Thorlux is warning that more than 2,000 premises a year are breaching fire regulations following an analysis of data from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). The lighting firm revealed the figure as it unveiled a new generation of its industry leading Firefly emergency lighting product, designed to ensure facilities managers are never left in the dark when it comes to their compliance with stringent regulations and budgetary pressures.
The data from the NFCC shows that 2,066 enforcement and prohibition notices were issued by fire authorities between June 2024 and the end of May 2025, including 10 against hospitals, six against schools and 140 against care homes.
Having appropriate emergency lighting in place is a crucial part of compliance with fire regulations. While the data published by the NFCC does not only relate to breaches concerning emergency lighting, it nonetheless offers an indication of the level of non-compliance.
With emergency lighting offering critical protection for occupants during power failures, whether resulting from fire or other causes, facilities managers must ensure their systems comply with building regulations and are tested regularly so they are ready when needed.
The next generation Firefly from Thorlux offers an enhanced ten-year warranty, improved environmental performance and a choice of precisely engineered optics that deliver regulatory compliance using fewer units than ever before. The new units, which integrate with Thorlux’s SmartScan lighting control system, feature self-testing capabilities offering facilities managers real-time access to a dashboard showing the status of their emergency lighting and logging automated tests to create the required compliance paper trail.
Together, the need for fewer units and significantly reduced maintenance requirements are set to offer substantial cost savings to facilities managers. The upgrades that come with the new generation of Firefly mean that, in some cases, half as many units are needed, with battery life doubled and manual maintenance schedules slashed.
Liam Greene, Product Manager for Emergency Lighting at Thorlux Lighting, said: “Emergency lighting is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Despite the critical importance of compliance, many employers, occupiers, or property owners remain unaware of their responsibilities or the fact that they may already be non-compliant. Breaches of these regulations can result in significant consequences, including personal liability for the designated responsible person, site closures, and restricted access due to safety concerns.
“A common challenge is the lack of clarity around who holds responsibility, which can lead to serious safety risks for occupants and legal exposure and fines with no maximum amount for organisations.
“In response to these challenges, the Thorlux team set out to create a solution that simplifies ongoing compliance – making it more effective, reliable, and cost-efficient. The result is Firefly, the next generation of discreet emergency lighting. With increased luminaire spacing, reduced battery maintenance, enhanced sustainability, and a fully integrated wireless reporting and control system, Firefly ensures that you’re never left in the dark -and more importantly, never non-compliant.”
To find out more about Firefly, visit: https://www.thorlux.co.uk/products/firefly/features
