A Brief History of the EXIT Sign

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.

About Certification Marks

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.

Tragic “Ghost Ship” Oakland Warehouse Fire Shows Need for Stronger Life Safety Code Violation Enforcement

Another tragic fire at a large public gathering reminds us that life/fire safety issues can not be mitigated by laws alone. A horrific fire at the Oakland warehouse known as the “Ghost Ship” has led to the deaths of at least 36 people. The warehouse was used as a residence and art studio for many of the victims as well as a party venue. The building was zoned and coded ONLY for commercial use. In fact, there was a history of code violations. There are laws regarding zoning and life safety that were knowingly violated by the tenants at the Oakland warehouse. Life safety rules are designed to keep the public safe. Rules like keeping egress paths cleared, illuminated, and marked are basic life safety codes in modern society. Strict enforcement at the “Ghost Ship” may have led to fewer deaths or even prevented the tragedy. Complaints were lodged about the warehouse, but the wheels of bureaucracy turned slowly. Now, the District Attorney’s Office has launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

 

Our blog posting of February 4, 2013 “Surviving a Nightclub Fire” offers some advice about how to 1) avoid or 2) increase chances of surviving such an event. It also offers guidance for building owners/managers.

Emergency Evacuation Awareness

Welcome to our blog series featuring Topics for Safety meetings. Every year in America, nearly 4 million people suffer a workplace injury from which some may never recover.* So while we may immediately assume that safety meetings are best conducted in hazardous workplaces, it is necessary to have frequent safety meetings in any type of workplace environment. These posts are designed for the business owner, safety officer or any compliance related professional to use as a building block for their own safety meetings and are not to be used as a final resource for safety compliance laws or regulations.

 

As a supplier of exit and emergency lighting, it is logical for us to start this series with emergency evacuation awareness. Preparation for an emergency incident plays a vital role in ensuring that employers and workers have the necessary equipment, know where to go and how to stay safe when an emergency does occur. Before presenting this topic to employees at your safety meeting, ask yourself: Do I know the who, what, when and where of our emergency evacuation procedure? Make copies of the evacuation routes at your facility to hand out. For a small facility, repeated evacuation drills may not be necessary, but a quick walk-through every few months will help ensure that all employees receive the same information run through.

 

Show the employees the type of exit signs or emergency egress signs in use at your facility. Do you have signage indicating there is a stairwell to use? Is there an area of refuge for handicapped persons and is it marked? Are Braille signs appropriately used? This will help you assess the needs of your employees and make sure that your signage and procedures are up to date. Even if your signage is perfectly adequate per your local building standards, drawing attention to them will increase awareness and therefore preparedness in an emergency situation.

Featured Fire Safety Products Part Three – Fire Extinguishers

The Exit Light Company offers a complete selection of fire extinguishers designed to meet the specific requirements of many different locations and types of potential fires. Properly installed and maintained, fire extinguishers help you stop small fires before they become a problem. When choosing a fire extinguisher, bigger is better. Larger fire extinguishers last longer, giving you more time to fight the fire and get to safety.

 

Fire-Extinguisher-ABC-rated-466227-proline-0110

The KD-PRO-25MP-ASB fire extinguisher is sold in cases of 6. Suitable for use on Class A (trash, wood & paper) Class B (liquids & gases) and Class C fires (energized electrical equipment), this unit is fitted with a pressure gauge that provides at-a-glance status. It is manufactured from lightweight aluminum cylinder & sturdy aluminum valve assembly and comes with metal retention bracket. A clear instruction label using graphics and easy-to-pull safety pin ensures that anyone can use this product under pressure.

Featured Fire Safety Products Part Two – Carbon Monoxide Detectors

The Exit Light Company offers a complete selection of carbon monoxide detectors (alarms) designed to meet the specific requirements of different locations and potential dangers. The leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in North America, Carbon Monoxide (CO) is odorless, tasteless and invisible – a silent killer. The only safe way to know if carbon monoxide is present is to install carbon monoxide detectors (alarms) on every level of your home and in sleeping areas.

 
carbon-monoxide-detector-alarm-AC-powered-900-0235The KN-COB-DP-LS is a great fixture for customers wanting to increase their protection without the cost of installation. The Nighthawk 900-0235 AC Powered, Plug-In carbon monoxide alarm with battery backup is an easy to install unit that provides reliable protection against the dangers of carbon monoxide. Written information and instruction make this unit’s operation easy to understand for anyone. The Nighthawk AC/DC Basic alarm has a small, sleek design that is suitable for all living areas and has a 7-year limited warranty. The Nighthawk 900-0235 provides you and your family with a loud warning signal against the dangers of elevated carbon monoxide levels in your home. The battery backup feature provides continuous monitoring of CO levels, even during power outages when AC-only units are not providing protection. The Nighthawk CO alarm has a 7-year product life, providing 40% longer protection than other CO alarms. Click here to see all available carbon monoxide detectors including smoke alarm/carbon monoxide combination units.

Featured Fire Safety Products Part One – Smoke Alarms

The Exit Light Company offers a complete selection of smoke detectors / alarms designed to meet the specific requirements of areas of the home and types of fires. Properly installed and maintained, residential smoke alarms are one of the best and least expensive ways to provide an early warning when a fire begins. Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries and minimize property damage by alerting residents early to a fire hazard. Both residential and commercial customers will find a variety of units for their applications.

 

smoke-detector-dc- wireless-ul-listed-0919-9999All customers would benefit from the KD-RF-SM-DC. These units can be quickly installed to an interconnected smoke alarm system without the mess of rewiring or cost of labor. This battery-powered, UL Listed alarm links with other alarms and components to create a customized, advanced fire protection system. It even can be placed in a detached workshop or shed and linked into the system. Interconnected alarms provide early warning against fire by adding additional coverage throughout your home, dramatically increasing your ability to hear an alarm anywhere, regardless of where the fire starts. When one alarm sounds they all do! Newer homes are required by code to have interconnected alarms. Wireless technology enables any home to have an interconnected system, keeping its occupants safe.