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General Questions
Photoluminescent Related Questions
Electroluminescent Related Questions

General Questions

  • What is egress marking?
    Egress marking consists of products such as signage and lighting that provide a marked pathway, or route, to the building exit providing the buildings occupants a clear guided path to the exit during an emergency building evacuation. Egress marking systems must take into account things such as low light levels or complete blackouts, power failure, power backup systems, smoke and fire, and the anxiety of personnel in emergency situations.

    Many valuable lessons were learned in the aftermath of tragic events such as the Rhode Island night club fire, the Pentagon and World Trade Center. Once such lesson is the fact that emergency exit signs traditionally placed above door ways either did not work or could not be seen through the smoke and flames by people crawling to safety. So ASSA ABLOY Group companies now offer floor proximity exit signs to easily identify exit doors, even in smoke filled hallways. People often found doors, only to learn they didn't lead to an exit.
  • What kind of light sources are effective for egress marking?
    A luminous source of light is the best type of light to use because there are no ‘hot spots” or disorientating points of light as is found with most traditional light sources such as incandescent bulbs, LED’s and halogen lights. Luminous light sources are measured by the light given off of the whole surface of the light, which is expressed in units called Foot Lamberts or Millicandelas. 1 Foot Lambert (FL) equals 3426 mcd/m2. In heavy smoke conditions, bright point sources of light can create halo’s and light up the surrounding smoke which can further obscure the exit path markings.

Photoluminescent Related Questions

  • I remember glow-in-the-dark products from my childhood. Are these products essentially the same?
    Not really, photoluminescent products today are developed from strontium aluminate compounds utilizing cutting edge technology which has enabled the development and manufacture of high performance photoluminescent products. Photoluminescent products are a minimum of 30 to 70 times brighter than former glow-in-the-dark products, remain visible for hours to days instead of minutes, and last a lifetime.
  • Is photoluminescent technology new?
    Photoluminescence was studied by the British physicist Sir George Stokes in 1852, who found that the emitted light depended on the chemical composition of the material rather than the spectral range of the excitation source. A few years later in 1859, the French researcher described the first of many photoluminescent materials that absorb ultraviolet radiation and emit visible light. The excited electrons in photoluminescent materials remain in a "metastable" energy state for minutes to weeks. The materials emit light continuously when they are excited by ultraviolet or visible light. When the excitation source is extinguished, the materials continue to emit light, called afterglow that we perceive as "glow-in-the-dark." Today, photoluminescent materials are used as safety and instrument markings in airplanes, rail, ships, power plants, and by NASA in the space shuttle and the International Space Station.
  • Are photoluminescent products affordable?
    • Photoluminescent egress marking, hardware location identification, and exit signage are just a few of the products that are offered. Installation costs are minimal as they require no power and no connections. They are non-toxic, environmentally friendly and are completely reliable 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A photoluminescent system requires no maintenance other than an occasional surface cleaning, usually with a damp cloth. Functional checks are not required. Visual inspections are sufficient.
  • Why use Photoluminescent products?
    • Many valuable lessons were learned in the aftermath of tragic events such as the Rhode Island night club fire, the Pentagon and World Trade Center. Once such lesson is the fact that emergency exits signs traditionally placed above door ways could not be seen through the smoke and flames by people crawling to safety. So ASSA ABLOY Group companies now offer floor proximity exit signs to easily identify exit doors, even in smoke filled hallways. People often found doors, only to learn they didn't lead to an exit. So along with floor proximity exit signs, we offer perimeter photoluminescent marking around door frames and on door hardware, to easily identify the door opening. Also, that people crawling in pitch blackness have no sense of direction and are easily confused. As an added benefit, photoluminescent systems function for many more hours than electric systems, even electric systems with battery backup, providing egress illumination for rescue workers.
  • Do Photoluminescent products meet building codes?
    • Many building codes are changing as states and municipalities strive to include the human element in fire and life-safety codes. New York City recently passed Local Law #26 which requires all city buildings 75 feet in height and taller to install photoluminescent signs on doors leading to exits and path markings in exit stairwells. The mandatory requirement must be installed by July 1, 2006. Their requirement states that photoluminescent products, subjected to a mere 2 foot candles from an external light source (50 foot candles is considered normal room lighting) must perform to an established standard when measured at 60 minute and 90 minute intervals. We are happy to report that our qualifying products exceeded that standard, in both cases, by as much as 75%.

    Our exit signage, manufactured from high-grade polymer fire-resistant resin, has been tested and approved for use under the UL 924 visibility test. To do so, the sign was charged with a minimum 5 foot candle external fluorescent light source. The sign is then moved into a dark room and allowed to discharge for 90 minutes. At the end of a 90 minute period, three different individuals, with unencumbered sight, must be able to read the sign from a distance of 75 feet.

    The exit sign has also been tested to UL 10B and UL 10C standards and approved for use as a floor proximity exit sign on fire doors. The sign must be mounted with our special adhesive, supplied with the sign.

    The sign also qualifies under NFPA 101 as a primary over-the-door Exit sign.

Electroluminescent Related Questions

  • What is EL?
    EL, or Electroluminescence is an electrical stimulation of a phosphor crystal to excite the phosphor so that it will generate light.
  • Can the EL lamp used in the LiteGuide system come in any other color?
    The lamp color is a blue/green. This color was selected specifically due to the eye’s ability to adjust to this color light when going from a lighted atmosphere to a dark atmosphere, thus providing maximum benefit possible.
  • How much light do the EL lamps in the LiteGuide system generate?
    Electroluminescent light output can be adjusted based on the power it is given with typical usage values of 20 Foot Lamberts or 68,000 millicandelas. Extensive testing in smoke filled environments has shown that a light output of 1Foot-Lambert or 3500 mcd/m2 is visible from over 20 feet in 100% smoke obscuration. The LiteGuide system using EL is designed to have a minimum output of 5 FL or 17,000 mcd/m2.
  • How durable is the lamp used in the ASSA ABLOY Group companies’ door and hardware applications?
    The laminate on the lamp protects the lamp from most normal wear and tear. The Lamp can be twisted, flexed, coiled and folded. If it is pierced, it will continue to illuminate.
  • How long does the EL lamp last in ASSA ABLOY Group companies’ door and hardware applications?
    Unlike conventional lamps, EL will not burnout. There is no filament to break or gas to escape. EL, like LEDs, does loose some of there brightness over time. The life of the lamp is related to how bright (how much voltage and frequency) the Lamp is operated at, as well as its duty cycle and the acceptable light output for the application. We call this the USEFULL LIFE. In Emergency Egress Lighting applications, the Lamp is operated at a high brightness level but for a very short duty cycle when connected to the fire alarm system. In this application, the Lamp has an indefinite Useful Life. The lamp does not “burnout”, only that it may become dim enough to require replacement.
 
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CODE CORNER

Read about the new IBC requirement for luminous markings in vertical exit enclosures and exit passageways in buildings greater than 75 feet in height.

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