Did you know that photoluminescent material is one of the most critical elements of Interior Stairway ID signs? If in an emergency situation where there is an absence of electricity, photoluminescent material—by nature of its material—aids in the evacuation and rescue of building occupants. Elements accompanying the photolum requirement include the minimum total sign dimensions, letters designating the stairway, floor level number, roof access, and any directional language. All aspects of the sign must be visible and distinguished from a photoluminescent background, as required by your jurisdiction’s fire code. A commonly asked question by our customers is whether the text of the sign may be photoluminescent, and this blog addresses that question with a careful analysis of the applicable rule. 

Jurisdictional Considerations under the IFC

The overwhelming majority of jurisdictions within the United States have adopted the International Fire Code (IFC) as drafted by the International Code Council (ICC). Upon adoption, the IFC becomes the law of the given jurisdiction, and as such, must be followed just like any other statutory provision. In this case, our inquiry primarily deals with § 1023.9.1(6) of the IFC: 

“Where signs required by section 1023.9 are installed in the interior exit stairways and ramps of buildings subject to section 1025 [Luminous Egress Path Markings], the signs shall be made of the same materials as required by section 1025.4.” In other words, when an interior stairway ID sign is intended for a high-rise building, the sign must be made of photoluminescent material. For the purpose of section 1025 high-rise requirements, the minimum height is a building with an occupied floor located 76 feet or greater from the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. Further, by reviewing § 1023.9.1(1), the drafters use distinctive language to express the overall size of the sign when it states, “The sign shall be a minimum size of 18 inches by 12 inches.” While some code requirements can be vague, clarity here is found in the IFC’s objective.         

Conversely, this distinction in language becomes evident by application of separate requirements to alphabetical and numerical characters. The only requirements applied to incorporated characters are text height and color contrast (§ 1023.9.1(2)-(4)). Most important to the analysis is § 1023.9.1(5), which states, “Characters and their background shall have a non-glare finish. Characters shall contrast with their background, with either light characters on a dark background or dark characters on a light background.” Granted, there are no conflicts when considering a building height of three stories or less (§ 1023.9), but once the “high-rise rule” is triggered, the requirements of § 1023.9.1(5) become problematic. Contrast variations become problematic due to the substantive change in materials required by § 1023.9.1(6). Because the sign itself, not the characters, must be photoluminescent, the contrast rule under requirement (5) is partially invalidated for high-rise buildings, insofar as a dark background is concerned. Therefore, § 1023.9 does not regard the sign in its totality as something with interchangeable elements, but contemplates the Interior Stairway ID sign as having separate and distinct elements, necessitating individual specifications. 

Other Factors Surrounding Photoluminescent Requirements

Besides the technical concerns, there are practical ones as well. As mentioned, you must toggle between various building heights in order to know exactly how to craft the sign package for a given hotel. Geographical terrain may play a role in determining whether a sign must incorporate photoluminescent material. Take the difference between Florida and Colorado or Utah for example: something that might not be considered a high-rise building in Florida may fit the Fire Code definition in mountainous Colorado or Utah. As you may recall, the status of a high-rise building under the Code is not centered on the number of actual floors, but on the proximity of a building’s highest occupied floor to the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. As a result, it is important to examine your fire code (or consult your local sign company—such as HOTELSIGNS.com) to see all the factors that may exist within your environment. 

An Important Light In Emergency Situations

Although you must apply the requirements of § 1023.9 to all relevant building projects, photoluminescent material operates very well in emergency evacuations, whether the building is three stories or 20. The primary reason photoluminescent technology should be considered in any facility is the lack of familiarity by your guests with the interior floor plan of the hotel during a full power outage. Interior stairways are one of the most dangerous elements in a hotel when you combine stairs with the inability to see, which, again, reiterates the importance of proper egress protocol and photoluminescent signage. Upon activating emergency procedures, there is a potential for increased anxiety, and in a dark stairwell, guests need clear evacuation directions to follow. As photoluminescent signs are directly related to an increase in hotel guest safety, this important goal serves all hotels, not just high-rise buildings. 

HOTELSIGNS.com is stocked with photoluminescent signage to accommodate your hotel. In addition, our team is always glad to help with all your fire code and egress signage needs—reach out today!

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