Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs: What Quebec Requires
When the power drops, your emergency lighting units and exit signs have one job: keep the path of egress visible. In the field, emergency lighting is also the equipment we most often find failing at inspection, almost always because of the batteries.
What Quebec regulation requires
In Quebec, emergency lighting and exit signs in commercial and multi-unit buildings are governed by the Code de sécurité du Québec, Chapter VIII – Building, which incorporates the National Fire Code of Canada (CNPI) 2020 amended for maintenance and operation. New construction instead follows the Code de construction (Chapter I – Building), which incorporates the National Building Code (CNB/NBC). All of it is administered by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ).
Put plainly: the NBC says how the system must be designed and installed, and the National Fire Code says how you must maintain and test it afterward. Both apply to you as owner or manager.
- The NBC governs the design and installation of new systems.
- The National Fire Code 2020 amended governs maintenance, testing and records.
- The RBQ administers the Building chapter of the Code de sécurité du Québec.
Duration, illumination level and coverage
On a failure of normal power, the emergency lighting system must remain operative for at least 30 minutes under the NBC as adopted in Quebec. Certain higher-risk occupancies or high buildings can require 1 hour or 2 hours; the applicable duration should be confirmed against your building's classification.
The NBC requires an average illumination of at least 10 lux (about 1 foot-candle) at floor or tread level, with a minimum value at any point. The system must also be designed so that the failure of any single unit will not reduce floor-level illumination by more than 50%.
- Minimum duration: 30 minutes (longer for certain occupancies or high buildings).
- Average illumination of at least 10 lux at floor level.
- Required coverage: exits, exit stairs, means of egress and public corridors.
- Applies to multi-unit residential buildings, condos, hotels, and commercial and assembly occupancies.
The tests: monthly and annual
The monthly test is a quick function test (roughly 30 seconds to 1 minute): you confirm that all heads light up on battery, that they are aimed correctly at the path of egress, and that the charging pilot light is on. The annual test is a different animal: it is a full-duration discharge, where the unit runs on battery under simulated power failure for the full duration for which it was designed (the full 30 minutes, or 1 hr / 2 hr as applicable).
It is the annual test that exposes weak batteries: a tired battery can easily pass a 30-second test but die well before the 30 minutes are up. After power is restored, batteries must recharge within 24 hours.
- Monthly: quick function test (heads lit, aimed correctly, charge pilot on).
- Annual: full-duration discharge over the design duration (the full 30 minutes).
- Exit signs: monthly visual check, annual illumination verification.
- Batteries must recharge within 24 hours after an outage.
Exit signs and equipment
Illuminated 'running man' pictogram exit signs must be lit, visible, identifiable and unobstructed, and must stay illuminated for the same duration as the emergency power supply. A sign hidden by a decoration, stored goods or another notice is a deficiency, as is a sign that is unlit or shows the wrong pictogram.
On the equipment side, self-contained battery units must conform to CSA C22.2 No. 141 (Emergency lighting equipment). Exit signs must meet the applicable CSA/ULC standards for their type (for example CAN/ULC-S572 for photoluminescent or self-luminous signs).
- Signs lit, visible, identifiable, unobstructed, with the correct pictogram.
- Self-contained units conforming to CSA C22.2 No. 141.
- Signs conforming to the CSA/ULC standards applicable to their type.
Common deficiencies and who is responsible
In the field, failures always trace back to the same three causes: dead or weak batteries that fail the full-duration test, burned-out or misaimed heads, and exit signs that are missing, unlit or blocked. Unit-equipment batteries (sealed lead-acid) often last only 3 to 5 years, so it is better to replace them proactively than to wait for a failed annual test.
Legal responsibility rests with the building owner. In a multi-unit building or condominium, this duty falls on the manager or the syndicate of co-owners. A defect found at inspection results in a deficiency notice with a correction deadline, and non-compliance can bring fines and increased liability.
- Dead or weak batteries that fail the 30-minute discharge.
- Burned-out or misaimed heads relative to the path of egress.
- Missing, unlit or obstructed exit signs.
- Responsible party: the owner, or the manager / syndicate in a condominium.
Keeping records and staying compliant
Every monthly and annual test must be logged in writing (date, location, result, corrective action), and the log must be kept on site, ready to show the fire department or municipal inspector. Simple monthly checks can be done in-house with a log, while the annual full-duration test and its documentation are commonly handled by a qualified contractor.
An evaluation by a certified technician will help you confirm the duration applicable to your building and the real condition of your batteries. To centralize your monthly logs, annual reports and deficiencies in one place, our Canuck360 portal gives you a clear view of your compliance, and our team can be reached at 418-905-3396.
- Log every monthly and annual test in writing.
- Keep the log on site for the fire department or inspector.
- Monthly checks can be in-house; the annual discharge by a qualified contractor.
- Correct any deficiency found without delay.
Your reports and attestations stay with you in the Canuck360 portal. Discover Canuck360 Frequently asked questions
How long must emergency lighting stay on during a power failure in Quebec?
At least 30 minutes under the National Building Code as adopted in Quebec. Certain higher-risk occupancies or high buildings can require 1 hour or 2 hours. The exact duration should be confirmed against your building's classification, ideally by a certified technician.
What is the difference between the monthly test and the annual test?
The monthly test is a quick function test (about 30 seconds to 1 minute) that confirms the heads light up, are aimed correctly, and the charge pilot is working. The annual test is a full-duration discharge over the whole design duration, meaning the full 30 minutes. The annual test is the one that reveals weak batteries, since a tired battery can pass a 30-second test but die before the 30 minutes are up.
Does Quebec follow the US NFPA 101 90-minute rule?
No. NFPA 101 (the Life Safety Code) prescribes a 30-second monthly test and a 90-minute annual test, but those are US requirements that do not apply in Quebec. Quebec follows the NBC 30-minute minimum duration and the National Fire Code maintenance regime. Confusing the two leads to mis-calibrated tests.
Who is legally responsible for emergency lighting in a rented building or a condo?
The building owner is responsible for installation, maintenance, testing and record-keeping. In a multi-unit building or condominium, this duty falls on the manager or the syndicate of co-owners. A defect found at inspection brings a deficiency notice with a correction deadline, and non-compliance can lead to fines.
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