Advantages to Self-Luminous Exit Signs

While traditional electrical exit signs are still very popular, some new designs employ alternative energy sources, eliminating the need for electrical power all together, thereby reducing costs. Amongst these new technologies are self-luminous exit signs.

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Instead of using electrical power to produce light, whether through incandescent bulbs or LEDs, these self-luminous exit signs employ tritium gas. Tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, glows, producing its own light. Although radioactive, the radiation put off by tritium is low energy particles, which are not dangerous. In fact, the glass tube and lens for the light stop almost all radiation. The resulting radiation that escapes isn’t enough to raise the reading on a Geiger counter enough to be discernable.

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These self-luminous exit signs are available with a 10 year, 15 year or 20 year life expectancy. The difference is the amount of tritium gas installed in the sign; more gas provides for a longer life expectancy. While that is somewhat offset by a higher price tag, the additional life expectancy additional life expectancy 20 year self-luminous exit signs provides a much better return on your investment.

The advantages to self-luminous exit signs are both in the financial area and in safety. Financially, these exit signs use no electricity, meaning no electrical costs. How much of a difference is that? Well, that depends in part on the type of electrical lighting used in your standard exit signs. For the most common types of lighting, the savings are:

• Incandescent lighting - $216.00 per year
• Compact Fluorescent lighting - $50.40 per year
• LED lighting - $21.60 per year

So, even over the most cost-effective electrical lighting option, that of LEDs, you still save $21.60 per year per sign in energy costs. But, that’s not your only cost savings. In addition, since there are no bulbs to change, you save the cost of replacement bulbs and the labor to replace them. Of the three options mentioned above, LEDs are rated to last a little less than seven years. That means that you’d have to replace the LED module at least once in the ten year life expectancy of a self-luminous exit sign.

Self Luminous Exit Signs Eliminate Operating Costs

For compact fluorescent and incandescent bulbs, the cost of replacement bulbs is even higher, due to the shorter life expectancy of these bulbs and the need to have the signs illuminated whenever the facility is occupied. Incandescent bulbs have a life expectancy of only 1,200 hours, meaning that in 10 years, you’ll have to replace those bulbs a total of 73 times, at a cost of over $700.00 for just the bulbs, let alone the labor to change them out.

Additionally, since these signs need no electricity, there is no expense for the installation of electrical wiring to the sign. Instead of having to pay the high rate of having an electrician make the installation, you can have any maintenance worker install them with just a cordless drill, a tape measure and a bullet level.

Self Luminous Exit Signs Increase Safety

Finally, because self-luminous exit signs have no bulbs to burn out, batteries to wear out, or electronics to go out, they provide for more safety for your work force. Up until the end of the life expectancy of these units, there is no possibility that the unit won’t be working; it will be providing clear, luminous directions to your facility’s exits 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

By Jonathan Carter