FAQ’s

Do photoluminescent exit signs work?

Yes. Safety Path Exit Signs meet the performance requirements of the National Construction Code (incorporating the Building Code of Australia) and Standards Australia’s Technical Specification 5367:2021, ensuring that people will find fire exits even if the electricity has failed. Photoluminescent Exit Sign technology is a global building safety movement, used in Europe, North America and South-East Asia.

Are photoluminescent exit signs legal?

Photoluminescent Exit Signs are permitted by the National Construction Code (NCC2019), which incorporated the Building Code of Australia and for hybrid Exit Signs, Technical Specification 5367:2021. Safety Path Exit Signs meet the performance requirements of the Code (NCC2019 Specification E4.8).

How long do photoluminescent exit signs glow for?

Specification E4.8 in the National Construction Code 2019 requires that in the event of a power failure, a photoluminescent exit sign must continue to provide a minimum luminance of 30 mcd/m² for not less than 90 minutes. Correctly installed Safety Path Exit Signs meet this requirement.

Photoluminescent exit signs vs electric-battery exit signs

Photoluminescent exit signs are replacing legacy electric-battery exit sign technology. Advantages of photoluminescent exit signs and hybrid exit signs include:

1. Energy efficient: Pure environmental photoluminescent exit signs do not require any electricity or batteries to function, which means they are more energy efficient and eco-friendly. Hybrid photoluminescent exit signs contain LED’s to charge the photoluminescent materials, so they can be used where lighting is inconsistent or unreliable. Safety Path’s hybrid exit signs are the leaders in minimal energy consumption, using around 1W.
2. Reliable in power outages: Photoluminescent exit signs can continue to function in the event of a power failure, retaining their visibility to guide people to safety. Traditional electric exit signs, on the other hand, rely on mains and/or battery electricity to function in an emergency, and will not work during a power outage when the battery has failed or is unreliable.
3. Cost-effective: Photoluminescent exit signs are often less expensive to install and maintain than traditional electric-battery exit signs, since they do not require the cost of electricity or battery replacement. Safety Path’s hybrid exit signs do require electricity to operate, but don’t need a battery and are the industry leader in minimal energy consumption.
4. Easy to install: Photoluminescent exit signs can be simply attached to a wall or suspended from a ceiling using a mounting kit. Hybrid exit signs can directly replace AS2293 electric battery exit signs.
5. Long lifespan: Safety Path photoluminescent exit signs typically have a longer lifespan than traditional electric exit signs.
6. Lower maintenance costs: Photoluminescent exit signs do not require regular electrical maintenance, such as battery replacement or bulb replacement, which can be a cost-effective solution in the long run. Hybrid exit signs eliminate much of the complex circuitry and the battery required by AS2293 exit signs, reducing their maintenance cost and likelihood of failure.
7. E-Waste reduction: Photoluminescent exit signs don’t generate costly e-waste. Hybrid exit signs generate much less e-waste, because they don’t have electric-batteries and have simpler circuitry.

New, upgraded and refurbished buildings can be easily designed to incorporate photoluminescent exit sign technology.

LED Hybrid Exit Signs can be used to directly replace legacy electric-battery exit signs by any competent electrician, in buildings across Australia. They incorporate a high-efficiency LED to charge the photoluminescent material with the sign. There’s no electric-battery, eliminating the high-risk of battery failure, reduced e-Waste and greater reliability – improving safety. Simply direct your electrician to replace any failed exit sign with its equivalent Safety Path LED hybrid exit sign.

Are photoluminescent exit signs radioactive?

The process of photoluminescence does not involve harmful radiation. Photoluminescence occurs when a type of molecule absorbs a light particle that is called a photon. This excites electrons in the molecule to a higher energised state. As the electrons slowly return to their normal state they emit photons of energy as visible light over a long period of time. This is how a photoluminescent exit sign can be seen in the dark – it is emitting stored energy as light.

How much light is required to charge a photoluminescent exit sign?

The National Construction Code (NCC 2019) requires 100 lux of light on the face of a photoluminescent exit sign. In a typical room light levels will exceed this requirement, but it must be measured to ensure it meets Building Code requirements.

Where 100 lux can’t be achieved, for example in a room with energy saving light sensors and other low-light environments like service corridors and plant rooms, Safety Path LED Hybrid Exit Signs are used. They have an efficient in-built LED and use reliable photoluminescent Smarterlite Technology instead of a short-lived electric battery. With simpler electrical components and no electric battery, Safety Path hybrid photoluminescent LED exit signs are more reliable than legacy electric-battery exit signs. In fact, Safety Path Hybrid Exit Signs can be used as a direct replacement for failed electric-battery exit signs.

Can I connect a photoluminescent exit sign to a building management system?

Photoluminescent exit signs have no electrical components to fail. Building management systems are designed to automatically report failed building assets to the building manager. With legacy electric-battery signs being prone to electrical and battery failures, building managers track their failures so that they are notified and can send an electrician to replace the whole unit.

By using photoluminescent exit signs, there’s no electric components to fail and no need for expensive networked exit signs and software costs to track their failures. Even more savings for the building manager!