Low Location PL Egress Systems
Photoluminescent (PL) safety egress systems are
instrumental in increasing the effectiveness of life safety in tall
buildings. A fully reliable evacuation system must not only be
independent of electricity or mechanical device, but it must be fully
functional under all conditions, including heavy smoke.
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EXIT
signs are critical indicators of evacuation routes in the event of a
fire or loss of power – particularly if the exit route is not familiar
to building occupants. In the early stages of fire, smoke will
rise and travel along the ceiling – obstructing the view of exit signs
located above doors.
During this critical
time, fleeing occupants crouch down below the smoke level to avoid
inhalation of smoke and toxic fumes. This behavior necessitates
the use of low level PL egress systems – a series of fail-safe luminous
directional arrows and pathway indicators guiding evacuees to the
nearest exit – eliminating the tendency to second guess their chosen
route and providing the confidence required to exit safely in the
shortest length of time. |
Photoluminescent signs and egress systems are the most
durable and sensible life safety systems available on the market.
PL systems are a core component of a complete life safety
strategy. Building owners throughout the United States are making
the choice to improve life safety and reduce liability by installing
low location PL egress systems even before mandated to do so by new
building codes. They’re making the sensible choice to install the
only fail-safe egress system available today!
WHAT IS PHOTOLUMINESCENCE(PL)?
Photoluminescence is a term describing the ability of certain
natural minerals to absorb light and then re-emit that light in a
controlled manner over time. Simply stated, photoluminescent
minerals “glow in the dark” and are able to store and release light
based on their chemical nature.
These minerals are extremely stable, non-toxic and
non-radioactive. The pigments used in Safety Step Egress
photoluminescent safety signs and egress indicators are safety grade
Strontium Aluminate (SrAl) minerals – proven far superior to the
novelty grade (Zinc Sulfide ZnS) pigments popular years ago.
Strontium Aluminate glows more than 10 times brighter than equal
amounts of Zinc Sulfide and have an afterglow life measured in hours,
as opposed to minutes.
The SrAl pigment used by Safety Step Egress is charged by exposure to
light sources such as fluorescent, incandescent, or unfiltered UV light
– and will emit luminance after the activating light source is
unavailable. The pigment’s energy-absorption, light-emission
cycles can be repeated indefinitely.
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...in light
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...in darkness
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