FAQ: How Does Tritium Exit Sign Technology Work?

One of the most frequently asked exit sign questions is, how does tritium exit sign technology work?

Tritium exit signs are tritium powered, no electricity required! Plus, they have a 20 year lifespan.

Tritium exit sign technology has brought about great changes and improvements in the production of exit signs.  Tritium signs are found in a variety of everyday buildings including movie theatres, parking garages, hotels and museums.  Due to the fact that tritium signs provide enhanced and efficient lighting, they are a popular choice requiring minimal maintenance.  The convenience allows for optimal use in areas where electrical wiring is virtually inaccessible and frequent migrating installation locations.  Furthermore, the signs can be easily and quickly installed because they do not require any electrical wiring. 

Advantages of Tritium Exit Signs

One of the many advantages of this technology is that it requires no electricity.  Normal signs require both electricity and batteries for proper operation.  Tritium signs, however, work on Tritium gas which is one of the safest radioactive materials found in the world.  These signs are increasingly popular for multiple installations in hotels and various other private buildings primarily because they don’t require electrical wiring.  As an added benefit, tritium signs have an extremely long life ranging from 10 to 20 years depending on the model selected.

The tritium gas which is used in the Tritium exit sign technology is basically a low level isotope of hydrogen, containing one proton and two neutrons. It is obtained by adding two neutrons to light hydrogen.  Tritium gas is also a radioactive isotope as it is subject to decay and it has a half life of 12 ½ years.

It has, however, been tested vigorously by federal authorities to gauge its danger levels and it has been found out to be an extremely safe radioactive material  as it is unable to penetrate human skin and potentially only poses problems if it is ingested directly into the body.  As an added safety precaution, these signs come with an efficient protective casing which reduces the chances of any possible leaks. Even if gas leakage occurs, the probability of getting affected by the gas is also relatively small; thus it has been deemed to be a safe material by the proper regulatory authorities.

Tritium Exit Sign Illumination

Tritium exit sign technology provides illumination by utilizing the electron from Tritium, eliminating the need for an electrical source of power. The technology is actually similar to the one used by television picture tubes. The television picture tube also uses an electron to illuminate the front screen. The only difference is that the electron in tritium uses only a quarter of the energy used by an electron in the picture tube.  Due to this fact, the illumination of Tritium exit signs cannot be clearly seen in broad daylight. In application of the exit sign, a sealed airtight glass tube coated with phosphor in the inside is used to contain the Tritium gas.  The phosphor then gets bombarded by electrons emitted by the Tritium to provide illumination.

Overall Value

With its many beneficial qualities, Tritium exit sign technology has paved the way for an extremely efficient and effective lighting product regarding exit sign manufacturing and installation. Tritium exit signs are the perfect choice for just about every commercial exit sign application. They are always in stock so call today to place an order!