Question 1

Does Texas license emergency lighting inspections the way it licenses extinguishers and alarms?

Accepted Answer

No. The SFMO does not issue a separate registration for emergency lighting. Testing obligations come from the fire code your city or county has adopted, built on NFPA 101, and are enforced by the local fire marshal rather than the state.

Question 2

How often do emergency lights and exit signs need to be tested?

Accepted Answer

A 30-second functional test every 30 days, plus a full 90-minute annual discharge test confirming the batteries can carry the required load for the whole duration, per NFPA 101.

Question 3

How much light does emergency lighting have to provide?

Accepted Answer

An initial average of about 1 footcandle along the path of egress, staying above roughly 0.6 footcandle by the end of the 90-minute duration test.

Question 4

Do exit signs get tested the same way as emergency light fixtures?

Accepted Answer

Any exit sign with a battery-powered emergency light source follows the same monthly and annual test cycle as the rest of the emergency lighting system.

Emergency Lighting Inspection