Tritium Powered Exit Signs Explanation

Amongst the newer types of exit signs on the market are two types that don’t require any electrical power connection. They are called “photoluminescent” and “self-luminous” exit signs. These two types of exit signs are not battery powered, and provide their own source of illumination.

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Self-luminous exit signs are powered by a mildly radioactive isotope (form) of hydrogen gas, called tritium. The nucleus of these hydrogen atoms contain one proton and two neutrons, where as the nucleus of standard hydrogen atoms (called protium) only contains the one proton, without any neutrons. While extremely rare in nature, it is produced as a by-product in nuclear reactors.

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It is the radioactive decay (loss of the extra neutrons) of tritium which makes it glow. Due to this decay, tritium powered exit signs don’t last forever. However, you can buy these self-luminous exit signs with life expectancies up to 20 years.

Cost Comparison of Tritium Powered Exit Signs

Some people may be scared away by the apparent higher price of these exit signs, especially when comparing them to thermoplastic exit signs. However, to make a proper cost comparison, it is necessary to compare all the costs, not just acquisition cost. With these signs:

• There is no cost of running wiring to the exit sign location.
• There is no cost of electricity over the life of the sign’s usage.
• Installation can be performed by in-house maintenance personnel, instead of paying for an electrician to install them.

Taking these costs into consideration, the life-cycle costs of tritium powered exit signs is actually considerably less than normal battery operated exit signs.

Safety of Tritium Powered Exit Signs

Some people may be concerned about using a radioactive exit sign in their facility. However, the decay of tritium produces only alpha particles, the slowest moving and least dangerous of all radioactive decay. Alpha particles will actually bounce off of human skin, not causing any damage. Tritium powered exit signs pose no threat to human health in anyway and would not be available for public sale if that was the case. For more information on the safety of tritium exit signs, contact the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission).

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

Design of Tritium Powered Exit Signs

Since the tritium gas glows green, the letters on these signs are always green. However, you can order these self-luminous exit signs in a number of different face colors, including: red, green, black and white. In these colored versions, the “background” is the color indicated, while the letters of the sign remain green.

Tritium Exit Signs are available in both one-sided and two-sided designs. While two sided designs are much more common, one sided designs are convenient for hanging from the ceiling at an intersection of two corridors.

For simplicity sake and maintaining commonality of signs throughout your facility, these exit signs come with arrows pointing in both directions. Self-adhesive material to match the color of the background is supplied with the sign, in order to cover the arrows in installations where they are not needed.

Tritium powered exit signs today

Tritium powered exit signs are all the hype these days. They dont require electricity and can greatly reduce the cost of electricity. Tritium powered exit signs are ideal if you are not sure how long you will be staying on one place. Because the signs are not installed into the wall, you can take them with you when your lease is up. Buying a tritium powered exit sign is a very smart choice when it comes to exit lighting.

Tritium Exit Signs have zero maintenance. Other than being broken by physical shock, there is nothing that can go wrong with them in the normal course of usage. The tritium has a half-life of 12.32 years, which means that it will gradually become dimmer, eventually reaching the point where it doesn’t provide enough illumination to meet safety requirements.

The way that longer-life (15 or 20 years) Tritium signs last for that time period is by adding more tritium gas when manufactured. This also produces a brighter light. While the decay still happens at the same rate, it will take longer for the level of light produced to reach a point of being below safety standards.

Buying tritium powered exit signs

Purchasing tritium powered exit signs are the wave of the future. They contain materials that glow for up to 20 years. Because they glow for so long, they can greatly reduce your energy costs. Call our service department today to ask any question you have about tritium powered exit signs.

By Jonathan Carter