. Technically, EN 1838 and EN 50172 apply; the duration depends on use and requirements. Approved experts inspect the systems periodically, and operators must document ongoing tests completely.
What applies?
- Safety lighting for escape routes, stairwells and common areas according to the fire safety concept
- ISO 7010 exit signs – clearly recognisable also for residents with limited orientation
- Duration according to use and fire safety concept – often longer than the one-hour minimum
- Supporting assisted evacuation by staff, for example into neighbouring fire compartments
- Periodic expert inspection in special buildings
- Complete documentation for supervisory authorities, fire inspections and insurers
This describes typical requirements, using Germany as the reference. What applies to your building depends on the building permit, fire safety concept, risk assessment and national or regional rules – exactly what we check during the free on-site survey.
Common mistakes
When a few staff have to accompany many residents, every second with good light counts.
New living areas or changed corridors – the emergency lighting is not updated.
Testing used to mean walking through every area. With self-test and the app that is largely gone.
How we make it easy
We survey the building, escape routes and existing system and create a standard-compliant emergency lighting design – free and non-binding.
Exit sign, escape route and recessed luminaires plus emergency drivers – with self-test and LiFePO4 battery.
Every test documented digitally, deadlines monitored automatically – ready to show at any inspection.
Annual on-site inspection, all batteries replaced in year 5–6 and repairs – predictable costs instead of surprises.
Matching products
3DRecessed downlight
Compact emergency recessed luminaire for discreet ceiling integration, 500 lm in emergency mode.
3DExit sign luminaire
Discreet LED exit sign luminaire for ceiling, wall, side or pendant mounting – up to 30 m viewing distance.
3DEscape route luminaire
Surface-mounted luminaire for escape routes, light output adjustable to 90° or 180°.
Frequently asked questions
Does a care home need emergency lighting?
Yes, as a rule. Care homes are special buildings, and regional law and the fire safety concept require safety lighting for escape routes and other areas.
Does this apply to assisted living?
That depends on how the building is used and how many residents need care or support. Some forms of assisted living are also special buildings – the building permit and fire safety concept clarify this.
How long must emergency lighting in a care home operate?
That is set by the requirements and the fire safety concept. Because assisted evacuations take longer, a duration longer than the one-hour minimum is often required. Series 19 luminaires are designed for up to 3 hours.
How is testing done without disturbing residents?
Self-test luminaires test themselves at set times and results appear in the app. We only need to be on site when something has to be replaced – and once a year for the inspection under the maintenance contract.
What if the supervisory authority asks for proof?
With the digital logbook every test is available immediately – as a PDF for export or sending. The same applies to fire inspections and expert inspectors.
Related knowledge
Emergency lighting duration: 1 hour, 3 hours or 8 hours?
How long must emergency lighting stay on? Rated duration of 1 h, 3 h and 8 h, typical buildings, workplaces, the annual duration test and recharge time.
Read articleEmergency Lighting Inspections by Authorities and Experts
What do fire authority inspections and certified experts check on emergency lighting? Inspection cycles, a preparation checklist and consequences of defects.
Read articleEmergency Lighting Operator Duties: Responsibility and Liability
Who is responsible for emergency lighting? Operator duties, delegating to contractors, record-keeping, fines, insurance and liability explained for Europe.
Read articleOther building types
Your contacts
Emergency lighting without worries.
Luminaires, installation and maintenance from a single source – every inspection documented digitally in our app. We start with a free on-site survey and standard-compliant design.