FAQ: Why Choose a Self-Luminous Exit Sign?

One of the most frequently asked exit sign questions is, why is choose a self luminous exit sign?

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

Self-luminous exit signs are one of two types of emergency exit signs that do not require electricity to function. They are made with tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. This isotope is created as a by-product in nuclear power plants. It glows, producing its own light. While it is radioactive, it is not dangerous, because the radioactivity from tritium is low power alpha particles, which do not penetrate human skin.

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Since tritium is a gas, self-luminous exit signs are made similar to neon signs, in the sense that the light is contained within a tube. As with neon signs, the tubing makes up the letters of the sign. This tubing is contained within the sign and the “background” is made of colored plastic. It is background in quotes in the sense that the colored plastic which forms the visual background for the letters is actually in front of the tubing, with cutouts for the sign’s letters to shine through.

Advantages of Self-Luminous Exit Signs

The biggest advantage of installing self-luminous exit signs is in cost. While the signs are more expensive than economy thermoplastic exit signs, the cost is more than made up for with the installation and energy savings that these signs provide.

Let’s compare the 10-year cost between a self-luminous exit sign and a LED exit sign:

Notes:

1. Estimate based upon a regular maintenance worker installing the self-luminous sign (less than 30 minutes) and an electrician running power to install the LED sign
2. Both self-luminous exit signs and LED exit signs will last at least 10 years without bulb or other replacement.

As you can see from this example, although LED exit signs are considerably cheaper over their lifetime, self-luminous exit signs are still a more cost-effective alternative.

Self-Luminous Exit Signs and Hazardous Materials

Since self-luminous exit signs don’t use any electrical power, there is zero chance of them causing electrical spark, igniting a fire. Because of this simple fact, they are not subject to fire safety regulations regarding the construction and installation of emergency lighting and exit signs in hazardous material environments. By comparison, Class 1 Division 1 and Division 2 exit signs are considerably more expensive.

Self-powered exit signs such as self-luminous models are extremely versatile. They essentially have the capability of a battery powered exit sign. Battery powered exit signs are highly desired but not possible because of the size of the exit sign battery required. If a battery operated exit sign did exist it would compete with the self luminous version - but since it does not there is only one non-electrical, truly universal exit sign solution.

Comparing Self-Luminous Exit Signs to Photoluminescent Exit Signs

Photoluminescent exit signs are a non-electrical, UL Listed, and code compliant. Save money and improve efficiency by purchasing a glow in the dark exit sign

Neither self-luminous exit signs or photoluminescent exit signs require electrical power to operate. Therefore, there is no cost for an electrical installation, or for electrical consumption by the sign. Of the two, photoluminescent exit signs are both less expensive and last longer. So, taking that into consideration, why would someone want to install self-luminous exit sign, instead of installing photoluminescent exit sign?

Good question. There is one advantage that self-luminous exit signs have over photoluminescent exit signs; that of energy to charge them. While photoluminescent exit signs don’t need electrical power to charge an internal battery, they still need light power to charge them. It takes about an hour of normal room light to “charge” a photoluminescent exit sign; after which it will illuminate itself for about 3 hours. However, once discharged, it needs a light source to recharge it.

Self-luminous signs need nothing to charge them. They are “turned on” right out of the box, and stay on for 10, 15 or 20 years, depending upon the light you buy. This means that in cases where you may not have enough light to charge photoluminescent exit signs, or the light is not on with sufficient frequency to charge the signs, you are better off with self-luminous ones.