| If you own a multi floor commercial or residential | | | | purchased in a variety of makes, including: |
| R1 building, the evacuation readiness of your | | | | reflective, non-reflective and photoluminescent, |
| building's vertical exit enclosures probably isn't at | | | | with photoluminescent signs being best choice for |
| the front of your mind. After all, statistics show | | | | low visibility evacuations. Whereas other makes of |
| that most large buildings will never experience a | | | | floor safety signs can easily get lost in smoke or |
| low visibility emergency evacuation. But when a | | | | darkness, brightly glowing photoluminescent signs |
| low visibility emergency evacuation occurs, not | | | | are easily visible through thick smoke. |
| having your exit enclosures outfitted with the | | | | Photoluminescent Egress Markings |
| proper safety implements can result in serious | | | | The International Building Code (IBC) and |
| injuries and fatalities, which can lead to lawsuits | | | | International Fire Code (IFC) require that buildings |
| for building owners. If it's been a few years since | | | | that contain occupancy above 75 feet from the |
| you assessed the safety of your building's exit | | | | lowest level of fire department vehicle access |
| enclosures, now is the time protect your building | | | | outfit the following elements of their exit |
| occupants and yourself against tragic evacuation | | | | enclosures with photoluminescent markings: steps, |
| scenarios. Below, we list four basic safety | | | | landing areas, handrails and handrail extensions, |
| implements that can take your building from being | | | | obstacles, door frames and door hardware. Unlike |
| a disaster waiting to happen to a building that's | | | | emergency back up lighting, photoluminescent |
| ready to handle a low visibility evacuation. | | | | egress markings won't malfunctions or get lost in |
| Photoluminescent Exit Signs | | | | smoke, allowing evacuees to clearly ascertain all |
| Most U.S. buildings still use incandescent exit signs, | | | | elements of a vertical exit enclosure during low |
| which contain breakable parts that could easily | | | | visibility. |
| malfunction if hit by falling debris, as might occur | | | | Photoluminescent Fire Extinguisher and Fire Hose |
| during and earthquake. The same is true of | | | | Signs |
| compressed fluorescent, LED and Tritium signs. | | | | Most buildings post signs that identify fire |
| Photoluminescent signs contain no breakable parts, | | | | extinguishers and fire hose and standpipe units. |
| and, as an added bonus, are electricity-free and | | | | But many of those signs don't glow or glow very |
| 100 percent recyclable. Energy efficiency research | | | | brightly during low visibility, making them practically |
| shows that companies who replace 100 | | | | useless when smoke fills an area. |
| incandescent signs with photoluminescent signs | | | | Photoluminescent fire extinguisher and fire hose |
| can save over $3,500 a year in energy costs | | | | signs allow building occupants to easily locate fire |
| alone. | | | | extinguisher and fire hose and standpipe units |
| Photoluminescent Emergency Exit Only Signs | | | | under smoky conditions, allowing them to use a |
| Emergency exit only signs-also known as floor | | | | fire extinguisher to extinguishes flames that block |
| safety signs-come in a variety of styles. But in | | | | a section of egress path and/or use a fire hose |
| each case, they alert panicked evacuees to | | | | to keep a fire contained during the evacuation. |
| emergency exits. Floor safety signs can be | | | | |