In the wake of today's increased safety consciousness, especially in high occupancy or multi story applications, the use of Photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) Escape Route Marking systems (typically referred to as Way Marking, Safety Marking or Egress Path Marking) is becoming increasingly popular. The World Trade Center Building Code Task Force has recommended, and the New York City Council has now mandated, that by July 1, 2006 all office buildings in New York (75 feet and above) be equipped with photoluminescent marking systems in the stairwells.

A provision for application is included in the 2003 edition of the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code under Clause 7.10.1.7 which, as yet, is not mandatory under the code. Additional application requirements are being drafted by local and state authorities while proposed performance standards are available from ASTM and are being considered under UL 1994.

Way Marking does not replace Emergency Lighting Systems which are mandated nationally. Rather, it is used to more readily define the escape route. In the extraordinary event that the Emergency Lighting System fails, the photoluminescent markings are self-illuminated to ensure visibility in total darkness.

A logical requirement of photoluminescent way marking systems is that they remain visible for an extended period. Traditional Zinc Sulfide phosphorescent (glow-in-the-dark) pigments provide only a minimum luminance level and demonstrate a rapid luminance depreciation which, in turn, requires a large, unsightly 4" wide strip of material to be clearly visible. ASTM Standard E 2072-04 requires that the minimum luminance levels be 20 mcd/m2 10 minutes after activation and 2.8 mcd/m2 60 minutes after activation with a marker width of 4". Evenlite's Waymarker systems utilize superior Strontium - Aluminate pigments, which are some 7 times brighter than the minimum ASTM 20 mcd/m2 standard, providing 150 mcd/m2 at 10 minutes and 22 mcd/m2 after 60 minutes. This enables a marker width down to just 1" while also providing a measurable illumination for up to 35 hours, ensuring optimum Life Safety performance and reliability.

Critical to all photoluminescent marking systems is that they require continuous charging by a light source with a substantial UV content such as fluorescent, mercury vapor or metal halide lamps.

A typical application would include a continuous strip of photoluminescent material affixed to the floor or wall at a low location defining the escape route. This includes corridors and stairwells. In dead end corridors the direction of travel is identified by the use of indicators (arrows or pictogram). In stairwells, each step is marked to its full width, handrails are also marked in a continuous strip. Exit doors are marked with the mandated exit signs which can be of the photoluminescent, electrical or Tritium self-luminous type. An additional low location exit sign is also recommended. Door frames are outlined as well as marking for the handle. Marking systems can also include detailed signs such as floor numbering, exit maps and emergency equipment. The diagrams demonstrate a typical phololuminescent way marking system.

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