Warehouse emergency lighting: integrated or standalone?

When you upgrade warehouse lighting you also need a clear plan for emergency lighting: what the law requires, when to put a pack in a fitting, and when a standalone luminaire or exit sign is the better choice.

Standalone options include the PS-BULKHEAD IP65 bulkhead (including emergency versions), the PS-HELP twin-spot emergency luminaire, and PS-EXIT LED exit signs.

The short answer

Escape routes and exits that need illumination must have emergency lighting if the normal supply fails, and routes must be signed (Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005). You do not usually need a battery in every high bay. Design the escape routes, open areas and any high-risk task areas, then choose integrated packs, standalone luminaires and exit signs to match. Polaris supplies integrated options, standalone emergency luminaires and exit signs, and UKEX-certified ATEX emergency lighting for hazardous zones.

What the law and the standards require

• RRO 2005 (England and Wales), article 14: emergency routes and exits that need illumination must have emergency lighting of adequate intensity if normal lighting fails, and must be indicated by signs.
• HM Government fire safety risk assessment guide for factories and warehouses: larger or complex premises are likely to need a more comprehensive automatic emergency escape lighting system; test systems monthly and have annual testing and maintenance by a competent person.
• BS 5266-1:2025 is the UK code of practice for emergency lighting design (published October 2025, replacing the 2016 edition).
• BS EN 1838:2024 sets emergency lighting performance requirements, including escape route and open area illuminance.
• BS EN 50172:2024 (BS 5266-8:2024) covers the safety of emergency escape lighting systems, including documentation and automatic test systems.

Under BS EN 1838:2024, escape routes need at least 1 lx horizontal at floor level (with edge borders excluded by route width), and open (anti-panic) areas need at least 0.5 lx where the risk assessment requires them. Duration and whether 1 hour or 3 hours applies depend on the risk assessment and BS 5266-1; many UK schemes use a 3-hour rated duration. Verify the design against the current standards for your site.

Integrated emergency

An emergency pack inside a batten, panel or high bay keeps the same optic and mounting. It suits corridors, stores and lower areas where the normal fitting already covers the escape route. Limits include battery size, ambient temperature and how many points you really need on a high warehouse floor.

PS-BATTEN 60-S EM combines the built-in microwave sensor with a 3-hour emergency version. PS-PANEL and PS-PANEL+ can take an emergency pack accessory. PS-UFO-MAX is available with an emergency option.

Standalone luminaires and exit signs

Standalone emergency luminaires and exit signs mark routes and cover points that the normal high bay layout does not serve well, such as changes of direction, fire equipment and final exits. Polaris supplies standalone emergency luminaires and exit signs. Ask us to include them in the design when you upgrade the main lighting.

Why not every high bay needs a battery

At 10 to 15 m, a battery in every UFO high bay is often the wrong answer. A lighting design to BS 5266-1 and BS EN 1838 places emergency light where people escape and gather, which may be a smaller set of integrated fittings plus standalone points and signs. Stand-by dimming on occupancy sensors is not emergency lighting; see warehouse lighting sensors.

Cold stores

Battery performance falls in the cold. Check operating temperature for any emergency option and use fittings rated for the space. The free cold store lighting guide covers temperature, IP and sensors for chillers and freezers.

ATEX and hazardous zones

Polaris supplies UKEX-certified ATEX emergency lighting for hazardous areas. We also supply and install in hazardous zones with our own team. Start with the ATEX lighting overview and the free ATEX lighting guide. No certificate numbers are published on this site.

When to review emergency lighting in an LED upgrade

Changing layout, lux levels or fitting positions can change escape lighting. Our LED high bay installation process considers emergency lighting against BS 5266-1 where it is affected. The warehouse LED lighting upgrade guide includes a compliance and funding checklist.

Frequently asked questions