Wow it’s already August, which means it’s time for that end of the summer trip!
Most hotels, especially those in big cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago will have multiple floors filled with rooms. Having a tall building in a big city for a hotel is good because it allows you to supply a lot of rooms bringing in a lot of business. But what if a fire were to break out? Would the guests on the top floors be able to find their way out quickly and safely?
During a fire, smoke can quickly fill hallways and stairwells, making it difficult to find the fastest way to safety. Not to mention, trips and falls are more likely to occur as everyone scrambles around trying to get out of harm’s way. Therefore, photoluminescent (PL) hallways, stairwells and exit signs are the best way to ensure the safety of your guest as well as your housekeeping staff.
Photoluminescent egress path marking system and exit signs are simply non-electrical systems that help visibility in smoky or blackout conditions. It creates an outline of steps, landings, handrails and any other obstacles in a smoky or dark space to prevent accidents. PL is made of quality material that is engineered to last the lifespan of your facility. It allows a building to have continual visual support over traditional emergency lighting which could become masked by smoke.
According to both the 2009 International Building Code (IBC) and the International Fire Code (IFC), luminous egress path markings that outline the exit path should be provided in buildings having floors that are located more than 75 feet above the lowest level of a fire department vehicle. However, the only exceptions according to IFC are open, unenclosed stairwells of historic buildings designated as historic under a state or local historic preservation program.
Other building codes that require photoluminescent exit path markings are:
- NFPA 101 and 5000 Section 7.2.2.5.5. require exit stair path markings in all buildings—both new and existing
- State of California Building Code
- State of Connecticut
- New York City Building Code—All non-residential structures
- General Services Administration (GSA) requires photoluminescent exit path markings in all new and altered buildings
Is your hotel photoluminescent prepared?
