This question is prompted by Owain's comment on 244975.

Now, I want to learn more.

It hadn't even occured to me that ELU's would be something that UK
homeowners would particularly think about let alone actively seek. 
However, given Owain's comments re: smoke detectors having emergency
lighting, I suppose it is a concept that is now becoming more familiar
to the average homeowner.

A quick search found this site:

http://www.icel.co.uk/index.htm

ICEL (Industry Committee for Emergency Lighting) apparently "is the
leading UK authority on Emergency Lighting" (didn't know we had one!)
although I suspect that they are more geared to service business
customers/retailers/suppliers of ELU generally rather than private
consumers.

I have to admit, whenever I think of ELU's, I usually picture some
subterranean dungeon-like room packed with obscenely expensive
computer equipment and the ubiquitous water sprinkler system that
always kicks in at the same time as the ELU's.  I have no doubt that
this representation is coloured by my television and movie diet.....

:) jem-ga

The type of emergency lighting I was thinking of - and have in the
kitchen - is here:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/index.html
click on Fire/Smoke Equipment then Emergency Lighting

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/EmergencyLighting/Index.htm
has an information guide, a risk assessment, and a link to ICEL's
resource page.

A particularly unobtrusive product is the Homesafe at
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Fire_and_Smoke/Housesafe/index.html

Emergency lighting is not normally required within single domestic
dwellings:

"In seeking to escape from a building the occupants will find it
easier if the escape routes are illuminated. Specifically dedicated
escape lighting is not necessary within dwellings as it is assumed the
occupants will have a degree of familiarity with layout, and escape
routes only begin at the door to the dwelling. " - Building (Scotland)
Act Consultation on Building Regulations
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/development/ddsub/dbsr05d-28.asp

and

"British Standard BS 5266: Part 1: 1990 Code of Practice for
Residential Buildings

(a) Adequate artificial lighting should be provided in all common
escape routes and should be of a sufficient standard to enable persons
to see to escape.

(b) In addition to the system of artificial lighting, escape lighting
should be provided within:
(1) windowless accommodation normally accessible to the occupants, 
(2) windowless common stairs,
(3) internal common corridors exceeding 30m in length,
(4) common stairs in buildings higher than 18m,
(5) all common escape routes in sheltered housing,
(6) common escape routes across a flat roof. "
contained in District Surveyor's Guidelines at
http://www.wycombe.gov.uk/building/pdfs/dsa.pdf

Perhaps after recent events in the USA and Canada we are more aware
that electrical power can fail suddenly. My main reason for having the
ELU is to avoid accidents that might occur in the kitchen if the
lights fail suddenly.

My comment about whole-house RCDs taking out the lights and being a
greater risk than electrocution followed Peter Parry's comments in
news:uk.d-i-y archived at at
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=tvks4v4r265cjeof9jlit2v0e9k9d1h5p6%404ax.com

The key points he makes are (from a UK perspective):

"The total number of people killed in accidents in the home each year
is about 4,000, of this roughly half are due to falls and about 1,000
due to falls down stairs. ... [police and fire reports] a significant
minority, probably about 10-20 which mentioned that lights were out
and could not be turned back on from the light switch when the
emergency services arrived.

Quite a few rechargeable torches can be left on permanent charge and
set to turn on if the power fails, but with units like
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/EMWP3NM.html
being from GBP 20 (trade excl VAT) it seems a small price to pay for a
worthwhile gain in safety and convenience.

Owain

most illuminating Owain....sorry, I couldn't resist, what with the
last of the summer sun and a glass or two of wine ;)

seriously though, genuinely interesting and good to know what options
are available.

<<Quite a few rechargeable torches can be left on permanent charge and
set to turn on if the power fails>>

Yes, I have a few of these dotted around the house - they also double
as handy nightlights.

:) jem-ga

...have just placed order for emergency oblong light....wouldn't want
to be stumbling around in the dark with just a few nightlights as
back-up!

thanks again Owain for the links - I went to the site you listed at:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/index.html

and ordered from there.

:) jem-ga

Brilliant, Owain, Many thanks!

And, I see that the lovely Jem has descended from her pedestal to
partake your advice.

Here are five stars for you, in appreciation:

                     * * * * *

Kindest regards

Bryan

I guess this has reached the end of the road.

Again, many thanks, Owain, for your advice.

And, many thanks to Jem for making a Guest Appearance. 

I would love to see you both around on any of my future questions.