Tag Archives: emergency lighting

A Brief History of the EXIT Sign

Posted on by

They are everywhere! “EXIT Signs” are so ubiquitous that most people rarely ever pay attention to them. Even so, all public buildings (restaurants, offices, and even large residential buildings like hotels or multi-unit condos) are required to have emergency lighting and exit signage to clearly illuminate egress locations and provide well-lit, easy to follow direction to them. In the event of an emergency, when every second counts, they provide a potentially life-saving path to quickly get out of the building.

Yet these signs did not exist a little over 100 years ago. It took a deadly industrial accident, one of the worst in American history, to bring about the changes to code and regulations resulting in the EXIT sign.

On March 25, 1911 a fire burst out in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, located on the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors of the Asch building in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. This event would go down in history as one of the deadliest fires ever, with 146 garment workers losing their lives. 

Many of those who died fell or leapt to their deaths, being unable to get out of the burning areas of the building. It turned out that the stairwell doors had been padlocked, a common practice of the times, to discourage employees from stealing product or leaving early.

The resulting media coverage and public outcry led to the establishment of new fire safety regulations including new standards regarding building egress.

Following the recommendations of the state commission, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) ratified codes for the first Exit signs. The NFPA had been founded in 1895 by a coalition of Insurance companies. Their purpose was to establish a standardized set of guidelines to help reduce and hopefully eliminate death, injury and economic loss caused by fire. The NFPA guidelines and codes were codified into the basic building codes and standards used throughout the US today. Similar regulations are also used throughout the world.

The Exit Light Company has compiled some useful history and data behind the various codes and regulations. [ https://www.exitlightco.com/Fire-Codes-Regulations.html ]

So the next time you are in a public building, take a minute to look around and make note of the exit signs. Remember, they are there for your safety.

Emergency Lights for Homes

Posted on by

The Exit Light Company is proud to feature a selection of Emergency Lighting for Homes. These multi-purpose lanterns and flashlights are kept ready through standard AC outlet or USB charging ports, and can provide hours of light in the event of power outages. For longer outages, they can be further recharged with USB power banks or direct solar.

Home Emergency Lighting

These multi-function devices are useful for more than just emergency backup lighting. They provide plenty of light for camping and hiking, or can even function as everyday work/task lights, as well.

Power Outage at Home – Are You Prepared?

Posted on by

Many of us have been in a situation when the power goes out at home. Sometimes this happens during daylight hours, but it can also happen at night. In most cases power is restored within an hour or two, but in extreme cases the outage may last for several hours or even days.   In 2019 alone, power outages have left over 15 million people without power in the United States alone (eia.gov) .  This can be due to storm damage, rolling blackouts (in place in several states throughout the U.S.) or even massive power grid failures. In public areas and workplaces, laws require emergency preparedness for the safety of the public, but are you prepared at home?

Continue reading “Power Outage at Home – Are You Prepared?” »

About Certification Marks

Posted on by

You see them on every piece of electronics you buy — whether for personal use, business, or work. But what does that stamped UL, ETL, or CSA indicate? These are Certification Marks, and they provide assurance that you can rely on a standard of safety and performance from the products. All products sold in the United States must pass through a battery of tests performed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) to prove that the product meets or exceeds national safety standards. Products that pass this inspection and testing process carry the Certification Mark for the laboratory that provided the testing (UL for Underwriter’s Laboratories, ETL for Intertek Testing Services, and CSA for Canadian Standards Association). It doesn’t matter which mark the product carries, as long as it is from one of the organizations that are recognized by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

 

You can be assured that all products which carry an OSHA recognized NRTL mark will comply with the various safety codes (buidling codes, electrical safety codes, municipal codes and fire codes), has been thoroughly tested by third party laboratories to strict specifications, and complies with all current standards.

 

All emergency lighting and exit signs sold by The Exit Light Company carry Certification Marks. Please see our FAQs to learn more about Certification Marks and NRTLs.

The Exit Light Company Recognized Again for Providing Excellent Customer Satisfaction

Posted on by

The Exit Light Company Receives 2017 Spectrum Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction

It’s a three-peat! For the third year in a row, The Exit Light Company has been awarded with the prestigious Spectrum Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction.

 

The Spectrum Award of Excellence in Customer Satisfaction was established to spotlight companies and business professionals providing exceptional service and experiences to their clients and customers.

 

The Exit Light Company appreciates that our efforts at providing exceptional products with exceptional service are recognized. We will continue to strive for excellent customer satisfaction.

The Exit Light Company Recognized for Providing Excellent Customer Satisfaction

Posted on by

The Exit Light Company Receives 2016 Spectrum Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction

For the second year in a row, The Exit Light Company has been awarded with the prestigious Spectrum Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction.

 

In partnership with The Stirling Center for Excellence, City Beat News (CBN) recognizes companies that provide an outstanding customer experience and honors them with the Spectrum Award. Winners are based on CBN’s independent, proprietary research and evaluation system, which identifies businesses with a track record of top-flight customer service and customer satisfaction. The rating system combines data collected from nominations, online and other customer reviews, surveys, blogs, social networks, business-rating services, and other honors and accolades — all of which express the voice of the customer.

 

The Exit Light Company appreciates that our efforts at providing exceptional service with exceptional products are recognized. We will continue to strive for excellent customer satisfaction.

Surviving a Nightclub Fire

Posted on by

As the recent tragedy at the Kiss Nightclub in Santa Maria, Brazil demonstrates, public fire safety continues to remain a serious problem. Any time you mix large crowds of semi-intoxicated people with low levels of lighting, minimal exits, and add smoke and fire, the result is always tragic.

 

In North America there have been several notable nightclub fires:

*Learn more about historical fires in the United States in our State by State Fire FAQs.

After fire analysis has repeatedly noted the importance of well-lit and uncluttered exit pathways, and show that the majority of deaths are usually due to smoke inhalation or trampling. Victims could have survived if they had been able to quickly and safely exit the structure.

 

The Exit Light Company reminds everyone that the sole purpose for the products that we sell (exit signs and emergency lights) is to save lives, not property. Here are some helpful tips for both patrons and business owners:

 

If you are a Patron:

  • Use common sense, don’t patronize businesses in buildings that do not look safe. Some warning signs are that the building does not have a sprinkler system, exit signs or emergency lights are broken and non-functional, or if you see that most of the exit doors are blocked or even locked (chained shut)
  • Be aware of the location of at least two exits at all times (the first being the one that you entered through)
  • Never drink so much that you will not be able to react to an emergency situation
  • If you are caught up in a crowd, it doesn’t matter if you are large and strong, try to get to a wall or to the edge of the crowd. Many deaths are dues to trample injuries
  • Try to stay low, to minimize smoke inhalation
  • If possible, cover your nose and mouth with a cloth. Use your shirt, jacket, or a napkin, if available. If you can, wet the cloth with water. Never use alcohol to wet the cloth, as alcohol is highly flammable
  • Don’t worry about your stuff (purse, backpack, etc.). It’s replaceable, you’re not
  • If you are in a group, agree on an assembly point, somewhere you can all get to safely, then don’t worry too much about keeping together
  • Move safely, and try not to trample/push others, but leave as quickly as possible
  • Stay as calm as possible, and do not give in to panic. This is easier said than done, but panicking will not help you survive

If you are a Business Owner/Facilities Manager:

  • Keep exits and exit paths clear of clutter
  • ALL doors should open outwards so that the crush of a crowd can not pin the doors closed
  • Install and maintain exit signs and exit pathway markings so that the direction of egress is readily apparent
  • Install and maintain emergency lighting so that in the event of loss of power, there will be visibility
  • Keep all emergency equipment (including exit doors) in good working order and test them regularly

*Find out more about maintenance & testing in our helpful FAQs.

Unfortunately, the Kiss Nightclub Fire will not be the last club fire, but if we all keep in mind the above safety tips, we can make sure that we do not contribute to another tragic event or do not end up as another sad statistic.

Historical Influences on Emergency Requirements

Posted on by

Tragedies such as the Bangladesh Clothing Factory Fire earlier this week highlight the need for emergency preparedness, including proper exit signage and emergency egress lighting. Unfortunately, a number of similar tragedies have shaped the laws and requirements throughout the United States:

 

 
  • On February 2, 1860 the six-story Elm Street Tenement in New York City caught fire killing 20. This fire along with a similar earlier fire led to a state law, the first in the nation, requiring fire escapes on all buildings over 6 stories, and multiple exits in new buildings.
  • On January 13, 1908, fire during a stage play at the Rhoads Opera House in Boyertown, Pennsylvania killed 171, one-tenth of the town’s population. As a result of the disaster, Pennsylvania’s first fire law was enacted in 1909.
  • On March 29, 1953, the Littlefield’s Nursing Home Fire in Largo, Florida claimed 33 lives. The fire shocked the community and led to statewide nursing home reforms.
  

Read about other historical events that shaped fire code requirements in your own state (as well as current code requirements) using our Fire Code Map.