Where To Place Self Luminous Exit Signs

Where Oh Where Does My Exit Sign Go?

Self luminous exit signs are simply the best exit solution out there, offering long life, strong housing, and bright illumination without the use of electricity. But what is most unique about SL signs is they can literally be placed anywhere and still be compliant.

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No lie! Put them outside in an arctic snowstorm, in the hottest Arabian desert or in a refinery that produces explosive gas. They will continue to work without fail for the rest of their 10, 15 or 20 year lifespan.

However, not placing your signs in the approved fashion is just as bad as buying the wrong sign. The NFPA 101: Life Safety Code is one of the important documents when it comes to exit signs. One of the most important sections in NFPA 101 is the placement of self luminous exit signs.

Self Luminous Exit Sign Placement

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requires all exit signs be installed no less than 80 inches above a finished floor. No obstructions may be placed in front of or near the exit sign that might block its visibility.

Before you install your exit sign, make sure to really look at the doors from all angles when approaching the door from an adjacent hallway. If at any point you notice an obstruction blocking the sign, it is considered non-compliant.

You must also consider the amount of smoke that could collect in certain areas which will rise to the ceiling and obscure vision from far away.

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There are a few ways you can fix this:

Get a ceiling mount - you always have less visibility when observing flush, wall mounted exit signs, so simply moving it away from the wall and angling the sign just right is a quick easy fix.

Place another exit sign - if only one hallway is affected by an obstruction, just place another sign at a point along the egress path just before the obstruction.

Double up - Common in public buildings and subway stations, a sign is placed above the door and to the left at floor level. This is allows for maximum exit visibility from a stairwell or escalator.

Conclusion

This article is meant to be a general placement guide for self powered exit signs. If you need more assistance don't hesitate to contact us via e-mail. You can also call us toll-free at 800-379-1129.