Emergency Lighting Testing for Universities in Nottingham

A university campus is effectively a small town. Halls of residence run 24/7, lecture halls empty and fill by the hour, and research buildings stay lit long after close. When the mains cut out anywhere on that estate, emergency lighting is what lights the route out. Hawkesworth’s engineers carry out emergency lighting testing for universities in Nottingham, covering monthly and annual testing including the 1 and 3-hour drainage tests.

How Often Should University Emergency Lighting Be Tested? 

Emergency lighting must be tested monthly and annually to confirm the batteries will power up when they are needed. The monthly check is a brief functional test that every unit comes on. The annual test is the full duration check, where fittings run from battery power for their rated time. 

Hawkesworth’s engineers carry out 1 and 3-hour drainage testing, which is the industry term for the annual full duration test. Keeping accurate records for each building helps estates teams track compliance centrally rather than building by building.

Testing Across a Mixed University Estate 

A typical Nottingham university estate includes student accommodation, teaching buildings, research laboratories, libraries, sports facilities and student union spaces, each with its own occupancy pattern and access rules. 

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires emergency routes and exits requiring illumination to have emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case the normal lighting fails. For an estates team, that means every building, corridor, stairwell and escape route, from halls of residence through to lecture theatres, needs to be on the same testing schedule.

Scheduling Around Term Time, Exams and Vacations 

University buildings have their own rhythm. Halls of residence fill up in term time and empty out in summer, teaching buildings are quieter in evenings and weekends, and research buildings often run around the clock. We schedule testing around that calendar: 

• Summer vacation for the full annual drainage test across teaching buildings and student accommodation 

• Reading weeks and inter-term breaks for partial cycles 

• Weekends and evenings for research buildings and 24-hour libraries, at no extra charge 

It pairs well with fire alarm testing and servicing on the same visit, since both systems support the same escape routes.

Emergency Lighting Testing Across Nottingham 

We cover university sites across Nottingham and the wider county, including University Park, Jubilee Campus, Sutton Bonington, the city centre campuses, Clifton, Beeston, Lenton and Dunkirk. For estates teams managing buildings across multiple sites, Hawkesworth offers exclusive pricing for businesses booking services across multiple locations, so the whole estate sits on one compliance schedule.

Trusted by Universities Across the UK 

Our university client list includes the University of St Andrews, Newcastle, Cardiff, Durham and Kingston Universities, alongside schools and colleges across the UK. At St Andrews alone, our engineers work across 40 residential buildings in Fife, which gives us real working experience of a live university estate. 

Our network of 200+ City & Guilds certified, DBS checked engineers covers the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. We remind you when the next retest is due, provide expert advice when you need it, and act as a one-stop shop for all your fire safety requirements.

Book Your University Emergency Lighting Test 

Tell us which buildings are due and which calendar window you’re working to, whether that is the summer vacation, reading week or a weekend. We will build the visit around your estate. Request a quote or call 01845 524498.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How often should university emergency lighting be tested? 

Emergency lighting must be tested monthly and annually to confirm the batteries work in an emergency. 

Is emergency lighting a legal requirement in universities? 

Yes, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, universities must have emergency lighting of adequate intensity on escape routes and exits. 

Can you test halls of residence during term time? 

Yes, but most universities book halls testing for the summer vacation or inter-term breaks to avoid disruption. 

Which Nottingham campuses do you cover? 

University Park, Jubilee Campus, Sutton Bonington, city centre campuses and surrounding areas including Clifton, Beeston and Lenton. 

Have you worked with universities before? 

Yes, our university clients include the University of St Andrews, Newcastle, Cardiff, Durham and Kingston Universities.