Exit Sign Compliance & Testing
In this section
- Exit Sign Compliance
- Exit Signs with No 120-min & 90-min Battery Discharge Testing Requirements
- Battery Exit Signs with 120-minute Battery Discharge Testing Requirements
- Battery Exit Signs with 90-minute Battery Discharge Testing Requirements
- Battery Recharge – When your building is not compliant!
Exit Sign Compliance
When choosing new Exit Signs for your building, you need to understand their compliance with relevant Codes and Standards, as well as State and Territory based regulations. Review our comparison of Exit Signs for compliance, and then read our comparison of their testing and monitoring requirements.
Powered, Electric Battery Exit Sign Compliance | Photoluminescent Exit Sign Compliance (Unpowered, Battery-Free) | Hybrid Photoluminescent Exit Sign Compliance (Powered, Battery-Free) | |
|---|---|---|---|
National Construction Code (NCC) incl. Building Code of Australia (BCA) compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes |
NCC Specification | None | Specification 25 (Standards Australia Technical Specification 5367:2021 in NCC2025) | |
Approved by State or Territory Building Authorities | Yes | Yes | Yes |
AS/NZS2293 Emergency lighting and exit signs for buildings | Yes | Relevant Parts (per NCC) | Relevant Parts (per NCC) |
AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installation (Wiring Rules) | Yes | Not Applicable (no electrical components) | Yes |
120 Minute Installation Test | Yes | No | No |
90 Minute Battery Discharge Test | Yes | No | No |
Inspection & Maintenance Requirements | AS/NZS 2293.2 | Product Technical Statement / Manufacturer’s Instructions (In SA, Minister’s Specification SA 76 and in NT, Fire and Rescue Service Advisory Note) | Product Technical Statement / Manufacturer’s Instructions (In SA, Minister’s Specification SA 76 and in NT, Fire and Rescue Service Advisory Note |
Where to buy |
Find out more about Compliance or read more about 120 and 90 minute testing requirements below.
Photoluminescent Exit Signs and Hybrid Photoluminescent Exit Signs – No 120min & 90min Battery Discharge Testing Requirements
Photoluminescent Exit Signs and Hybrid Photoluminescent Exit Signs do not require the mandatory 120-minute initial test followed by the 6-monthly 90-minute battery discharge test, because they do not have a battery to test.
Instead, a simple visual check is required. The Product Technical Statement, in the ESM for the building, should be referred to for product specific requirements (per NCC A5G3 and NCC Handbook: Evidence of Suitability). In South Australia, Minister’s Specification SA 75 Section 3.3 Signs, and in the Northern Territory, the NT Fire and Rescue Service Advisory Note Maintenance of building fire safety measures, details the maintenance and testing requirements for photoluminescent exit signs.
Pro’s | Con’s | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
No 120 minute Battery Discharge Test Photoluminescent & Hybrid Photoluminescent Exit Signs do not have a battery and do not require the initial 120 minute battery discharge test when a Powered, Electric Battery Exit Sign is installed. | With no battery, the initial 120 minute discharge test is not required. | None. | |
No 90 minute Battery Discharge Test Photoluminescent & Hybrid Photoluminescent Exit Signs do not have a battery and do not require a 90 minute battery discharge test, every 6 months. | With no battery, the 90min discharge test is not required. Only one walkthrough by a competent person is required to visibly check each sign is undamaged, unobstructed, etc. | None. | Inspect & maintain in accordance with Product Technical Statement / Manufacturer’s Instructions. |
Exit Signs – 120 minute Battery Discharge Testing Requirements
Powered, Electric-Battery Exit Signs require a 120-minute test when they are installed, in accordance with AS/NZS 2293.1 Clause 2.2.1. This test is to ensure that the new Powered, Electric-Battery Exit Sign has at least 33% more battery life than the minimum requirement, to allow for its deterioration over time.
Every time a new Powered, Electric-Battery Exit Sign is installed to replace a failed Powered, Electric-Battery Exit Sign, this test must be conducted.
It may then take up to 16 hours for the battery to recharge, for full compliance to be achieved. For this reason, installations should be timed so that the signs recharge when the building is not in use because the Powered Electric-Battery Exit Sign will not be compliant with the NCC and AS/NZS 2293.
Exit Signs – 90 minute Battery Discharge Testing Requirements
Powered, Electric-Battery Exit Signs require a 6-monthly 90-minute battery discharge test in accordance with AS/NZS 2293.1 Clause 2.2.2 and AS/NZS 2293.2 Section 2.
The Standard has many detailed requirements for this test and must be referred to and followed, and appropriate records kept. The different types of Powered, Electric-Battery Exit Signs have different requirements for how this test is conducted. It may then take up to 16 hours for the battery to recharge. For this reason, installations should be timed so that the signs recharge when the building is not in use because the Powered Electric-Battery Exit Sign will not be compliant with the NCC and AS/NZS 2293 while it is recharging.
Pro’s | Con’s | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
Manual Duration Testing Testing contractor walks through site, checks each fitting has power. They then cut the power at the switchboard and after 90mins inspect each fitting to ensure it is illuminated. Applicable Standard is AS/NZS2293.2. | Check shows whether sign is working or not, and requires someone to visit every sign to check its condition as well as to conduct the 90min battery test. | Labour intensive, with multiple building walkthroughs and the cost of replacing failed signs. | Typical industry practice is to replace complete electric-battery signs, not to replace the batteries in case the failure was not battery-related. There is no standardisation of batteries in the industry – each Exit Sign can require a specific battery. |
Self Testing These fittings self-test every 6mo and a status light will display a pass/fail. A testing contractor walks through the site to record failures. Applicable Standard is AS/NZS2293.2. | Check shows whether sign is working or not, and requires someone to visit every sign to check the status light, and to check the sign is undamaged, unobstructed, etc. | More expensive and complex than Manual Duration Testing fittings, but less walk-throughs. | Typical industry practice is to replace complete signs, not to replace the batteries in case the failure was not battery-related. There is no standardisation of batteries in the industry – each Exit Sign can require a unique battery. |
Computer Monitored Testing Central monitoring system manages the testing of connected Exit Signs. The system conducts the test and reports failures. Applicable Standard is AS/NZS2293.2. | Expensive fittings, software, dedicated computer and networking, and annual licensing fees. Walkthrough still required to ensure signs are undamaged and obstructed, etc. | Physical inspections still required by AS2293.2. 6mo and 12mo checks on the computer and networking system required before each 6mo Exit Sign test (see AS2292.2 Appendix F). Specialist IT support may be required to install & support system. Locked into supplier for all replacements, for compatibility with installed Monitoring System. | Monitored Systems are high cost to install and maintain, have more expensive fittings with no or limited choice on those fittings. Computer used must be dedicated, be backed up, have surge protection and it and its network connecting to the signs be tested every 6mo before the Exit Sign tests are conducted (see AS2292.2 Appendix F). |
Battery Recharge – Building Not Compliant!
Most facility managers and building owners don’t realise that their occupants are not protected by functional AS/NZS 2293 Exit Signs following the 120-minute Installation Discharge Test OR the 6-monthly 90-minute Discharge Test. This is because compliant AS2293 Exit Signs that use Electric Batteries can take up to 16 hours for their batteries to recharge.
The relevant clauses of AS/NZS 2293 are AS/NZS 2293.1 Clause 6.4.3 for Centrally Supplied Systems and AS/NZS 2293.3 Clause 4.4.1 for Self-Contained Exit Signs (that have an embedded battery – the most common type).
Discharge tests should only be conducted when the building is unoccupied during and after the test, so that the batteries are fully-charged before the building is reoccupied.