Photoluminescent Exit Signs

Summary

Photoluminescent Exit Signs

Emergency Exit Signs: Photoluminescent vs. Fluorescent Illuminated

Depend on radiation to make them glow and draw NO power. These materials are widely accepted but not in all states, including Oregon, Utah and California.

Synopsis:

Photoluminescent exit signs have been around for many years, and their chemical make-up and useful life expectancies have evolved during this time. The federal government encourages their use for federal facilities through the energy-efficient purchasing program of the Federal Energy Management Program.

The signs need to have at least 5 footcandles of ambient light on them to keep them charged; it is not cost-effective to light them separately. The ENERGY STAR Program determined that an exit sign does not require the inclusion of an integral light source.

Photoluminescent material is expected to save about $100 in energy costs alone over the life of a sign. While this material may not be suitable for all locations, the small savings that each photoluminescent exit sign provides will add up to notable energy savings over time.

Energy Savings: 99%

Energy Savings Rating: Not rated. What's this?

Level	Status	Description
1	Concept not validated	Claims of energy savings may not be credible due to lack of documentation or validation by unbiased experts.
2	Concept validated:	An unbiased expert has validated efficiency concepts through technical review and calculations based on engineering principles.
3	Limited assessment	An unbiased expert has measured technology characteristics and factors of energy use through one or more tests in typical applications with a clear baseline.
4	Extensive assessment	Additional testing in relevant applications and environments has increased knowledge of performance across a broad range of products, applications, and system conditions.
5	Comprehensive analysis	Results of lab and field tests have been used to develop methods for reliable prediction of performance across the range of intended applications.
6	Approved measure	Protocols for technology application are established and approved.

Details

Photoluminescent Exit Signs

Emergency Exit Signs: Photoluminescent vs. Fluorescent Illuminated

Depend on radiation to make them glow and draw NO power. These materials are widely accepted but not in all states, including Oregon, Utah and California.

Item ID: 141

Sector: Commercial

Energy System: Lighting--Lamps & Ballasts

Synopsis:

Baseline Example:

Baseline Description: Fluorescent Illuminated Exit Sign
Baseline Energy Use: 25 kWh per year per unit

Comments:

Baseline energy consumption is for a Fluorescent illuminated exit sign, which is typically 8 Watts (LEDs, 2004) which operates 5 days per week, 12 hours per day for a total of 3120 hours and 25 kHw per year. Fluorescent lamps are used instead of incandescents due to their longer service live and reduced heat rejection which results in reduced maintenance costs. Energy use declines if an Exit sign has been upgraded with an LED lamp. LED Exit signs have achieved rapid market penetration, with over 31-million installed in the commercial and industrial sectors as of 2010 (Navigant, 2012 Pg 56).

Manufacturer's Energy Savings Claims:

"Typical" Savings: 99%
Savings Range: From 99% to 99%

Comments:

Photoluminscent signs consume no energy, instead absorbing some portion of the ambient illumination from general lighting and storing that energy for emergency use. The amount of lighting energy absorbed for this purpose is trivial. Thus Photoluminescent signage can be said to consume "zero" energy, for a 100% reduction in energy consumption compared to an illuminated sign.

Best Estimate of Energy Savings:

"Typical" Savings: 99%

Comments:

Energy Use of Emerging Technology:

.3 kWh per unit per year What's this?

Energy Use of an Emerging Technology is based upon the following algorithm.

Baseline Energy Use - (Baseline Energy Use * Best Estimate of Energy Savings (either Typical savings OR the high range of savings.))

Technical Potential:
Units: unit
Potential number of units replaced by this technology: 2,000,000
Comments:

BuildingsGreen.com in an article called "Saving a Little More Energy with Exit Signs" states that the U.S. EPA estimates that there are more than 100 million Exit signs in use in the U.S. Navigant indicates that over 31-million had been converted to LED by 2010. It will be assumed that there are about 50-million non-LED Exit signs in the U.S. Prorating by the population in the Northwest yields a rough estimate of 4% x 50 million = 2 million Exit signs in the Northwest.

Regional Technical Potential:
0.05 TWh per year
6 aMW
What's this?

Regional Technical Potential of an Emerging Technology is calculated as follows:

Baseline Energy Use * Estimate of Energy Savings (either Typical savings OR the high range of savings) * Technical Potential (potential number of units replaced by the Emerging Technology)

First Cost: Currently no data available.

Cost Effectiveness:

Simple payback, new construction (years): N/A

Simple payback, retrofit (years): N/A

What's this?

Cost Effectiveness is calculated using baseline energy use, best estimate of typical energy savings, and first cost. It does not account for factors such as impacts on O&M costs (which could be significant if product life is greatly extended) or savings of non-electric fuels such as natural gas. Actual overall cost effectiveness could be significantly different based on these other factors.

Reference and Citations:

NFPA, 01/01/2000. Life Safety Code
National Fire Protection Association
Special Notes: Life Safety Code allows for use of Photoluminscent signage instead of self illuminated or externally illuminated emergency exit signs.

Ian Harword, 09/01/2004. Why use LEDs in an exit sign?
LEDs Magazine
Special Notes: Provides reference wattage for a "baseline" Fluorescent illuminated sign.

ALG, 01/30/2014. Photoluminescent Exit Signs
Advanced Lighting Guidelines

ICC, 08/01/2005. Acceptance Criteria for Photoluminescent Exit Signs and Means of Egress Identification AC197
Acceptance Criteria for Photoluminescent Exit Signs and Means of Egress Identification AC197

PSA, 01/01/2014. Photoluminescent Codes
Photoluminescent Safety Association

NEMA, 12/03/2009. Photoluminescent Exit Signage—Factual Review
National Electrical Manufacturers Association

FEMP, 01/01/2005. How to Buy Energy-Efficient Exit Signs
Federal Energy Management Program

Energy Star, 11/05/2003. ENERGY STAR Program Requirements for Exit Signs: Final Draft - Eligibility Criteria – Version 3.0
Energy Star

Navigant, 01/01/2012. 2010 U.S. Lighting Market Characterization
U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Program

Rank & Scores

Photoluminescent Exit Signs

There is no TAG available for this technology.