1. How can GLO Brite® Exit Signs work with no electricity?
GLO Brite® Exit Signs utilize new generation photoluminescent technology. Photoluminescent materials absorb and store energy from normal ambientlight and are designed to glow in total darkness; it then releases this energy in the form of light during an emergency.

2. Are GLO Brite® Exit Signs reliable?
Reliability has been an inherent problem with conventional emergency exit signs due to maintenance issues and bulb failure. The big advantage of GLO Brite® Exit Signs are that there are no internal lights to burn out making it almost 100% reliable and virtually maintenance free.

3. Are GLO Brite® Exit Signs radioactive?
NO, GLO Brite® Exit Signs are NON–Radioactive and NON–Toxic!

4. What is required for installation?
Since GLO Brite® Exit Signs are NON–ELECTRIC our signs can be installed in almost any location, high and low, not worrying about expensive electrical installations. Simply follow local building and fire codes for location requirements, check to see that there is 54 LUX of fluorescent light on the sign face at all times during building occupancy, and then hang your GLO Brite® Exit Sign.

5. Are GLO Brite® Exit Signs listed to the UL 924 Standard for Emergency Lighting And Power Equipment?
YES, UL has completed all of the testing and GLO Brite® Exit Signs have been found to be in conformance to the UL 924 Standard.  This also puts GLO Brite® Exit Signs in compliance to NFPA Life Safety Code 101 and all national building codes, ICBO, IBC, BOCA, SBCCI, NFPA 5000.

6. Are GLO Brite® Exit Signs available in any other photoluminescent color than green?
NO, exit sign illumination should be green for some good reasons. Many building codes address the color of emergency exit signs to be either red or green. The problem with using red light is that the human eye has many  problems seeing this color from a distance, or during emergency situations once smoke is introduced into the environment. In smoke laden situations the green spectrum has a much higher visibility and readability than red making it a much safer sign. Also, the color green is associated with “GO” just like a traffic light.

7. How long will GLO Brite® Exit Signs last?
GLO Brite® Exit Signs have no internal replacement parts thus, under normal operating conditions will be virtually maintenance free for 25+ years. Our unique photoluminescent material will not break down when exposed to UV light and allows consistent and uniform illumination across the sign face throughout the products life.

8. Are GLO Brite® Exit Signs energy efficient?
YES, there are more than 100 million exit signs in buildings throughout the U.S. operating 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. The U.S. spends $1 Billion to operate these exit signs. By using Glo Brite Exit Signs U.S. companies could save $70 MILLION each year!!

9. How long does it take to charge the GLO Brite® Exit Sign?
The current UL 924 Standard requires that there be 54 lux of fluorescent light on the sign face at all times during building occupancy.  However, the UL 924 testing is conducted by charging the sign face for 1 hour at 54 lux.  The sign is then put in a completely dark enclosure for 90 minutes, at that time the visibility portion of the testing takes place.

The brighter the light intensity (lux) of fluorescent light on the sign face the shorter the amount of time it takes to charge the exit sign.

10. What is 54 lux?
54 lux (5–ft. candles) is a measurement of light levels on a surface.  This is the minimum of fluorescent light that must be on the sign face at all times during building occupancy.  This is also the minimum illumination level on the sign face for all externally illuminated exit signs as required in OSHA 1910-37 q6 and NFPA Life Safety Code 7.10.6.3.  Energy Star has been quoted as stating that the average office has 50–ft. candles of light (540 lux). However, the only technical way to check the amount of light on the sign face is with a light meter.  Most electrical contractors or building facilities departments have access to a light meter.  Confirmation of sufficient light levels should be done at installation.

11.How long will the GLO Brite® Exit Sign glow?
Technically, it will glow for several days.  However, the UL 924 Standard requires testing be done through legibility/visibility testing.  The test is done by charging the face of the exit sign for 60 minutes at 54 lux.  The sign is then put into total darkness for 90 minutes, at that time the legibility/visibility testing begins.  Refer to the UL 924 SG Supplement for the complete test procedure.

12. How to resolve issues with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)?
The phrase Authority Having Jurisdiction is used in NFPA documents in a broad manner, since jurisdictions and approval agencies vary, as do responsibilities.  Where public safety is primary, the AHJ may be a federal, state, local, or other individual such as a fire chief, fire marshal, chief or fire prevention bureau, building official, fire inspector or others having statutory authority. Within government installations the AHJ may be the commanding officer or departmental official.  Keep in mind that he does have the final say as to what can and cannot be used or installed within his jurisdiction. With all of this being said, most issues are education and interpretation related. As to the education hopefully we have given you tools to educate the AHJ as to the UL 924 Listing. The fact that we have had the GLO Brite®Exit Signs listed through the ICBO Evaluation Service who states that our GLO Brite® Exit Signs meet the following building codes, ICBO, IBC, BOCA and SBCCI. In regards to interpretation we have on our payroll a consultant who was the Assistant Fire Marshal for the State of California.  He has been actively involved with the education and code interpretation for the past several years.  This is a man that can speak the language of the AHJ and resolve any issues that arise as to interpretation of codes.  Many times a simple phone call will bring most issues to a successful outcome.

13.To which existing building codes and standards does the GLO Brite® Exit Signs conform?

NFPA Life Safety Code 101	7.10  –  Marking of means of egress 7.10.1.2  –  Exits 7.10.1.5  –  Floor proximity exit signs 7.10.1.6  –  Floor proximity egress path markings 7.10.2   –    Directions signs 7.10.7.2  –  Photoluminescent exit signs A7.10.7.2 – Photoluminescent exit signs 13.4.7.4.2 – Floor proximity exit signs 13.4.7.4.3 – Floor proximity egress path markings
NFPA Life Safety Code 101B	Sections 3–10.1.5, 3–10.1.6
NFPA 5000 Building Construction & Safety Code	Sections 12.10.1.5, 12.10.1.6
UL 924	Standard for emergency lighting & power equipment
2003 International Bldg. Code	Section 411.7 Special Amusement Buildings (Low Level Exit Signs) Section 1011 Exit Signs
2000 International Bldg. Code	Section 1003.2.10
1999 BOCA Nat. Bldg. Code	Section 1023
1999 Standard Building Code	Section 1016.3
1997 Uniform Bldg. Code	Section 1003.2.8; 1007.2.7; 1007.6.2
UFC 3-600-01 (04/17/03)	Design: Fire Protection Engineering for Facilities
OSHA 1910.37	Means of Egress
California State Fire Marshal– Building Materials Listing Program	Listing No. 6200–1617:100 Exit Signs 09/03
1998 California Building Code – High Level & Low Level Exit Sign Regulations	1003.2.8 – Exit Signs 1007.2.7 – Amusement Building Exit Markings 1007.2.8 1007.2.9 – Group A, Floor Level Exit Signs & Path Marking 1007.3.12 – Group E, Floor Level Exit Signs 1007.5.13 – Group I, Floor Level Exit Signs 1007.6.2a & 1007.6.2.1a – Group R, Div. 1, Floor Level Exit Signs & Path Marking
1998 California Fire Code	Section 1211 – Means of egress illumination Section 1212 – Means of egress identification Section 3214 – Exit Signs for Temporary Membrane Structures, Tents, Canopies Section 4110 – Exit illumination in Winery Caves Section 4111 – Exit Signs in Winery Caves
State of California Statutes and Regulations	Health & Safety Sections – 13143 & 17920.8 Title 24, Part Two, Sections 1007.2.7; 1007.2.8; 1007.2.9;1007.3.12; 1007.5.13; 1007.6.2a; 1007.6.2.1a
ICC Evaluation Service	ES Report #ER–6040

14. How do we know an Exit Sign is listed?

On all listed exit signs there will be a UL logo on the sign face.  You can also go to the UL web site for written confirmation.

15. Will our GLO Brite® signs degrade over time?
The pigment used to make our photoluminescent Exit Sign has excellent UV stability and will not degrade over the life of the sign.

16. How long will our GLO Brite® sign glow?
Our Exit Sign will glow for 50+ hours but was not developed to glow for that period of time.  Rather it was developed to exceed the UL 924 Standard that requires our GLO Brite® Exit Sign to be legible and visible at 50 feet at the end of 90 minutes.

17. When is emergency lighting required around a primary exit, and where should it be located?
According to the 2000 International Building Code, the means of egress, including the exit discharge, is required to be illuminated at all times the building space served by the means of egress is occupied.

18. A potential customer states that the glow from Exit Signs needs to beam towards the ground. Have you heard of this?
This appears to be a reference to some electrical exit signs that also have a spray of light from the electric bulbs shining downward through an opening in the bottom edge of the exit sign. Exit signs are not required to do this. This is simply a marketing gimmick, which gives the impression that by doing this the requirements for Means of Egress Illumination (emergency lighting) have been satisfied. All model codes require that the means of egress in most occupancies shall be illuminated at an intensity of not less than 1–foot candle (10.75 lx) at the floor level any time the building is occupied. This cannot be done with exit signs.

19. A potential customer in the west stated that you need to be able to view the exit sign from 100 ft. per NFPA or OSHA. Is this customer mistaken?
Yes, there is no requirement in any code that requires an exit sign to be visible from 100 feet. This is commonly confused with a requirement that no point in a corridor be more than 100 feet from the nearest visible exit sign.

20. Outside of the obvious (i.e., outdoors, in an area without 54 lux of light), where will our GLO Brite® Exit Signs NOT work?
Per the NFPA, photoluminescent exit signs are not suitable where the illumination levels are permitted to decline and where charging source is connected to automatic timers. In areas where illumination levels need to be subdued below the minimum 5–foot candles, it may be possible to use black light for the charging source. This may need to be approved as an alternate but equal method of protection, which should only be presented to the AHJ by the architect of record or a fire protection consultant.

21. One customer stated that according to OSHA 1910–37–Q–6 “all exit signs must be internally (not externally) illuminated.” Does the photoluminescent portion of OSHA 1910 override this statement? OSHA 1910 Q (6) states “Every exit sign shall be suitably illuminated by a reliable light source giving a value of not less than 5 foot–candles on the illuminated surface.” Photoluminescent complies with this requirement when externally illuminated with a minimum of 5 foot–candles. I am not aware of any OSHA regulation, which states “all exit signs must be internally (not externally) illuminated.”

22. What happens if the lights have been off all night and then the next morning an emergency occurs 15 minutes after the building is occupied (the power goes out). Will the PL Exit Sign have time to properly charge and guide people safely out of the building?
This question was raised at a meeting of the NFPA 101 Technical Committee on Means of Egress. After a thorough discussion, it was felt that the probability of such a scenario was extremely low. It takes about 16 to 96 hours in total darkness for a PL exit sign to fully discharge. If this condition has not occurred, then the residual energy in the sign will make charging take only a few minutes instead of 60 minutes for a fully discharged sign. Additionally, 99% of true emergencies where evacuation of the building is required do not include loss of power to the building within the first hour of the emergency. Remember that even in the rare 1% case where there is loss of power within the first hour, there will still be emergency lighting along the egress path and true total darkness will never occur. The sign will have that ambient emergency lighting and will be visible.

23. What does it mean “unfiltered fluorescent illumination” that is required on the sign face of all photoluminescent exit signs?
This refers to fluorescent fixtures that utilize an actual filter to reduce the amount of UV that is emitted from the bulbs. The diffuser or semi–transparent panel that is most commonly used with fluorescent fixtures is NOT considered to be a filter.