Emergency Lighting Inspection
London, Ontario
The Ontario Fire Code requires monthly functional testing and an annual 30-minute battery discharge test for every emergency light and exit sign in your building. Most businesses are behind on one or both. London Fire Protection handles both test types, issues OFC-compliant inspection reports, and can replace failed units on the spot.
Is Your Emergency Lighting Up to Code?
Check off each item your building currently has in place. The Ontario Fire Code requires all of these to maintain compliance.
Two Tests. Both Required.
Most buildings know about one of the two OFC testing requirements. Very few are doing both correctly.
Monthly Functional Test
Every month, each emergency lighting unit and exit sign must be activated and confirmed to be working. The test checks that units come on when power is cut, that illumination is present, and that no physical damage or battery faults exist. This is a brief test — but it must be performed and documented every single month. A single missed month without a written record is a gap the fire department can act on.
OFC Div. B — Section 6.5.2.1Annual 30-Minute Discharge Test
Once per year, every unit must sustain full illumination for 30 continuous minutes with power disconnected. This tests real battery capacity — not just whether the light flickers on. A unit can pass the monthly check and still fail the annual discharge test. Failed units must be replaced. This is the test most businesses skip, and the one fire inspectors look for first.
OFC Div. B — Section 6.5.2.2Non-Compliance Is a Common Inspection Failure
Emergency lighting deficiencies are one of the most common causes of failed fire department inspections in commercial buildings. Inspectors check for documentation of both the monthly and annual tests — not just whether the lights are on today. An undocumented inspection is treated the same as no inspection. London Fire Protection provides a signed, written OFC-compliant report after every visit.
OFC Section 6.5 — Inspection RecordsIn and Out in One Visit
Book the Visit
Tell us your unit count and whether you need a monthly, annual, or first-time inspection. We confirm timing and show up with everything needed to complete both test types in a single visit if required.
Every Unit Tested
We test each emergency lighting unit and exit sign — activation, illumination level, battery charge indicator, and physical condition. For the annual test, every unit is held in emergency mode for the full 30-minute discharge. No units skipped.
Failed Units Quoted On-Site
Any unit that fails the monthly check or the 30-minute discharge test is flagged in the report. We quote replacement on the spot and can supply and install units in the same visit where we have stock — getting you back to compliant without a return trip.
Signed Report Issued
You receive a written OFC-compliant inspection report covering every unit — location, test type, result, and technician ID. Keep it on-site. If the fire department asks, you hand it over. That's compliance.
No Surprises
One service fee per visit. Per-unit rates drop as unit count goes up.
| Unit Count | Per-Unit Rate | Service Fee | Example Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 10 units | $8.00 / unit | $65.00 | $145 (10 units) |
| 10 – 50 units | $6.00 / unit | $65.00 | $245 (30 units) |
| 50+ units | $5.00 / unit | $65.00 | $315 (50 units) |
| Test Type | Per-Unit Rate | Service Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual 30-min discharge test | $25.00 / unit | $65.00 | Flat rate — all unit counts |
When fire extinguisher inspection and emergency lighting inspection are booked for the same visit: one $65 service fee + $6.00 per unit flat across all units from both services. This is typically 20–30% less than booking each service separately — and you get both compliance reports in one trip.
All prices are ex-HST. Replacement units for failed lights are quoted and billed separately. Contact us for a quote based on your unit count.
Common Questions
The Ontario Fire Code requires two types of testing: monthly functional tests and an annual 30-minute battery discharge test. The monthly test confirms units activate and illuminate when power is cut. The annual test verifies each unit can maintain required illumination for the full 30 minutes. Both must be documented and records kept on-site.
The annual 30-minute discharge test places each emergency lighting unit into emergency mode — simulating a real power failure — and requires the unit to maintain required illumination levels for the full 30 minutes. This tests actual battery capacity. A unit can look fine and pass the monthly check but still fail the annual test when its battery can no longer hold a charge long enough. Any unit that fails must be replaced.
Most commercial buildings in Ontario are required to have emergency lighting under the Ontario Building Code and Ontario Fire Code. This includes any building or floor area that has an exit — essentially all commercial, industrial, and assembly occupancies. Emergency lighting must illuminate exit routes, stairwells, and exit signs to allow safe evacuation when normal power fails. If your building has exit signs, it almost certainly needs emergency lighting to match.
Units that fail the 30-minute discharge test are documented as non-compliant in the inspection report. They must be repaired or replaced — continuing to operate a building with failed emergency lighting is a fire code violation. London Fire Protection quotes replacement on the spot and can supply and install replacements in the same visit where we have the units in stock, avoiding a return visit charge.
The building owner or operator is responsible for ensuring emergency lighting is tested, maintained, and compliant under the Ontario Fire Code. For commercial tenants, the lease should clarify responsibility — but building-wide emergency systems are typically the landlord's responsibility. In any case, non-compliant emergency lighting during a fire department inspection will result in a compliance order directed at the property owner, not the tenant.
Yes — and it's the most cost-effective way to handle both. When fire extinguisher and emergency lighting inspections are done in the same visit, London Fire Protection applies a bundle rate: one $65 service fee plus $6 per unit flat across all units from both services. This is typically 20–30% less than booking each service separately, and you get both compliance reports out of one trip.
The inspection report documents each unit tested — location, test type (monthly or annual), result (pass or fail), battery condition, and any deficiencies found. For the annual test, the duration of illumination during the discharge test is recorded per unit. Failed units are listed with recommended action. The report is dated and signed by the technician and must be retained on-site per OFC requirements for review during a fire department inspection.