| The International Building Code (IBC) was designed | | | | photoluminescent material is that it has a longer |
| by the International Code Council (ICC) to regulate | | | | lifespan (average 25 years). |
| the construction and interior safety of new | | | | As a sister code to the 2009 IBC and IFC, the |
| buildings. Updated by the ICC every three years, | | | | National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) 2009 |
| the 2009 version of the IBC contains additional | | | | Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) also includes new |
| information on the placement of egress system | | | | criteria for the placement of luminous egress |
| components in the vertical exit enclosures and | | | | markings on steps, handrails and doors. The |
| exit passageways of new buildings that have | | | | inspectors, zoning boards and fire marshals that |
| occupied space located above 75 feet from the | | | | enforce NFPA egress regulations also police the |
| lowest level of fire department vehicle access. | | | | placement and effectiveness of fire exit signs. |
| Regulating the placement of egress system | | | | While most commercial buildings in the U.S. |
| components in existing buildings that meet the | | | | continue to use incandescent exit signs, a safer |
| same criteria is the ICC created International Fire | | | | alternative is to implement photoluminescent exit |
| Code (IFC). Currently, all 50 states have adopted | | | | signs. Unlike other luminescent exit signs, |
| a version of the IBC and at least 42 states have | | | | photoluminescent signs are electricity and |
| adopted a version of the IFC. | | | | maintenance-free and contain no breakable parts, |
| In new and existing institutional, business, | | | | making them impervious to falling debris, as well |
| hospitality, educational, public assembly and R1 | | | | as significantly less expensive to operate. In |
| residential buildings, IBC and IFC building regulations | | | | addition to offering a higher level of safety, |
| require that egress markings be applied to the | | | | research shows that replacing 100 incandescent |
| following elements in vertical exit enclosures and | | | | signs with photoluminescent signs can save |
| exit passageways: steps, handrails, landings, floor | | | | companies over $3,500 a year in energy costs |
| areas, doors and obstacles. There egress | | | | alone. |
| markings are governed by two criteria: they have | | | | Regardless of your preference in egress markings |
| to be luminous and they cannot receive their | | | | and exit signs, the important thing is to implement |
| luminosity from an electrical source, leaving building | | | | them in accordance with IBC, IFC, and NFPA |
| owners with two options: they can apply glow in | | | | regulations, even if your company occupies a |
| the dark paint or they can apply photoluminescent | | | | building in a state hasn't adopted a version of the |
| material. Photoluminescent material brings | | | | IFC. In addition to preventing building occupant |
| numerous advantages over glow in the dark paint. | | | | casualties in the event of a fire that leads to |
| For one, adhesive photoluminescent stripes are | | | | evacuation, you'll also prevent your company or |
| easier and less messy to apply than luminous | | | | organization from experiencing the bad press that |
| paint. For another, photoluminescent material is | | | | occurs in the wake of preventable tragedies. |
| less prone to wear. A third advantage of | | | | |