Why it’s Vital to Ensure Your Egress Path Markings Meet Current International Building and Fire Codes

There is a common human reaction when a fire emergency occurs: in their natural fear response, people become fueled by adrenaline as they hurry to find the quickest possible way to escape from the impending danger. This results all too often in a mad, fearful rush to find the closest emergency exit sign. This becomes a major safety concern when the quickest, safest way out isn’t properly indicated. If exit routes and emergency exit only sign aren’t made to be obvious and easily visible when large numbers of occupants need to exit a building in a quick and orderly fashion, widespread confusion is the natural consequence. And when people are caught in a confused crowd and become uncertain of the path out of danger, panic may result. It’s vital to prevent panicking in an emergency, because panicking can quickly make an already unsafe situation far more dangerous than it needs to be. This is why it’s essential in a building's fire safety plan is that there is a photoluminescent egress path marking system, as well as glow-in-the-dark exit signs. When these vital measures are in place, injuries - and even worse tragedies - are preventable.

Made to illuminate stairs, raised areas, and guardrails, as well as potential impediments in hazy, low-visibility environments, photoluminescent markings undoubtedly help save lives. Not necessitating the aid of electricity, a photoluminescent exit only sign and egress path marking system isn’t dependent upon an emergency backup system for it to light up when it’s needed. Free of the need to be specially maintained, this kind of luminescence is made through the ability to absorb and store visible light, allowing photoluminescent markings leading to exits signs to glow in the dark. This is so important because it can quickly become very difficult, if not impossible, to see clearly in a burning building. A photoluminescent egress path marking system and proper exit signs are so essential not just because of fire, but because of smoke. Smoke proliferates rapidly in the event of a fire, which quickly results in confusion and greatly decreased visibility for the people trapped inside. A photoluminescent egress path and exit signs within a building create constant visual pathways for safe evacuation – and they glow not just hours, but even up to two days.

Particularly essential in dim, smoke-filled passages and areas with stairs (the places with the greatest risk of accidents), easily visible exit sign markings and egress path marking systems in the midst of heavy smoke can help frightened occupants stay calm as they make their way to evacuate safely through the proper exits. Using an unbroken stripe along each horizontal edge on every step of a staircase, for example, the use of photoluminescent egress path markings not only greatly decreases the potential for slipping, falling, and other accidents on dark stairs, the aid of photoluminescence also reduces the inherent stress and emotional trauma associated with the event of a fire emergency as occupants are desperately trying to locate the nearest green exit sign. A key component for the fire safety plan of any structure, photoluminescent egress path marking systems and exit signs make it possible for occupants to follow the safest route out of danger, even in low visibility situations.