Do Emergency Exit Signs Need to be Illuminated?

07 Oct.,2024

 

Do Emergency Exit Signs Need to be Illuminated?

Emergency Exit Signs: The Basics

For businesses of all sizes, you must provide the safest environment possible to your clients. Therefore, you want to make sure that your business has clear, easy-to-see and identify emergency exit signs.

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No matter the size, location, or industry of your company, be prepared to clearly mark for your customers and employees how they can exit any area of the building, in case of an emergency.

You must clearly mark:

  • The pathway to the exit door
  • The exit door itself
  • The point where the exit meets a public path or area

In addition to visual cues, you may also need to consider emergency exit signage that takes into consideration the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A well lit emergency exit sign in a hallway helps lead people to safety.

Yes, Light Up Your Exits! Lighting vs. Illumination

As a business owner, you may be well-aware of the need to lead people inside your buildings to the most convenient, safest exits. But, do the signs need to be visible if &#;no one&#; is there? Outside your operating hours, or in businesses that require lower lighting conditions, what is the requirement with &#;lighting&#; your emergency exit signs?

Safety regulations state that all emergency exit signs must be lit. Now, they can be illuminated &#; meaning, they can light from inside &#; or non-illuminated. Non-illuminated signage may be lit from an outside source.

Signs that are lit from the outside must:

  • be clear and readable from 5 feet away
  • have a reflective disk or patch of a certain size to make them easier to spot

Choose illuminated emergency exit signs

Illuminated lighting is one of the surest ways to maintain safety for people at your property during an emergency. People rely on clear, easy-to-follow directions to guide them in case of an emergency. Proper emergency lighting make your property safe and pleasant, and it could help save lives.

When planning emergency lighting, consistency is key. Maintain consistency throughout your building or across multiple properties under the same brand. In most cases, you can choose a combination of two or three signs and coordinate them. As customers become accustomed to one area of the building, or one business location, they look for those familiar elements elsewhere.

Types of Illuminated Emergency Exit Signs

Today&#;s emergency exit signs come in a variety of designs to mix with the aesthetic of your building and your brand. Choose from a spectrum of colors, different materials, and mountings from the ceiling or the surface of your choice.

You can still get basic designs that clearly spell out &#;EXIT&#; for people, you can also find designs that include motion-sensor lighting, sirens and bilingual auditory alarms, flashing lights, and more.

You can choose from engineering for wet or high-moisture areas, or specialty designs for children, elderly, or people with special needs. Many designs now include images, arrows, and more than the simple word.

Choose the emergency exit signage that's the right shape, size, color and message for your business.

More: Illuminated Emergency Exit Signs

Illuminated signs include a few additional requirements:

  • You need at least 90 minutes of emergency lighting if the building power fails.
  • Emergency lighting should be set at a lower lighting level and uniform throughout the building.
  • Light design must comply with all safety laws.
  • They must undergo regular and standardized testing to prove functionality and compliance with all regulations.

Although businesses range in size, design, operations and management style, and more, they are all held to the same standards of safety. No matter your industry, your business must place emergency exit signs as s a priority.

In addition to the federal requirements, consider the local, state, or industry-specific regulations.

Last safety tip: Keep the lights on

Yes, you'll have regular inspections conducted by security companies or government agencies, but you should visually inspect your emergency exit signs daily. Ideally, you can prevent long-term disaster. Look for tampering, power backup failure, or other conditions that can make your lighted exit signs inoperable.

Get the help of professionals. Get your questions answered. There's nothing more important the safety of the people at your business.

Illuminated vs. Non-Illuminated Signage: Here's What You ...

The signage you chose for your business will impact growth in a number of ways. Think about it. Your marketing strategies, advertising campaigns, and even the people you target are, in some way, influenced by your signage. Therefore, one of the biggest you have to make when it comes down to what your signs look like is whether you choose to illuminate them or not.

Aside from one option having internal lighting, there are differences between illuminated vs. non-illuminated signage that you need to know about before making your final decision. To help you make the right choice, here is everything you need to consider about illuminated vs. non-illuminated signage.

 

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About Illuminated Signs

Illuminated signs are billboards, displays, and other forms of signage that come with an internal light source. Usually, local building and sign code will enforce the level of brightness and other elements of illuminated signs, depending on your location.

Illuminated signs come in a number of styles, including:

  • Monument signs &#; freestanding signs that are mounted to pillars. When internally illuminated, the electrical components are housed within the structure itself or mounted to the surface.
  • Channel letter signs &#; dimensional signs in the shape of letters that can be mounted and illuminated a number of ways, including the popular halo lit style.
  • Directional/Navigational signs &#; LED elements can be added to the cabinet (or box) to light up parts of the sign or the whole thing, making it more visible throughout day and night.
  • Electronic message centers and LED readerboards &#; can be in the form of monument signs, freestanding, or mounted to walls. Like a TV screen, these are usually internally illuminated and will display bright images and other news throughout the day.

In order to make a sign light up, sign manufacturers use the following state-of-the-art equipment and materials:

  • Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) &#; cost-effective, bright, and available in numerous colors, LED is a trustworthy and highly reliable source of illumination that can be operated 24/7.
  • Fluorescent bulbs &#; you can use T12 residential fluorescent bulbs, T5 small bulbs, or the energy-saving T8 commercial bulbs.
  • Computerized equipment for channel letters &#; to make crisp, clean designs, manufacturers will use machines that can cut letters and logos to your exact specifications, ensuring that everything looks amazing when it is all aglow.

Depending on your design and needs, you can choose various lighting elements, such as neon over LED. Feel free to discuss your options with us.

 

Benefits of Illuminated Signage

Here are the benefits of using illuminated signage:

  • Increased visibility throughout the day
  • Increased reach of marketing campaigns due to increased visibility
  • Easily catches the attention of target customers and passerby
  • More visible over extended distances than non-illuminated signs and cut through inclement weather, including fog and rain
  • Can be utilized indoors as emergency signs, LED displays, and as art

About Non-Illuminated Signs

Unlike illuminated signs, non-illuminated signage lacks an internal light source. However, that doesn&#;t mean they cannot be lit up. You merely have to use an external light, such as a spotlight, to brighten the sign. However, non-illuminated signs use the same materials as illuminated signs, especially in terms of metal frames, acrylic faces, and other elements, such as colors, shapes, and sizes.

Non-illuminated signs can also be designed to enhance their appearance during the night, using contrasting colors or certain films to change the color of the sign in different levels of light.

Benefits of Non-Illuminated Signage

Let&#;s have a look at the benefits of non-illuminated signs:

  • Budget-friendly signage options, since they do not use an electric to operate
  • Flexible style and design options, including an array of colors, fonts, sizes, and shapes
  • Ideal for businesses that operate on a 9-5 schedule
  • Look sleek and professional, both indoors and outdoors
  • Can be used as directional signage and for temporary promotions
  • Easy to maintain and relocate

Differences Between Illuminated and Non-Illuminated Signs

As you should now know, the main difference between illuminated vs. non-illuminated signage is whether they can be illuminated internally or not. Illuminated signs use everything from internal wires and LED bulbs to neon tubing to brighten up the sign and surroundings, while non-illuminated signs have nothing to internally light up.

The main advantage illuminated signs have over non-illuminated signs is the ability to be see clearly both day and night. Illuminated signs can be more advantageous to businesses that run 24-hours, since the lit sign makes them more visible to passerby. Some areas do not allow for illuminated signs, however. Keep that in mind as you shop around.

Additionally, businesses need to consider cost of professional maintenance and operation. Illuminated signs require a bit more upkeep, since electrical components can malfunction, and bulbs can burn out. While running an LED sign is relatively cheap, other signs that use neon can be costly to run for prolonged periods. Conversely, non-illuminated signs are much easier to maintain.

 

To Light or Not To Light?

In the end, choosing non-illuminated or illuminated signage comes down to two key things: Does the local government allow for illuminated signs in your area? And if so, do you feel like paying for the additional cost of illuminated signage? Other than that, you can choose between aesthetics and design.

Regardless of which option you select, professionally crafted signage is going to be a defining element to your business. It will attract customers and boost income in no time. Choose a manufacturer who focuses on the quality of their materials and carefully constructed designs.

If you are ready to talk more about getting an illuminated or non-illuminated sign for your business, fill out the contact form! We will send more information straight to your inbox.

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