Emergency Exit

An emergency exit is an exit door that is used during emergencies and provides the quickest way to the outside of a building. Emergency exits are important to the safety of a building. Emergency exits are designed into the architectural plans of a facility and are identified by emergency exit signs. If you are searching for an emergency exit then you probably are looking for affordable and code compliant exit signs. Exit signs are placed above emergency exits and throughout floor plans with the goal of safely and effectively guiding occupants along the path of egress. Exit signs have been used for more than 70 years and their technology has evolved over time.

The first generation of exit signs featured a metal housing with glass faceplate and incandescent light source. Exit signs quickly evolved in a number of ways. Originally there was only one incandescent bulb but that was increased to two for better visibility from longer viewing distances. More recently thermoplastic was introduced as an affordable housing material that can handle temperatures up to 176ºF. Incandescent bulbs were replaced by compact fluorescent and LED (light emitting diode) technology. LED exit signs are now the most popular type of electrical exit sign. Consuming less than five watts electricity and lasting 8 to 10 years, LED exit signs significantly diminish energy and maintenance costs compared to incandescent and compact fluorescent exit signs.

Click here for our selection of LED exit signs.

The most recent development for exit signs has been the introduction of non-electrical illumination technologies. Photoluminescent exit signs use glow-in-the-dark industrial grade pigment to illuminate the word “EXIT” and only need five-foot candles of ambient light on the face of the sign to maintain code compliance. Five-foot candles of ambient light can easily be satisfied by a fluorescent or incandescent downlight. If light is not present at all times on the face of the exit sign you can feel comfortable installing a self-luminous exit sign. Self-luminous exit signs produce illumination by using a glowing form of hydrogen, known as tritium, which constantly glows for as long as 20 years. Photoluminescent, self-luminous, and LED exit signs are code compliant and approved for use throughout the United States, Canada, and the world.

Click here for our selection of photoluminescent exit signs.

Click here for our selection of self-luminous exit signs.