Reviewed by Lee Gundenswager (Lead Electrician, Connex Lic #92217) and Darren Standring (Owner). Last updated 2026-08-17.
Emergency and exit lighting is only doing its job if it actually works the day the power fails — and in Queensland that is not left to chance. Every commercial building with emergency lighting is legally required to have it tested every six months and the results recorded. Connex Electrical runs that testing program for businesses across North Brisbane and Moreton Bay, so your building stays compliant and your evacuation lighting is genuinely ready.
What the law requires: AS/NZS 2293.2 and the 6-monthly test
Emergency lighting maintenance in Australia is governed by AS/NZS 2293.2 — Emergency escape lighting and exit signs for buildings: Inspection and maintenance. It requires a routine service every six months, and the centrepiece is a full-duration discharge test: the mains supply to each fitting is interrupted and the luminaire or exit sign must run on its own battery for its rated emergency duration — commonly 90 minutes — while still delivering the required light level.
A fitting that dies after 20 minutes looks fine day-to-day but fails when it matters. The discharge test is the only way to prove the battery still holds its full rated duration. Any fitting that fails is repaired or replaced before the next inspection.
In Queensland this sits under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 and, for fire safety installations, the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 — the building owner or occupier is responsible for keeping the system maintained and the records available for inspection.
What a Connex 6-monthly service includes
- Full-duration discharge test of every emergency luminaire and illuminated exit sign.
- Function check — clean lenses, confirm charging, check indicator status, inspect for damage.
- Light-level and coverage check against the building’s egress paths (AS/NZS 2293.1 design).
- Battery health assessment — flagging fittings near end-of-life before they fail.
- Repairs or replacements quoted and, where authorised, completed on the spot.
- Log book entry and compliance certificate — every fitting, every result, fully documented.
The log book — the record inspectors actually ask for
An emergency lighting log book is a mandatory, ongoing record of every 6-monthly test: each fitting, the test result, and any maintenance performed. It is the single document a fire safety inspector, insurer, auditor or body corporate manager will ask to see — and a missing or incomplete log book is one of the most common compliance failures we find on buildings that changed hands or switched contractors. Connex sets up your log book, keeps it current at every visit, and makes sure it tells the compliance story your building needs.
Why businesses across North Brisbane use Connex for testing
- Licensed and accountable — QLD Electrical Contractor Licence #92217, $20M public liability, lifetime workmanship guarantee.
- We schedule it so you do not have to — we track your 6-monthly due dates and book them in, so compliance simply happens on time.
- One team for test, repair and upgrade — if a fitting fails, we fix or replace it and retrofit modern LED emergency fittings where it makes sense, then document it.
- Local and responsive — offices, retail, warehouses, factories, medical and aged-care, schools and apartment common areas right across North Brisbane and Moreton Bay.
Booking your emergency light testing
Connex will assess your building free, tell you exactly how many fittings need testing, and set up a 6-monthly program with a fixed price up front — no hourly surprises. Whether you have inherited a building with no records, failed a recent inspection, or just want it handled properly, we will get you compliant and keep you there.
Call 0474 207 609 or book online.
Emergency Light Testing — Frequently Asked Questions
How often do emergency lights need to be tested in Australia?
Every six months, under AS/NZS 2293.2, including a full-duration discharge test. Results must be kept in a log book.
What is a discharge test for emergency lighting?
The mains is cut so the fitting runs on its battery for its full rated duration (commonly 90 minutes). It proves the battery still lasts the required emergency time — the only reliable way to confirm a fitting will work in a real outage.
What is an emergency lighting log book?
A mandatory record of every 6-monthly test: each fitting, its result and any maintenance. Inspectors, insurers and body corporate managers can ask to see it, and an incomplete log book is a common compliance failure.
Who is responsible for emergency light testing in Queensland?
The building owner or occupier, under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 and Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008. Testing itself must be carried out by a licensed electrical contractor.
What happens if an emergency light fails the test?
It is repaired, or the battery or fitting is replaced, before the next inspection, and the action is recorded in the log book. Connex can quote and complete repairs as part of the service.
Do you test emergency lighting across North Brisbane?
Yes — North Lakes, Mango Hill, Kallangur, Murrumba Downs, Petrie, Burpengary, Brendale, Narangba, Morayfield, Caboolture, Redcliffe and surrounding commercial zones, on a scheduled 6-monthly program.