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Quick Summary
Answer: FireSafe provides AS2293-compliant exit sign and emergency lighting installation, 6-monthly testing, LED upgrades and ongoing maintenance for commercial, industrial and residential buildings throughout Sydney. Every service is carried out by licensed fire protection technicians and backed by a compliance certificate that feeds directly into your Annual Fire Safety Statement.
How it works: A qualified technician attends your site, inspects every exit sign and emergency light fitting, runs a full 90-minute battery discharge test as required by AS/NZS 2293.2, tags each fitting, updates your logbook, and gives you a written report covering any faults, failures or corrective actions needed.
AS2293 Compliant
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Exit signs and emergency lighting are not a set-and-forget system. The batteries degrade, the lamps dim, and the Australian Standards demand active testing at prescribed intervals for the life of the building. This page is a reference for building owners, facilities managers, strata managers and business operators who need to understand what compliant exit and emergency lighting looks like in Sydney and what their ongoing obligations actually involve.
What Are Exit Signs and Emergency Lighting?
Exit signs and emergency lighting are battery-backed safety systems installed throughout a building to illuminate evacuation routes and identify exits during a power failure or emergency. Exit signs remain lit 24/7 on mains power and switch to internal battery during an outage. Emergency lights activate automatically when mains power is lost, lighting stairwells, corridors, open areas and exit paths so occupants can evacuate safely.
Under AS/NZS 2293.1, exit and emergency lighting must be installed in Class 2 through Class 9 buildings: offices, retail premises, warehouses, factories, hotels, schools, hospitals, aged care facilities, and residential strata complexes. Exit signs are mandatory above every required exit door and at every change of direction along an escape route where the path is not immediately obvious.
Who Needs Exit Signs and Emergency Lighting?
If your building falls into any of the following categories, you have an ongoing legal obligation to install, test and maintain compliant exit signs and emergency lighting under NSW legislation, the Building Code of Australia, and AS/NZS 2293:
- Office buildings and commercial tenancies over 300 m² floor area
- Retail shops, restaurants, cafes and shopping centres
- Warehouses, distribution centres and storage facilities
- Factories, manufacturing plants and light industrial units
- Residential apartment buildings and boarding houses, common areas
- Hotels, motels and serviced apartments
- Schools, universities and educational facilities
- Hospitals, medical centres and aged care facilities
- Public assembly buildings including theatres, cinemas and community halls
- Underground car parks and large open-plan parking areas
- Strata complexes and multi-tenancy commercial buildings
It does not matter whether the building is brand new or fifty years old, whether it is fully leased or half vacant, or whether you have just taken over management from a previous owner. If a fire safety schedule exists, the obligation to test, maintain and certify your exit signs and emergency lighting continues for the life of the building. Failing to comply can result in penalties of up to $3 million for corporations, failed AFSS certification, and insurance complications if an incident occurs and your systems are found non-compliant.
Do exit signs need to be illuminated at all times?
Yes. Exit signs must remain illuminated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with an internal battery that takes over automatically during a power failure. An exit sign that is not illuminated during normal operation is non-compliant. The battery must sustain illumination for a minimum of 90 minutes following mains power loss, which is exactly what the 6-monthly discharge test verifies. If you have a dark, flickering or emergency-lighting-not-working situation on any fitting, it needs immediate attention.
What is the difference between maintained and non-maintained emergency lighting?
Maintained emergency lights operate as part of the normal lighting system and stay on continuously. Non-maintained emergency lights remain off during normal conditions and only activate when mains power fails. A third type, sustained emergency lighting, has two lamps in one fitting where one runs on mains and the other activates on battery during an outage. The correct type depends on the building’s classification, the specific area being lit, and the requirements set out in AS/NZS 2293.1. FireSafe assesses your building and specifies the right fitting for each location.
Industries We Service
FireSafe works across every major building sector in Sydney. Each sector below has its own characteristics when it comes to exit and emergency lighting, from the type of fittings typically installed to the way the compliance schedule interacts with day-to-day operations.
Office Buildings & Commercial Towers
Multi-storey buildings with fire-isolated stairwells, exit signage across multiple floor plates, and battery-backed fittings in lift lobbies and basement levels.
Retail & Shopping Centres
Exit signage above doors alongside emergency lighting in back-of-house, loading docks and customer-facing areas. Shared centre environments add base building complexity.
Warehouses & Distribution Centres
Large open floor plates with jumbo exit signs, emergency batten fittings along escape paths, and weatherproof emergency lights in loading dock areas.
Manufacturing & Industrial
Process-specific hazards alongside standard emergency lighting, often requiring vandal-proof housings and IP65-rated weatherproof exit signs.
Residential Strata & Apartments
Common area emergency lighting, basement car park fittings, and stairwell exit signage under body corporate responsibility.
Aged Care & Healthcare
High-sensitivity environments where emergency lighting failure directly risks vulnerable occupants, requiring meticulous logbook maintenance.
Education & Government
Public-access obligations and duty-of-care requirements with fixed AFSS deadlines tied to funding or accreditation cycles.
Hospitality & Entertainment
Low-illumination environments where functioning exit signs are critical for safety and licensing compliance.
If your property spans more than one of the categories above, FireSafe assesses the whole site as one job during your free site visit and provides a single, consolidated compliance schedule.
Our Exit Sign and Emergency Lighting Services in Sydney
FireSafe delivers a complete range of exit sign and emergency lighting services across Greater Sydney, Inner West, and surrounding NSW regions:
- Installation: New fitout or upgrade for commercial, industrial and strata buildings, with every fitting specified to match the building’s classification and escape path layout
- 6-Monthly Compliance Testing: Full 90-minute battery discharge test on every fitting as required by AS/NZS 2293.2, with each unit tagged and logged
- Annual Testing: Comprehensive annual inspection and discharge test supporting your AFSS documentation
- LED Upgrades: Replace old fluorescent exit signs and emergency battens with energy-efficient 3W LED fittings that typically more than double the service life of the unit
- Maintenance and Repairs: Fault diagnosis, battery replacement, lamp replacement, diffuser repair and wiring checks
- Emergency Lighting Logbook: A maintained compliance record tracking every test, fault and repair across every fitting on your property
- AFSS Compliance Reports: Full documentation to support your Annual Fire Safety Statement submission, formatted to meet council requirements
How long does an emergency lighting test take?
A standard 6-monthly discharge test takes approximately 90 minutes. The actual time on site depends on the number of fittings. A small office with 10 to 15 fittings might take under two hours. A large warehouse or multi-storey building with dozens of fittings will take longer. FireSafe confirms the expected duration during your free site visit so you can plan around it.
Our Testing and Compliance Process
- Enquiry and Initial Discussion: You contact us by phone or online form. We ask about your building type, approximate number of fittings, and any existing fire safety schedule or AFSS deadline.
- Free Site Visit: A technician visits your property to physically inspect every fitting, cross-reference what is installed against your fire safety schedule, and flag any obvious non-compliance issues.
- Itemised, No-Obligation Quote: You receive a detailed written quote covering inspection, testing and any known remedial work, with clear line items.
- Scheduled Inspection and Testing: A qualified technician conducts the full 90-minute discharge test on every fitting, simulating a power outage to verify battery performance and lamp output.
- Corrective Action Report and Remedial Works: If anything fails, you receive a written report detailing exactly which fitting failed, why, and the cost to bring it back into compliance. Repairs are completed on site wherever possible.
- Certification and Ongoing Scheduling: Once everything passes, you receive a compliance certificate, your logbook is updated, and your next inspections are proactively scheduled.
Types of Exit Signs and Emergency Lighting We Supply and Install
FireSafe sources and installs only energy-efficient, code-compliant exit signs and emergency lighting products. Every fitting meets AS/NZS 2293 and comes with full manufacturer warranty support:
- 3W LED Exit Signs: Up to twice the lifespan of older fluorescent equivalents, with lower energy draw and brighter, more consistent illumination
- Blade Edge-Lit Exit Signs: Slim, recessed profile suitable for modern commercial interiors, available in 24-metre and 16-metre viewing distances
- Surface-Mounted Emergency Battens: 18W and 36W LED batten fittings for corridors, stairwells and open areas, available in standard, vandal-proof and weatherproof housings
- Jumbo Exit Signs: 32-metre viewing distance for large open spaces, warehouses and industrial environments
- Weatherproof Exit Signs: IP65-rated fittings for external walkways, car parks and industrial environments
- Vandal-Proof Emergency Lights: IK11 impact-rated housings for high-risk and public access areas
- Central Battery Systems: Single battery bank serving multiple fittings, specified for multi-tenancy and high-rise buildings
- Emergency Floodlights: High-output fittings for large open areas, loading docks and car parks
What are illuminated exit signs?
Illuminated exit signs are the standard requirement in Australia. An illuminated exit sign contains a light source, either LED or fluorescent, that stays lit on mains power and switches to an internal battery during a power failure. The term “illuminated exit sign” is the technically correct description under AS/NZS 2293. Non-illuminated signs, such as photoluminescent signs that glow only after absorbing ambient light, are not compliant as a standalone solution in most building classifications.
How much does exit sign and emergency lighting testing cost?
Cost depends on the number of fittings on your property, their type and their accessibility. A small office with 10 to 15 fittings will be at the lower end. A large warehouse or multi-storey building with 50-plus fittings will cost more. FireSafe provides a free, itemised quote after your site visit so there are no surprises.
Emergency Lighting Inspection Frequency
Under AS/NZS 2293.2, exit signs and emergency lighting must be tested at the following intervals:
| Test Type | Frequency | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| 6-Monthly Discharge Test | Every 6 months | 90-minute full battery discharge test on every fitting. Simulates a power outage to verify battery capacity, lamp output and correct changeover. |
| Annual Inspection | Every 12 months | Comprehensive inspection of every fitting: battery condition, lamp output, diffuser integrity, mounting security and signage legibility. |
| Battery Replacement | As indicated by testing | Batteries that fail to sustain a 90-minute discharge are replaced. Quality batteries typically last 3 to 5 years. |
| LED Upgrade | As recommended | Older fluorescent fittings approaching end of life are flagged for LED upgrade to reduce ongoing maintenance cost and energy consumption. |
The 6-monthly discharge test is the one most property owners underestimate. It is not a quick walk-around. It is a full 90-minute power-drop simulation on every fitting, and it must be recorded in a compliant logbook. Miss it, and your AFSS cannot be signed off. The testing cycle is sometimes referred to as biannual testing in formal compliance documentation.
LED vs Fluorescent Exit Signs
If your building still has older fluorescent exit signs, you are paying more in energy costs and maintenance callouts than you need to.
| Factor | LED Exit Signs | Fluorescent Exit Signs |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | 50,000+ hours typical | 8,000 to 10,000 hours |
| Energy consumption | 3W typical | 8W to 15W typical |
| Lamp replacement cycle | Rarely needed within service life | Every 1 to 2 years on average |
| Battery compatibility | Lower draw, longer discharge time | Higher draw stresses older batteries |
| Brightness consistency | Maintains output across lifespan | Dims noticeably as tube ages |
| Warranty | 3 to 5 years typical | 1 year typical on replacement tubes |
| Compliance risk | Lower, fewer failure points | Higher, tube and starter failures common |
The upgrade to LED typically pays for itself within two to three years through reduced energy costs and fewer callouts. FireSafe can quote the full upgrade during your free site visit.
6-Monthly Compliance Testing vs Annual-Only Testing
Some building owners ask whether they can get away with annual-only testing. Here is why the standard requires both.
| Factor | 6-Monthly + Annual (AS2293.2 Compliant) | Annual-Only Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance status | Fully compliant with AS/NZS 2293.2 and NSW WHS | Non-compliant. Does not meet the minimum standard. |
| Battery health visibility | Two discharge tests per year catch degrading batteries early | 12-month gap where a battery can fail silently |
| AFSS support | Full logbook trail meets AFSS evidence requirements | Insufficient. AFSS requires evidence of 6-monthly testing. |
| Insurance position | Covered, provided all other measures are compliant | At risk. Insurers can void or reduce a claim. |
| Cost | Two visits per year at the agreed rate | One visit saves the inspection fee but exposes you to penalties |
The 6-monthly cycle costs roughly one additional inspection fee per year and buys you earlier warning on failing batteries, the single most common failure point across all emergency lighting systems.
Central Battery System vs Individual Battery Fittings
| Factor | Central Battery System | Individual Battery Fittings |
|---|---|---|
| Installation cost | Higher upfront. Requires dedicated battery room and cabling. | Lower upfront. Each fitting is self-contained. |
| Maintenance access | Single point of maintenance. One location. | Every fitting must be accessed individually. |
| Battery lifespan | 5 to 10 years for a quality central bank | 3 to 5 years per fitting, replaced individually |
| Single point of failure | Yes. If the central bank fails, every fitting on the circuit is affected. | No. A failed battery only affects that fitting. |
| Suitability | High-rise, multi-tenancy, 50+ fittings | Smaller buildings, single-tenancy, under 30 fittings |
| Long-term cost | Lower per-fitting cost for large installations | Higher per-fitting cost at scale |
For most small to medium commercial buildings in Sydney, individual battery-backed LED exit signs and emergency lights are the practical and cost-effective choice. FireSafe assesses your building and recommends whichever configuration genuinely suits the site.
Compliance Obligations You Need to Know
FireSafe is a qualified provider of exit sign and emergency lighting services across Sydney. All work is carried out to AS/NZS 2293.1 and AS/NZS 2293.2 by licensed fire protection technicians and accredited fire safety practitioners. Our reports and logbooks directly support the compilation of your Annual Fire Safety Statement.
These obligations sit across several overlapping frameworks:
- AS/NZS 2293.1: governs the system design and installation standards for emergency escape lighting and exit signs
- AS/NZS 2293.2: specifies the routine service, testing and maintenance intervals, including the mandatory 90-minute discharge test every six months
- The Building Code of Australia: sets the minimum design and performance standards based on building classification
- The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 2000 (NSW): the legislative mechanism under which councils require, monitor and enforce AFSS lodgement
- The OH&S Act: places a duty of care on employers and building owners to provide a safe working environment
- Your insurance policy: most commercial policies require evidence of current fire safety compliance
These are not independent boxes to tick separately. A skipped 6-monthly discharge test flows through to an incomplete logbook, which flows through to an AFSS that cannot be signed off, which can trigger a council fire safety order and potentially void your insurance cover.
What happens if my emergency lighting fails a council fire safety inspection?
If a council inspection identifies non-compliant exit signs or emergency lighting, you will receive a fire safety order with a specified rectification timeframe. FireSafe can attend your property, conduct a full system inspection, provide a corrective action report with itemised costs, complete all required repairs or replacements, and re-certify the system so you can respond to council with evidence of remediation.
The Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS) Explained
The Annual Fire Safety Statement is the document that every building owner in NSW with a fire safety schedule must submit to their local council each year. It confirms that every essential fire safety measure listed on the schedule, including exit signs and emergency lighting, has been inspected, tested and maintained to the relevant Australian Standard.
For exit signs and emergency lighting specifically, your AFSS must be supported by:
- Evidence of two 6-monthly discharge tests within the reporting period
- A current, maintained emergency lighting logbook recording every test, fault and repair
- A fire equipment register listing every fitting by location and type
- Certification from a licensed technician or accredited fire safety practitioner confirming the system is compliant
If any of these are missing, incomplete or out of date, the person signing the AFSS cannot attest that the building’s exit and emergency lighting is compliant, and the statement will be rejected. FireSafe compiles all supporting documentation as part of our standard service.
Insurance, Risk and Duty of Care
Commercial property insurance policies in Australia almost universally require the building owner to maintain essential fire safety measures in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards. For exit signs and emergency lighting, that means AS/NZS 2293.2 and its 6-monthly testing requirement.
If an incident occurs and the insurer finds that the building’s emergency lighting had not been tested to the required frequency, or that the logbook was incomplete, or that non-compliant fittings had been flagged but never repaired, they can reduce or deny the claim. This is not hypothetical. It is a standard clause in most commercial property policies.
Beyond insurance, the OH&S Act imposes a positive duty of care on employers and persons conducting a business or undertaking to provide a safe environment. Functioning exit signs and emergency lighting that have been tested and maintained to the standard are part of meeting that duty.
Is Your Building’s Emergency Lighting Compliant Right Now?
Before you call us, do a quick visual check. If you answer no or not sure to any of these, a professional inspection is overdue. Click each item to tick it off:
- Are all exit signs illuminated and clearly visible from every direction of approach?
- Do emergency lights activate when you press the test button on each fitting?
- Are exit signs and emergency lights tagged with a service date within the last 6 months?
- Is your emergency lighting logbook current and up to date?
- Has your AFSS been lodged with council within the last 12 months?
- Are there any dark, flickering or damaged exit signs anywhere in the building?
- Has anything changed about how the building is used since the fire safety schedule was last reviewed?
- Are all exit paths clear and unobstructed, with visible exit signage at every change of direction?
One-Off Test vs Ongoing Maintenance Contract
One-Off Test
- Suited to a single upcoming AFSS deadline or pre-purchase due diligence
- Ideal for new property owners who need a baseline compliance check
- Useful after receiving a council fire safety order
- No ongoing scheduling commitment
Ongoing Maintenance Contract
- FireSafe manages your entire 6-monthly and annual testing schedule proactively
- Better suited to multi-tenancy buildings, strata complexes and larger sites
- Priority scheduling and faster emergency response for fault callouts
- A single, consistent emergency lighting logbook maintained over time
- Reduces the risk of a missed test triggering a failed AFSS or invalidating your insurance
Most buildings with more than 20 fittings or those with an active AFSS cycle find an ongoing contract more practical. For a small single-tenancy office, a one-off test ahead of your AFSS deadline can work perfectly. FireSafe will recommend whichever approach genuinely suits your property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Exit signs identify the exits and the direction of travel. Emergency lighting illuminates the path to those exits. A compliant system needs both: exit signs above every required door and at every change of direction, plus emergency lights positioned to keep corridors, stairwells and open areas lit during a power failure.
Batteries typically last 3 to 5 years under normal operating conditions. The 6-monthly discharge test is designed to catch degrading batteries before they fail completely. FireSafe flags any battery approaching the end of its serviceable life during the routine test so you can budget for replacement.
You can perform a visual check and a manual push-button test, but the mandatory 90-minute discharge test required for AFSS compliance must be conducted by a licensed technician or accredited fire safety practitioner. A manual push-button test does not verify battery duration under load.
AS/NZS 2293 is the Australian and New Zealand Standard governing emergency escape lighting and exit signs. Part 1 covers system design and installation. Part 2 covers routine service, testing and maintenance. It is the standard your local council and your insurer expect your building to meet.
If your building has no testing history, you are non-compliant. The first step is a full system inspection to establish a baseline: which fittings are installed, what condition they are in, whether they meet the current standard, and what corrective work is needed. FireSafe does this regularly for buildings that have changed ownership or management.
No. Photoluminescent exit signs, sometimes called glow-in-the-dark signs, are not a compliant standalone replacement for electrically illuminated exit signs in most building classifications under AS/NZS 2293.1. They may be used as supplementary signage, but the primary exit sign above every required exit must be an electrically illuminated fitting with battery backup.
Related Fire Safety Services
Protect Your Building with a Free Site Visit
When it comes to exit signs and emergency lighting, you cannot afford to guess whether your system will work when it is needed. FireSafe has been protecting Sydney businesses, building owners and residents with compliant fire safety services for over a decade.
Whether you need a one-off test before your AFSS deadline, a full LED upgrade across an entire building, or an ongoing maintenance contract, our team is ready.
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