Emergency lighting logbook: what to record in the UK
Logbook
4 min read · Updated 30 August 2026
The logbook is the running history of tests and repairs — not the visit report, not the site certificate, and
not the fitting list. If months are blank, the annual looking tidy is not enough.
Inspectors and duty-holders need a trail: that monthly function tests happened, that the annual duration ran,
and that failures were fixed. The logbook is that trail — continuous, dated, and attributable to a person.
It does not replace the
site register
(the list of fittings) or the site certificate (the standing record for the building). It sits alongside
them.
What each entry needs
For every monthly or annual test, record at least:
Date of the test
Type — monthly function / flick, or annual duration (note the rated period)
Who carried it out
Result — clear pass, or failures listed by fitting ID / location (and time into a
duration test if relevant)
Remedial action — what was done or arranged, and when it was completed / retested
A common finding: the annual certificate is neat, and six months of the logbook are blank. That is still a
problem. The rhythm is monthly function plus annual duration — missing months are missing evidence.
Do not invent past entries to “fill the book”.
Do fix the process so the next twelve months are tested and written up.
Building staff often do the monthly; contractors often do the annual. Both need a shared register and a
place to write.
On paper it is often a bound book in the fire cupboard or FM office. Digitally it may be a shared drive,
a spreadsheet, or software that keeps history on the site. What matters is that the next tester can find it,
add an entry, and that an inspector can follow the trail.
If you still need blank visit / certificate forms to hand over alongside the logbook, use our
free templates.
Frequently asked questions
Is an emergency lighting logbook a legal requirement in the UK?
The responsible person must be able to show that emergency lighting is properly maintained and tested. In
practice that means a running record — paper or digital — of monthly and annual tests. This page is
practical guidance, not legal advice.
Is the logbook the same as the site certificate?
No. The logbook is the running history of tests and repairs. The site certificate is the building’s
standing record after periodic inspection and testing. You usually need both.
What if months are missing from the logbook?
That is a compliance gap even if the annual certificate looks fine. Fill forward properly from now — do
not invent past entries. Fix the process so monthly tests are done and recorded.
Can Beacon replace a paper logbook?
Beacon keeps test history on the site and fittings, so you are not relying on a paper logbook that can go
missing. You can still export or issue the paperwork clients expect. Free in open beta.
