BS 5266-1:2025 Responsibility for Emergency Lighting

The 2016 version of the standard standard identifies in more detail of responsible persons and their roles.
Although the text of the 2025 standard doesn’t have a specific clause titled “Responsible person”, it defines who should use and comply with the guidance. It is a person with the relevant current training and experience, and with access to the requisite tools, equipment and information, and capable of carrying out a defined task. 

Responsible Person’s role is embedded across several clauses:

Design → Commissioning → Handover → Ongoing management

Design Stage

Clause 4- Within this clause, responsibility arises through requirements for:

• suitability of the design for the premises and occupants
• agreement of design assumptions
• documentation of design intent
• recording of any variations from the recommendations

The Responsible Person must:

• accept the design
• understand its limitations
• and retain the design documentation in the logbook 

Commissioning

Clause 7- Within this clause, responsibility arises through requirements for:

• inspection and testing before handover
• verification that the system meets the design intent
• provision of commissioning records and certificates
• confirmation that the system is fit for service

The Responsible Person must:

• receive the commissioning certificate
• ensure defects are rectified
• and retain evidence of compliance

Ongoing Management

For emergency lighting, ongoing management includes ensuring:

• regular monthly functional tests are carried out
• annual full-duration tests are completed
• faults are recorded and rectified
• the logbook is maintained
• the system remains suitable if the building use changes
• re-verification is carried out when required (e.g. alterations, age-related degradation)

All of this responsibility rests with the Responsible Person, even if tasks are delegated.