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LOW LOCATION PHOTOLUMINESCENT ROUTING SYSTEMS By Tom Joyce, Sales & Marketing Business Manager of Ontario, Johnsonite, Construction Canada 96 05 Evacuating the building can result in chaos when back-up lighting systems fail to illuminate hallways and stairwells. Most people panic and cannot overcome their fear enough to think clearly and logically how to exit the facility. Fire extinguishers, alarms, flashlights cannot be located quickly. Emergency exit escape routes may no longer be visible. In these situations, the potential for injury and the risk to life increases dramatically. time is of the essence as evident in the World Trade Centre bombing several years ago. Existing Building Code requirements are generally set a minimum standards and may not, or only in a limited way, address egress and guidance pathways. New Photoluminescent systems are now available which help compensate the shortcomings of current electrical systems while providing a new alternative in installing an enhanced, comprehensive Life/Safety system at an economical cost in a new or retrofit situation. During the past decade, Photoluminescent Technology has greatly advanced in performance and design. there have also been sophisticated developments in the way Photoluminescent Technology is integrated into a variety of materials, including vinyl and rubber, creating new application possibilities. Permalight AG - a globally recognized and respected pioneer in this field - in co-operation with Fire Department Chiefs in Germany and other European countries, have spearheaded the development of guidelines for a Safety Guidance system, visible in smoky and/or dark conditions. These standards are now stipulated in the German Industrial Standard D.I.N. 67510, for Photoluminescent Escape routing. (Other European countries, Japan and California have or are in the process of adopting it or similar standards.) In addition, this system is mandatory on all N.A.T.O shipping and recommended by I.M.O. for passenger ships. Research and development in the USA and Europe suggest that a Photoluminescent Escape systems (sic), if properly applied, can be more effective than emergency lighting in terms of cost, maintenance and as an aid (sic) evacuation . Building evacuation in daylight, particularly if practical, rarely presents a problem. However, evacuation in dark or smoke conditions is another matter. Studies have shown that walking 30 to 40 yards in a straight line in familiar surroundings can take five times as long and ten or more times longer if there are impediments or corners. How Photoluminescence Works Photoluminescent crystals (zinc sulfide) absorb and store light energy from various sources (incandescent, fluorescent, ultra violet). The crystals are generally charged within minutes, when exposed to a sufficiently strong light source. Zinc Sulfide based pigments have a yellow green colour during the glowing period. Since this matches the spectral sensitivity of the eyes, the pigments are capable of high luminance intensity and are therefore specially suited for routing, guidance and identification. The stored energy is seen as a bright glow, in total darkness, when a light source is interrupted or obscured and is discharged over an extended period of time, generally several hours, after which the glow continues to emit light at an intensity of many times the human threshold of perception. Zinc Sulfide crystals may be charged repeatedly and indefinitely provided they are undamaged and kept clean. There is no loss of initial brightness or longevity of luminescence. Note: MERCURY or SODIUM vapour light will not activate zinc sulfide materials. A photoluminescent routing sytem is designed to provide continuous, visible direction at a level close to the ground to help ensure orderly, expeditious, safe evacuation of a facility in the event of power failure or of smoke obscuring the exits or other disasters. Additionally, the system may assist the Fire Department personnel entering a facility to extinguish a fire and/or to assist in evacuation by providing a guidance pathway in areas of darkness. In addition, this system can also be enormously useful in highlighting access to critical equipment or controls during periods of sudden darkness caused by power failure or other emergency situations. Photoluminescent systems are designed to support existing Emergency systems. Existing systems require electrical or battery power. In order to be operational and effective when required, these systems require regular and expensive maintenance. Even when fully operational, these systems provide little in the way of guidance and in the event of smoke, may be obliterated. Where power failures have occurred, it is not altogether unusual for back-up systems to fail completely or partially. Electrical or Battery Systems are not "fail safe." In short, the purpose of Photoluminescent Escape/Guidance systems in the event of sudden darkness caused by the loss of power or smoke in building is to help minimize building occupants' disorientation and panic, by providing a low location Photoluminescent escape route marking system. Photoluminescent Escape routing systems are appropriate for commercial, Institutional, Public and Industrial buildings, either new or those facilities being refurbished. Escape routing systems can be installed as a complete system throughout a building , or in a (sic)similar trouble areas where Photoluminescent egress marking is necessary. Other areas in which a Photoluminescent system could be highly desirable and make an important contribution to Life/Safety are shopping malls, pedestrian underground spaces, parking garages, tunnels between facilities, etc. One of the more important requiremen5ts of an effective Photoluminescent system is that it be available in a range of products which would enable the technology to be used in just about any part of a building. Johnsonite (North America's leader in Vinyl and Rubber Floor and specialty flooring Products) integrates Photoluminescent Technology with aesthetics into it's wide range of flooring products resulting in a complete Photoluminescent low location escape routing systems that suits virtually any interior environment. The Photoluminescent system consist of stair treads and nosing, tile, wall base, handrails, corner guards, tapes, signage, hazard markings, paint, customized evacuation plans and direction indicators. Low Location Photoluminescent Escape route systems is a serious Life/Safety and deserves the serious consideration of all those concerned with design and code development and in particular, building owners who bear the responsibility in ensuring that their building occupants can safely exist (sic)a building. |
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