Passing the New BS 5266 Emergency Lighting Qualification – Raising the Bar for Fire Safety Engineers
Passing the Brand-New BS 5266 Emergency Lighting Exam – Here’s Why It Matters
As the owner and lead engineer at ACE Fire Services Ltd, I’m proud to share that I’ve recently passed the new BS 5266 Emergency Lighting qualification, created by Dr Tom Brookes of ZZEUS Training in partnership with the awarding body EAL.
This is a major step forward for our industry — not just another piece of paper, but a qualification designed to raise competence and accountability in emergency-lighting design, installation, and maintenance.
Why This New Qualification Is a Game-Changer
Built for real-world engineers: Created by Dr Tom Brookes — one of the UK’s most respected voices in fire-safety training — and expertly delivered by Buddy Squires, ZZEUS Training’s lead instructor.
Officially recognised by EAL: Providing a clear, nationally recognised qualification pathway for both fire alarm engineers and electricians.
Aligned with BS 5266: Covering the latest requirements for emergency-lighting systems in non-domestic premises, including testing intervals, system design, and logbook documentation.
“All at ZZEUS Training are really proud to have helped create the new EAL Level 3 exam in Emergency Lighting design and maintenance and now can announce the first 9 candidates passed. - Congratulations to you all being the first nine people in the UK to gain this qualification.”
— Dr Tom Brookes, ZZEUS Training (LinkedIn, 28th Oct 2025)How It Enhances ACE Fire Services’ Capabilities
At ACE Fire Services, we’ve built our reputation on providing high-quality, compliant fire-safety systems for commercial buildings and multi-site organisations.
By completing this BS 5266 qualification, we can now:
✅ Deliver fully compliant emergency-lighting schemes aligned with the very latest standards.
✅ Offer combined fire-alarm and emergency-lighting servicing, simplifying compliance for clients.
✅ Support multi-site companies with consistent, standardised safety documentation.
✅ Give customers added peace of mind — knowing their systems are handled by a qualified, accredited engineer.
What This Means for Businesses
If you manage a commercial building or multiple branches, the new qualification directly benefits you:
Improved safety: Emergency lighting is critical during power cuts and fire incidents — better design means safer evacuations.
Assured compliance: Insurers, auditors, and fire officers increasingly expect BS 5266 compliance.
Streamlined servicing: One trusted provider for alarms, extinguishers, and emergency lighting.
Cost efficiency: Regular testing and maintenance prevent premature equipment failure and costly downtime.
My Experience on the Course
Taking part in the first BS 5266 course delivered by ZZEUS Training was a fantastic experience.
The course combined theory with practical exercises, exploring how to:
Identify lighting levels for escape routes and open areas.
Apply design principles to new and existing installations.
Test and maintain systems effectively using correct logbook procedures.
Interpret and implement updates in the latest edition of the BS 5266 standard.
Buddy Squires’ delivery made complex requirements easy to apply on real jobs — a credit to ZZEUS Training’s hands-on approach.
What’s Next for ACE Fire Services
We’re now expanding our services to include:
Full emergency-lighting audits for existing clients.
Group-site standardisation programs for regional businesses with multiple branches.
BS 5266 compliance reports integrated into our routine servicing visits.
Ongoing CPD and qualification upgrades for all our engineers.
If your business wants to ensure BS 5266 compliance or combine emergency-lighting and fire-alarm servicing, get in touch today.
Let’s make your premises safer, compliant, and future-ready.