Exit Sign Compliance & Replacement Checklist

Use this checklist before an inspection, retrofit, tritium sign replacement, or quote request. It helps you gather the right information, spot common field problems, and know when to ask for project-specific review.

1. Walk the route before reviewing the sign

Start by walking the path as a person in the building would. Begin at normal work areas, tenant spaces, corridors, interior doors, stair approaches, and any point where the route changes direction. Look for the required exit signs from the actual path of travel, not only from a plan view.

The sign should support a fast decision. If a person reaches an intersection or doorway and the route is not obvious, review whether directional marking is needed. If a sign is visible only after someone has already turned, it may not be helping at the decision point. Photos from these positions are useful when asking for a recommendation or quote.

2. Check visibility and line of sight

• Each required exit is clearly visible and marked by an EXIT sign.
• Direction-of-travel signs are present where the route is not obvious.
• The line of sight to the sign is not blocked by shelving, doors, decorations, equipment, or temporary storage.
• Doors or passages that could be mistaken for an exit are labeled appropriately.
• Exit route lighting lets a person with normal vision see along the route.
• Exit route safeguards, including exit lighting, are kept in working order.

3. Review illumination and sign face conditions

OSHA 1910.37 includes workplace exit-route requirements for visibility, marking, illumination, and letter sizing. It also recognizes self-luminous or electroluminescent signs that meet the minimum luminance value stated in the rule. Use that as a starting point, then confirm the project-specific answer with the authority having jurisdiction.

Do not review illumination in isolation. A sign may be bright enough but blocked. A sign may be visible but the wrong face count. A photoluminescent exit sign may look acceptable in normal light but need a charging-light review. A tritium exit sign may be properly located but near the end of its useful life.

• Confirm whether the sign is electric, photoluminescent, self-luminous, or another specified type.
• Check that EXIT lettering is plainly legible at the expected viewing distance.
• Confirm the sign color matches the project documents and local acceptance.
• Check whether the sign is single-sided or double-sided based on approach direction.
• For photoluminescent signs, confirm the charging-light condition before relying on stored-light performance.
• For self-luminous signs, confirm the product rating, label condition, and replacement date planning.

4. Capture tritium replacement records before removal

Tritium exit signs should be treated as lifecycle products. When they reach the end of useful life, are damaged, or are no longer needed, plan replacement and recycling together. Do not remove required labels, hide label information, dispose of old tritium signs as ordinary waste, or let removed signs sit without a transfer plan.

Before removal, photograph each sign and label. Record the location, manufacturer or initial transferor, model number, serial number, and any activity information that is readable. If a label is damaged, photograph what remains and note the condition. This information can help the tritium recycling service or transfer process and keep the facility record cleaner.

5. Review NRC/eCFR handling checkpoints

The eCFR version of 10 CFR 31.5 covers general license responsibilities for certain devices containing byproduct material, including devices that produce light. For tritium exit sign owners, the practical takeaway is to keep labels intact, follow label instructions, avoid abandonment, and transfer or dispose of devices only through authorized channels.

• Keep required labels on the device and follow the instructions on those labels.
• Do not abandon a device containing byproduct material.
• Do not put tritium signs into ordinary trash, scrap, or uncontrolled storage.
• Use an authorized recipient or recycling/disposal channel for transfer.
• Record the manufacturer's name, model number, serial number, receiver information, and transfer date when required.
• Identify a responsible person who can keep the replacement and disposal process organized.

6. Build the quote package

A clear quote package helps avoid back-and-forth and reduces the chance of ordering the wrong sign. If the project has state-specific review notes, start with self-luminous exit signs by state, then gather the field details that matter. If the sign family is still uncertain, compare options in the tritium vs. photoluminescent exit signs guide before requesting a quote.

• Building name, city, and state.
• Quantity of signs needed.
• Sign family requested: tritium, photoluminescent, electric, or "please recommend."
• Red or green lettering preference or specification.
• Single-sided or double-sided requirement.
• Mounting style for each location.
• Photos, drawings, schedules, or specification excerpts.
• Whether old tritium signs need recycling.
• Desired ship date or inspection deadline.

7. Fix common problems before inspection

Problem	Why it matters	Next step
Blocked sign or blocked line of sight.	People may not see the exit route quickly in an emergency.	Move the obstruction or review sign relocation or additional signage.
Wrong sign face count.	A single-sided sign may not work for two-way corridor traffic.	Confirm approach direction and quote the correct face count.
Old tritium sign with unclear label.	Replacement and disposal records may be harder to complete.	Photograph what is readable and request recycling guidance before removal.
Photoluminescent sign in a poorly lit area.	The sign may not receive reliable charging light.	Review lighting conditions or consider another sign family.
Electric sign with failed battery backup.	The sign may not perform during an outage.	Repair, replace, or review a self-powered alternative where appropriate.

The best inspection preparation is boring in the right way: visible signs, clear routes, working safeguards, current records, and a replacement plan for anything old or damaged. If one piece is uncertain, address it before the deadline forces a rushed order.

8. Keep the record after the work is done

Once the replacement or correction is complete, store the record where the next facility manager can find it. Include final photos, sign locations, model information, serial numbers when available, transfer or recycling documentation for tritium signs, and the date the work was completed. If the building has several floors or tenant areas, group the records by location.

This is not just paperwork. Good records make the next inspection, renovation, tenant turnover, or replacement cycle easier. They also reduce the chance that old tritium signs are forgotten in storage, that a sign is reordered with the wrong face count, or that a future buyer has to reconstruct the project from scratch.