Green or Red exits?

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Pierre C Belarge said:
We see more and more green exits here lately.
Some of the larger Municipalities are starting to require them. I would venture to say that in the not too distant future we will see mostly green exits for new work.
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What do you mean we?
I will not be seeing green anytime soon I think you guys are talking about the emporers new clothes
 
mdshunk said:
Interesting. Why do you think that is? I understand that green is the European standard. Coud that be it?
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Marc S. It is becomeing standard nowdays



panneau_sortie1.jpg



here a French verison of exit luminaire







em430.jpg


This is UK { England } verison of exit luminaire


Merci,Marc
 
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Marc ,this is a good read on the subject,..
http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/cp/lig6_e.html

In our laboratory, we conducted an experiment in clear air and in several densities of smoke. Twelve normal-visioned subjects observed red and green signs. The signs were of exactly the same luminance and were identical except for their colours. We found no significant overall effects of colour: seven subjects did slightly better with red signs, while the remaining five showed a marginal advantage with green signs. We conclude that the effect of colour on visibility, if any, is much less than that of sign brightness, ambient illumination, or smoke density.
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Only 8% of the survivors from 400 different fires remembered seeing exit signs during their escapes, according to J.L. Bryan of the University of Maryland.1 Of course, post-incident studies of this kind are limited by the respondents' recollection skills.
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The green signs are more visible through smoke.

Also, during a fire, people would be more likely to move toward a green glow than a red glow. From a distance, the red can look like a fire.

Steve
 
Chapter 7 of NFPA 101 covers the requirements of an exit sign. The performance is based on luminance and contrast.
 
I don't think I've ever installed a red exit sign. They're all green up here in my neck of the woods. Must have something to do with that hippie thing mentioned earlier. :grin:
 
green

green

we have a brand new science bldg 2 story, with the green led edge glass type, they are highly visible and look great also.
 
mdshunk said:
Other than complying with a print spec or matching what's already in a building, is there any other compelling reason to use one particular exit sign color over another?
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I would like to tell you it's in the code, either the NEC or the BC. The only thing I found in the OBC is section 1011, which states:
" 1011.1 Where required.
Exits and exit access doors shall be marked by an approved exit sign readily visible from any direction of egress travel. Access to exits shall be marked by readily visible exit signs in cases where the exit or the path of egress travel is not immediately visible to the occupants. Exit sign placement shall be such that no point in a corridor is more than 100 feet (30 480 mm) or the listed viewing distance for the sign, whichever is less, from the nearest visible exit sign."
So, it's up to the AHJ to list what's approved. I do know that the ones I spec are an off white color, with red letters.
 
I just quickly scanned some of the responses and did not see anything relating to eye sensitivity - so let me enter the fray.
The human eye is most sensitive to green light - approximately 550 nm (nanometers).
db
 
Only 8% of the survivors from 400 different fires remembered seeing exit signs during their escapes, according to J.L. Bryan of the University of Maryland.1 Of course, post-incident studies of this kind are limited by the respondents' recollection skills.

Most people tend to try to go out the same way they came in. That's why it's so important to have a well marked path of travel.

Pierre brought up the low level signs. We used them here for a while, but they tended to be more trouble than they were worth. People kept kicking them and they just became a maintenance nightmare. We also had the low level exit lighting such as they have on airplanes, but nobody made one that held up well.
 
Lithonia did a demonstration I saw. 2 exit signs in a glass box, one green, one red. They both appeared to be about the same brightness.

They filled the box with smoke. The red one was completely obscured - while the green one was still very visible.

Of course, I guess they could of used smoke that was tweaked to filter out red.....so they could sell more of the expensive green signs. But I don't think thats too likely.

Steve
 
The green "running man" exit signs Marc posted are not only required for new installations here in the U.K., but a few years ago the law demanded that all existing exit signs in commercial premises be changed to them as well.

How ironic that the first thing the fire experts will tell you not to do in an emergency is run!
 
where i work we have both, i think that it is up to the jha as to what he wants, life safety code 101-2006 nfpa might give you some reason as to why red or green exits lights
 
A little off topic, but since the code reference was made...what is the typical "listed viewing distance" for most signs? I've tried to find that on cut sheets, but have never seen it.
 
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