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In the five years since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, city and state governments across the country have been reviewing their building safety standards. The tragedy of September 11, 2001 showed clearly the need for fast, safe, reliable exit path markings in public buildings. After the attacks, the World Trade Center Commission was formed to evaluate disaster response and to make recommendations that would help increase safety in the event of any lights-out emergency.

New York City Local Law 26 (NYC LL26) was enacted as part of the city’s building codes, based on recommendations of the World Trade Center (WTC) Commission. NYC LL26 requires commercial properties that are 75 feet or taller to have emergency evacuation stair-wells retrofitted with photoluminescent markings and signage. The New York Fire Department estimates that the new law affects about 1,800 commercial properties. Other high-rise properties – residential, hospitality, mercantile, and others, including hospitals and schools – are installing photoluminescent egress markings on a voluntary basis.

While New York City is the first municipality to mandate photolumines-cent markings in stairwells, NYC LL26 is likely to become a model for other building codes currently in development nationwide. The code’s guidelines serve as an effective blue-print for municipalities, hospitals, universities, and others looking to develop an effective egress marking system.

The New Generation of Photoluminescent Technology
The reason the WTC Commission and others have embraced photoluminescent technology is threefold. First, it is a failsafe technology that works without electricity. There are no batteries to replace, no connections to test, no light bulbs to burn out or break. Photoluminescent materials absorb and store energy from normal ambient light, then release this energy in the form of a visible glow when the lights go out. Photoluminescent products automatically recharge once the lights are turned on. Current photoluminescent materials have a much longer and brighter glow compared to old materials, helping to speed evacuation during a lights-out emergency.

Secondly, photoluminescent materials are cost-effective, easy to install, and easy to maintain because they require no wiring or battery back- up. Industrial-grade photoluminescent tapes and signs are designed to withstand normal wear and tear, making them a reliable solution that is “always ready” in an emergency.

Finally, photoluminescent markings are a proven solution: According to an investigation into the evacuation process at the World Trade Center, conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, existing photoluminescent markings in the stairwells was one of the most commonly reported forms of aid in evacuating the buildings.

Part of improving safety is increasing the understanding of emergency conditions. In addition to the challenges presented by darkness and smoke, the pressure of a crisis situation makes it harder for people to think clearly. These factors make clear, bright, visually instructive egress path markings even more valuable to building occupants. It is imperative that facility managers and building owners understand this and make every reasonable effort to ensure that occupants can move through passage-ways and stairs as rapidly as possible.

To ensure the fastest possible evacuation from a multi-story building during any lights-out emergency, safety officers and building managers of many municipalities, universities, hospitals and other public buildings are following the New York City code model, with a particular emphasis on installing visually instructive egress markings in college dorms, hospitals, and multi-story buildings. Using NYC LL26 as a guide, facility managers are beginning to retrofit their evacuation stairwells – including basements and sub-basements – with markings and/or signage on:

• Doors opening to exits or exit passageways.
• Corridors that serve as required exit passageways connecting two vertical exits.
• Doors serving as horizontal exits.
• Landings, perimeters of certain egress routes and individual stair steps.
• Certain hazards and obstructions with-in or along vertical exits.
• Horizontal extensions in vertical exits, horizontal exits, supplemental vertical exits, and exit passageways.
• Handrails (mandatory for new construction, optional for existing buildings).

To be effective, the markings must be visible the instant lights go out, and they must be installed near floor-level so they are visible to building occupants who might be crawling along stairwells to avoid smoke.

To meet the growing need for cost-effective, code-compliant photoluminescent materials in New York City and across the country, many companies are now engineering and manufacturing photoluminescent egress path markings. Building owners and management companies now have many choices when it comes to photoluminescent egress path markings and signage.

Choosing the Right Materials for an Efficient Installation
There are many important considerations when choosing a photoluminescent egress marking system. Those planning to install such a system must consider not only installation costs, but also the long-term costs of maintenance. Important factors to consider include:

• Durable materials – ensure fast installation and long product life.
• Low-profile pressure-sensitive adhesive products – easily conform to handrails, stand pipes, and other circular shapes for faster application.
• MEA-approved products made for NYC LL26 compliance – ensure a consistent level of product quality for those outside NYC.

NYC LL26 outlines specific configurations for markings, and many other new building codes are likely to follow suit. Ready-made products, precut to size and shape, have been designed to help avoid time-consuming hand cutting of individual pieces. In particular, look for products designed with rounded or radial-cut corners – this design helps markings stay flat and resist peeling, thus reducing maintenance, repair, and replacement costs.

Photoluminescent products are available in both self-adhesive and aluminum- backed materials to accommodate varying building surfaces. Self-sticking adhesive tapes are lightweight, conformable, and easy to install. These products require a clean, smooth, dry, non-porous surface for proper adhesion. Aluminum-backed rigid products are used with a separate construction adhesive that is applied on-site and performs better on rough and/or porous surfaces. Most buildings will require both types of materials to accommodate different surface textures and traffic patterns in the building. Some companies also offer photoluminescent paint.

In addition to photoluminescent tapes and markings, photoluminescent identification signs are an important part of a complete egress marking system. Building codes currently being developed or revised may require that fire protection and emergency equipment be identified with photoluminescent sig-nage, as well as all final exits, intermediate exits, and dead-ends (such as utility and electrical closets). Signs are avail-able in many configurations to accommodate virtually any building’s needs, and some companies offer custom sign options.

UL-approved, photoluminescent exit signs are another welcome addition to current egress marking technology. Because they require no electricity and are always “on,” they are a cost-effective, “green” solution for hospitals and schools that increases safety and lowers energy use.

Meeting Building Codes and Exceeding Safety Standards
When choosing a photoluminescent egress marking system, facility managers of schools and hospitals must consider current building codes and other safety standards. Selecting products that meet common industry standards will help ensure that materials installed are of a high quality and will perform as needed during an emergency. Saving money on substandard materials now could cost lives later.

For example, manufacturers of current industrial-grade photoluminescent exit signs should meet the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) 924 standard for emergency lighting and power equipment. Signs that meet the UL 924 standard can be used as code-compliant alternatives to electric exit signs. In addition, exit signs should be approved under the Energy Star program, as well as the following safety codes:

• NFPA Life Safety Code 101.
• Sections 1003.2.8, 1007.2.7, and 1007.6.2 of the 1997 Uniform Building Code™ (UBC).
• Section 1003.2.10 of the 2000 International Building Code ® (IBC)
• Section 1023 of the BOCA National Building Code/1999.
• Section 1016.3 of the 1999 Standard Building Code.
• NFPA 5000, IBC 2000, IBCO, BOCA, SBCCI, and ICC ES.

Manufacturers of current high-grade industrial photoluminescent materials are well aware of these standards and can provide a complete selection of products to ensure that installations of evacuation markings meet or exceed all current codes and standards.

A properly installed photoluminescent evacuation system will provide a clear, unbroken exit route during any lights-out emergency, enabling occupants to quickly and safely exit buildings. Choosing a durable, industrial-grade photoluminescent marking solution will also ensure that your evacuation system will be cost-effective, easy to maintain, and ready to use for years to come.

Rod Anderson is a Business Development Manager with Brady Corporation. He is actively involved with the development of the BradyGlo photoluminescent product line and the implementation of NYC Local Law 26 photoluminescent marking standards. For more information about the BradyGlo™ Advanced Safety Guidance System, visit www.bradyid.com/bradyg-lo, or call 888.272.3946 to discuss BradyGlo photoluminescent products and service options.

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