Ontec S 1.2W Non-Maintained Auto-Test Escape Route Emergency Light 1h IP65 - White

The Ontec S is a non-maintained LED emergency light for escape routes, made from plastic and rated IP65. Non-maintained means it stays off while the mains supply is healthy and lights only when that supply fails, running from its own lithium iron phosphate battery for one hour. That is the first choice to make: if you want everyday light from the same fitting as well, you need a maintained model. The Ontec S also carries an automatic self-test, so it runs its own checks rather than relying on someone to simulate a power failure and watch each light come on.

Escape route lighting is the part of emergency lighting that shows people the way out along corridors, down stairs and through exit doors when the normal lighting fails, and it is the job this fitting is listed for. It is for indoor use only and fixes to a wall or a ceiling, so you can position it to suit each part of the route. IP65 is the rating for a fitting that is dust-tight and protected against jets of water, which makes this one a sound choice for damp or dusty interiors such as plant rooms, storerooms and workshops. It suits anyone responsible for a building's emergency lighting, from a facilities manager to the electrician who plans the layout.

The housing is a shallow rectangle with a clear front framed by a grey border; inside, white sloping sides lead in towards an LED at the centre of a slim strip. Its output is 282 lumens at 5000K, a crisp, cool white. Plastic does not rust, which is worth having in a damp room. One hour is the figure to check before you order, because the duration a building needs depends on its fire risk assessment. We have linked the Ontec range datasheet below for your installer.

Range Datasheet

Will this light stay on all the time?

No. Because it is non-maintained, it stays dark during normal use and comes on only when its mains supply fails, then runs from its battery. For a fitting that also lights the space every day, you would want a maintained model.

How long will it stay lit in a power cut?

It is rated for one hour on battery once its supply fails. Whether one hour is enough depends on your building and its fire risk assessment, so check with whoever carried that out, or with your installer, before you order.

Does IP65 mean I can fit it anywhere?

No. It is listed for indoor use only. The IP65 rating means it is dust-tight and protected against jets of water, which is why it suits damp or dusty spaces inside a building, such as a plant room or a workshop.

Do I still need to test it by hand?

Far less often. It has an automatic self-test, so it runs its own checks instead of waiting for someone to simulate a power failure, though you should still keep your building's emergency lighting records up to date.

Can it go on the ceiling as well as the wall?

Yes. It is listed for both wall and ceiling mounting, so you can choose the position that suits each point on the route, such as a corridor ceiling or the wall beside an exit door.

Will it work on UK mains?

Yes. It runs from a 220-240V AC supply at 50Hz, which covers standard UK mains, and keeps a lithium iron phosphate battery rated 3.2V and 1.5Ah charged for when that supply fails. Have it wired in by a qualified electrician.