| If you own a commercial building or a residential | | | | accordance with the strict measurement |
| R1 building, chances are that your building will | | | | requirements established by the IBC and IFC. An |
| never experience an emergency evacuation. But if | | | | example of why photoluminescent markings are |
| it does, not equipping its stairwells and exit | | | | needed in addition to emergency back up lighting |
| passageways with the most reliable safety | | | | can be seen in the evacuation following the 1993 |
| components could result in casualties. While there | | | | terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center. |
| are numerous opinions pertaining to what | | | | When the bombs detonated, they destroyed the |
| constitutes the best safety components, | | | | emergency generators that powered the buildings' |
| responsible building owners refer to the safety | | | | emergency lighting system, leaving building |
| regulations set forth by the International Building | | | | occupants to navigate stairwells in darkness. |
| Council (IBC) and the International Fire Council | | | | Whereas emergency back up lighting can prove |
| (IFC), which are updated every three years by | | | | ineffective under smoky conditions, luminescent |
| the International Code Council (ICC). IBC | | | | egress systems brightly glow and remain visible |
| regulations govern safety measures in new | | | | through even the thickest smoke; and whereas |
| construction and have been adopted by all 50 | | | | emergency back up lighting can leave parts of |
| states, while IFC regulations govern safety | | | | stairwells shrouded in shadow, luminescent egress |
| measures in both new and existing buildings and | | | | systems allow evacuees to retain their bearings |
| have been adopted by at least 42 states. The | | | | at all times by illuminating the crucial parts and |
| IBC and IFC regulate the following components of | | | | aspects of a stairwell. In some cases, commercial |
| egress systems in buildings that contain | | | | and R1 building owners in the eight states that |
| occupancy at above 75 feet from the lowest | | | | haven't adopted a version of the IFC avoid |
| level of fire department vehicle access: handrails | | | | outfitting their emergency egress systems with |
| and handrail extensions, floor areas, stairs, | | | | photoluminescent markings in an attempt to save |
| landings, door areas and obstacles. | | | | money. But considering the nominal expense of |
| Traditionally, commercial and residential R1 buildings | | | | photoluminescent tape versus the dramatic |
| have stairwells and exit passageways that are | | | | safety improvement that it brings to emergency |
| equipped with emergency back up lighting. But the | | | | egress systems, not implementing |
| IBC and IFC mandate that applicable buildings | | | | photoluminescent markings looks like a lack of |
| must apply luminescent markings to the egress | | | | concern for building occupant safety. Most |
| components mentioned above. Although some | | | | commercial and R1 residential buildings will never |
| building owners choose to outline these | | | | experience a low visibility emergency evacuation. |
| components with luminescent paint, most choose | | | | But for those that do, the presence of |
| to apply photoluminescent egress markings in the | | | | photoluminescent markings can mean the |
| form of photoluminescent tape for three reasons: | | | | difference between a smooth evacuation and one |
| the markings have a longer lifespan, are less | | | | that leads to casualties. |
| messy to apply and are easier to apply in | | | | |