Lack of Lumens

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sclarks971

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A new local hang out in town for kids an Arcade, has removed all standard Flourcent lightbulbs and installed Blacklight Bulbs. I fear for the safety of the kids in side and think that it's a safety issue and will promote unfavorable activity in side. I argue with the city planner that a commercial building needs a certain amount of visable light (lumens), he says there is no issue. Can anyone help give me some written rules that a building inpector should be able to find and understand? I'm in Oregon

Thanks
Steve
 
I think that is covered by OSHA or Board of Health, I did a bowling alley a few years back for "Asto-Bowling" glow in the dark alleys and pins, I seperated the 2 ballasts in each lay in fixture and made the outer lamps regular light, and the inner lamps "black lights. That way they can turn on lights for regular session and clean.
 
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Steve, welcome to the zoo! :smile:

If you don't mind, I'm feeling that this is very important to you, and I'm wondering why.

Have there been any injuries or real complaints related to the blacklight?
 
it's important I think to coumminity youth safety

it's important I think to coumminity youth safety

This place has only been open a couple weeks. It's aboviously a teen hang out. When I went to take my 5 and 8 year old in to check out the the new acarde and play games, I didn't expect to walk walk up to the door finding 6 underage kids smoking outside the door, then to walk in a room that is darker than a nightclub. Black lights are the only light. Girls hanging on Boys in large beanbags and no real supervision. I don't have a problem with kids getting together, I just don't think them doing it in an enviornment that allows them to do things in a public place that they wouldn't do if the lighting was proper. I am a concerned citizen and ex-city councilor of a small rural town. I was also young once and do know what kind of trouble a kid with to much time on ones hand can get into.
 
sclarks971 said:
I argue with the city planner that a commercial building needs a certain amount of visable light (lumens), he says there is no issue.
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In my area, the language that governs illumination is only in the Building Code. The National Electrical Code doesn't get into lumens / square foot, etc.

Take a light meter with you the next time, and get some readings, and then check again with the local building code official (city planner).
 
to Al H.

to Al H.

thanks for your input. that's what I am trying to find out. Is how much lumens is required. Our city planner is a proven liar, and complete idiot so I'm hoping to have the proof of what is required in my hand.
 
I'd talk to the fire chief. Not enough light could be a fire hazard in the case of a fire while trying to exit. There is no need for black lights in a area catering to kids. This is just inviting trouble.
 
OSHA may also be interested if employees are being placed in a hazardous working environment. If these are open fixtures then the constant exposure to UV could require eye protection to maintain a safe working environment. If the fixtures have covers, then this is probably not an issue as most plastic covers have UV inhibitors.
 
sclarks971 said:
I am a concerned citizen and ex-city councilor of a small rural town.
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sclarks971 said:
Our city planner is a proven liar, and complete idiot
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sclarks971 said:
I didn't expect to walk walk up to the door finding 6 underage kids smoking outside the door,
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It sure sounds to me like small town politics and a person with grudge against the management of this place.

As far as looking for a lighting code rule to prevent 'Girls hanging on Boys in large beanbags and no real supervision' I got news for you, that will not stop. :D

In my area the most direct route to get action about a lack of light in a public space would be a friendly discussion with the fire chief they would swing by at some point and check it out.
 
iwire said:
It sure sounds to me like small town politics and a person with grudge against the management of this place.

As far as looking for a lighting code rule to prevent 'Girls hanging on Boys in large beanbags and no real supervision' I got news for you, that will not stop. :D

In my area the most direct route to get action about a lack of light in a public space would be a friendly discussion with the fire chief they would swing by at some point and check it out.
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so far we have:
1) degradation of moral turpitude http://www.reference.com/search?q=Moral+turpitude
2) dangers of uv radiation (there was no evidence showing the danger of the uv black light bulbs presented in the link, since no dosage or exposure parameters were indicated)

and yet,
noone has yet to comment on the extreme dangers of bean bag furniture. For the Love of God, would someone please let the dangers of bean bag chairs, as well as the CIA and government conspiracies behind the bean bag chairs be known so that someone from the National Guard, the FBI, or maybe even the president can read this and perhaps send in the troops and shut down this evel empire of degradation (and pinko commies). ("Mr Gorbachev, tear down this arcade !")
 
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sclarks971 said:
This place has only been open a couple weeks. It's aboviously a teen hang out. When I went to take my 5 and 8 year old in to check out the the new acarde and play games, I didn't expect to walk walk up to the door finding 6 underage kids smoking outside the door, then to walk in a room that is darker than a nightclub. Black lights are the only light. Girls hanging on Boys in large beanbags and no real supervision. I don't have a problem with kids getting together, I just don't think them doing it in an enviornment that allows them to do things in a public place that they wouldn't do if the lighting was proper. I am a concerned citizen and ex-city councilor of a small rural town. I was also young once and do know what kind of trouble a kid with to much time on ones hand can get into.
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There is no jurisdiction that can limit indoor light levels. They would be asking for a lawsuit. I can think of places that require "poor" lighting for the "benefit" of the business:

Bars
Night Clubs
Gentelmens Clubs
Fine Dining
Dave & Buster's
Amusement Rides

It seems like you have a personal vendetta against this place. Forget about it and take your kids to a Disney movie.
 
iwire said:
It sure sounds to me like small town politics and a person with grudge against the management of this place.

As far as looking for a lighting code rule to prevent 'Girls hanging on Boys in large beanbags and no real supervision' I got news for you, that will not stop. :D

In my area the most direct route to get action about a lack of light in a public space would be a friendly discussion with the fire chief they would swing by at some point and check it out.
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Yea I can see the "fire chief" going into Morton's Steak House or PF Chang's and telling them "you don't have enough light."

When I go to PF Chang's I take a flashlight with me to read the menu! But I keep going back because my wife makes me- she likes the sweet and sour chicken.
 
iwire said:
It sure sounds to me like small town politics and a person with grudge against the management of this place.

As far as looking for a lighting code rule to prevent 'Girls hanging on Boys in large beanbags and no real supervision' I got news for you, that will not stop. :D

In my area the most direct route to get action about a lack of light in a public space would be a friendly discussion with the fire chief they would swing by at some point and check it out.
Click to expand...



Bob, you're a Daddy too.:D I hope this isn't a grudge, 'cause if it isn't I think his intent is good:wink: Hope to never find my daughters there, although the Mossberg is getting a little dusty:D

Okay, back to safety. There has to be some kind of regulation on lighting in an interior area of public meeting, is there not????


Clueless here:cool: Good question.
 
Let's stay on topic please...

I'm not sure if there is any requirement for minimum illumination of public places, but there are rules in place for illuminated exit signs and lighting of egress corridors.

As long as the arcade in the OP's post has clearly marked exits I say the owner can light it with whatever type and level of lighting he chooses and it is no concern of his.
 
mxslick said:
Let's stay on topic please...

I'm not sure if there is any requirement for minimum illumination of public places, but there are rules in place for illuminated exit signs and lighting of egress corridors.

As long as the arcade in the OP's post has clearly marked exits I say the owner can light it with whatever type and level of lighting he chooses and it is no concern of his.
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Okay, how about we go to the extremity of no lighting at all besides egress????
 
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