Exit sign & emergency light testing — what the code actually requires
Applies to: Battery-backed exit signs and emergency lights (NFPA 101 jurisdictions — i.e., nearly all US commercial)
What this error means
Per NFPA 101 §7.9.3 (adopted by fire codes nearly everywhere): a monthly function test of at least 30 seconds — hold the test button; the unit must stay lit at consistent brightness the whole time — and an ANNUAL test running the units on battery for a full 90 minutes. Facility staff can do both in-house; no certification is required. Keep written records (location, date, pass/fail, tester) — that log is what the fire marshal asks for. Self-testing units with status indicators are a code-recognized alternative to the monthly button ritual.
Symptoms
- Nobody remembers ever testing them
- Fire inspection coming
- A sign that's dark or flickering right now (fix before any inspection finds it)
Try this first (safe DIY steps)
- Monthly: press and HOLD each unit's test button a full 30 seconds — a quick tap is not a valid test; dimming during the hold = failing battery
- Annually: run the 90-minute full-duration test (via breaker shutoff or test switch); units must stay lit throughout
- Log every test: location, date, result, name — keep ~3 years
- Buying new units? Self-testing models turn the monthly ritual into a glance at an indicator LED
Safety: power off before any physical intervention. Never bypass covers or interlocks — fuser areas run hot enough to burn.
When to call a technician
None of this requires a contractor — it requires a calendar. Failed units: see our battery guide before replacing the whole sign.