CHARLOTTE, N.C.—EverGlow, a leading manufacturer of photoluminescent signs and markings, announced that its exit signs and exit path markings are now code compliant throughout the United States. Most local building and fire codes currently allow the replacement of electrical exit signs with photoluminescent exit signs. And increasingly, local and model codes require the use of exit signs above the door and at floor level—excellent applications for the use of both electrical exit signs (above the door) and photoluminescent exit signs (at floor level).
Photoluminescent (non-electrical) emergency lighting, in the form of code compliant exit signs and exit path markings, represent an ever more attractive and accepted alternative to electrical emergency lighting. Photoluminescent exit signs contain zero radioactive or toxic components; EverGlow aluminum exit signs and frames contain zero vinyl components.
The International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code (IFC), model building and fire codes from which local codes are developed throughout the United States, and the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101), as of January 2009, require approved luminous, floor level exit path markings in the exits of many high rise buildings (including hotels). As this code language is adopted by local jurisdictions around the United States, photoluminescent exit path markings will be the technology of choice for most building owners.
Cost Savings is One Advantage
Lower cost of installation and operation will likely be significant motivation to install photoluminescent signs and markings. Building owners need only to maintain normal lighting in their exits at code required levels of illumination and periodically clean soil and dust from stair nosings and handrail markings.
Code officials recognize there are three lighting situations under which an emergency evacuation could occur:
• Normal lighting—the most often occurring evacuation;
• Emergency lighting only—when normal electrical lighting has failed and only lighting supplied by battery or generator power is available;
• Complete darkness—when all electrical lighting including normal and emergency lighting has failed; (non-electrical) photoluminescent emergency lighting is the only evacuation aid available.
Performance standards for approved (listed, electrical and non-electrical) emergency lighting, as prescribed by the various code and safety organizations are:
• UL924—Emergency power and lighting equipment (exit signs and emergency lights).
• UL1994—Luminous egress path marking systems (stair nosings, handrail markers, etc.). Provision has also been made to use ASTM E2072 or E2073 for luminance of photoluminescent path markings.
The savings provided by LED exit signs compared to older electrical exit signs using incandescent and fluorescent lamps has been reported often in the last few years. However, too little attention has been paid to photoluminescent exit sign technology. All building owners should consider revisiting the use of photoluminescent technology and consider the increasing use of this lighting technology as non-electrical emergency lighting—code compliant exit signs and exit path markings.
LED exit signs are a major improvement over signs employing older lighting technology. However, as more LED lighting is installed in the built environment, it seems likely that disposal of arsenic-containing LEDs and lead-containing printed circuit boards will become the next disposal concern (or recycling opportunity, depending on which side of the supply chain you sit).
As good as LED exit signs are, they still require a minimum of three to five watts of electrical energy to operate, must be continually and properly maintained, and contain toxic or heavy metal components in the LEDs, printed circuit boards and batteries.
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