What Codes Require Photoluminescent Egress Path Markers & Exit Signs?

With the end of the year approaching it’s time to start planning for next year and preparing for your building’s fire and life safety inspections. Not only is it important for your facility’s fire barriers to be maintained according to the code, but making sure that your building has the proper means of egress is critical to the safety of its occupants. However, as a facility manager you may be wondering what codes require a building to have photoluminescent egress path markers and exit signage.

Codes That Requires Means of Egress:

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code 101 – Section 7.10, Making of Means of Egress
• International Fire Code (IFC) – Chapter 10 Means of Egress, Section 1024 Luminous Egress Path Marking.
• State of California Building Code – Chapter 10, Means of Egress requires in Group A, E, I, R-1, R-2 and R-3 Occupancies, in Exit corridors leading to Emergency Exit stairwells.
• State of Connecticut, Section 1026 – Requires in Group A, B, E, I-1, I-2, R-1 and R-2 occupancies, in Exit corridors leading to Emergency Exit stairwells.
• New York City Building Code —All non-residential structures
• New York City Local Law 26 Compliance
• General Services Administration (GSA) – Exit Path Markings

Photoluminescent (PL) Egress Path Markers and Exit Signage are an essential part of a building’s fire and life safety systems. They are a non-electrical systems that 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. Not to mention, it allows a building to have continual visual support over traditional emergency lighting which could become masked by smoke.

So, whether your facility is new construction or undergoing renovations, making sure that your building has properly installed photoluminescent egress path markers and exit signage is part of your buildings over all fire and life safety protection.