Might be stupid question

[Smash]

Exit signs in a commercial garage are they permitted to be plastic ? New signs are fire rated plastic ? Or do they need to be metal ?

 

[growler]

Exit signs in a commercial garage are they permitted to be plastic ? New signs are fire rated plastic ? Or do they need to be metal ?

That's not such a stupid question. Actually I have no idea. I would call the fire marshal's office when in doubt. I anyone is aware of any code or ruling that cover this they should.

 

[JFletcher]

http://www.exitlightco.com/category/Steel-Exit-Signs.html

"Some regulating authorities require exit signage to be made of steel, most notably New York City and the City of Chicago".

Philly might require it too. Check with the AHJ.

eta: the NYC link when clicked says "metal or other durable material". Chicago specs metal frame with glass or plastic face. Both require red letters.

The Fire Marshal nearly had a conniption once at the hotel I worked at because one of the signs had a chevron wrongly punched out that showed an egress route that was locked. Lemme tell you, that was the quickest exit sign face change ever since the alternative was eating a $20k fine (10k for every "exit" door that was chained shut).

 

[kwired]

http://www.exitlightco.com/category/Steel-Exit-Signs.html

"Some regulating authorities require exit signage to be made of steel, most notably New York City and the City of Chicago".

Philly might require it too. Check with the AHJ.

eta: the NYC link when clicked says "metal or other durable material". Chicago specs metal frame with glass or plastic face. Both require red letters.

The Fire Marshal nearly had a conniption once at the hotel I worked at because one of the signs had a chevron wrongly punched out that showed an egress route that was locked. Lemme tell you, that was the quickest exit sign face change ever since the alternative was eating a $20k fine (10k for every "exit" door that was chained shut).

If an exit door is required the sign wasn't wrong, chaining the door shut was what was wrong. My guess is most if not all the doors were required.

 

[JFletcher]

If an exit door is required the sign wasn't wrong, chaining the door shut was what was wrong. My guess is most if not all the doors were required.

It wasnt an exit door; it was an interior door to a sunroom. The exit sign had both left/right chevrons removed incorrectly showing an exit. The doors were chained shut because there was a convention there with merchandise in it. Those chains came off faster than the exit signs were changed, and guests had to get their stuff out. Not happy. There was no way in or out of the room, which is why there was no massive fine, but when the fire marshal shows up, you tend to snap to and do w/e he wants. The hotel did get smacked for having a few non working exit signs, because while he's there, he might as well check the entire building, right?