Exit Sign Placement Wizard – Count & Layout Guide

Quick Picks

Exit-Sign Count & Placement Wizard

Overview

The goal of this wizard is simple: help you estimate how many exit signs you’ll need and where they should go so people can see the way out—without paging through code books. Use it as a planning aid, then confirm with your AHJ before you buy or install.

Exit routes fail when people can’t see where to go. That happens when a sign is hidden around a corner, a long corridor has no reassurance signs mid-run, or an arrow points the wrong way. A small misplacement can force a last-second decision at the worst moment. The tool keeps you focused on what actually drives outcomes: sightlines, distance, corners, and decisions.

How the Wizard Works

1. Viewing distance. Choose a viewing-distance class (50/75/100 ft). This is the longest comfortable read from the center of a corridor.
2. Visibility factor. If you expect partial obstructions (displays, banners, tall storage), the tool nudges counts upward.
3. Doors & direction changes. Every exit access door gets a sign. Each turn or intersection gets directional signage; the amount scales with the node complexity.
4. Long straight runs. Mid-run “reassurance” signs keep the route obvious so nobody is stuck halfway without visible guidance.
5. Output. You get a recommended total plus a breakdown (doors, turns, inline signs) and a table for each run—ready for walk-through notes.

Counting Logic (Plain-English Heuristics)

1) Exit doors

Every exit access door on an egress route needs a sign that is obvious from the approach. In lobbies or open areas with multiple doors, orient signs and arrows so a first-time visitor would choose correctly without asking.

2) Intersections & turns (arrows)

• L-turn (90° corner): Plan one directional sign so the observer sees an arrow before or right at the corner.
• T-intersection: Plan two directional signs if traffic arrives from the stem: one arrow left, one right (unless the path is one-way).
• 4-way: Plan up to three directional signs depending on approach legs and the shortest route to exit; if two exits are equidistant, mark both ways.

3) Long straight runs (reassurance signs)

Internal signs per run = max(0, ceil(Length ÷ (2 × ViewingDistance)) − 1)

This ensures the “worst-case person” standing midway between two signs is still within viewing distance of at least one sign. It’s a sightline sanity check, not a lighting calc.

4) Visibility multiplier

If you expect equipment, artwork, partitions, or stacked retail displays to interrupt views, choose a higher visibility factor. The tool applies a modest bump to non-door signage (directional + inline) to counteract the clutter.

Placement Basics

Mounting height & contrast

• Height: Mount where the sign clears tall furniture, racks, and door headers.
• Contrast: Choose letter color and panel finish that pop against your actual interior finishes.
• Glare: Avoid downlights that wash out face panels or create hot spots.

Single-face vs double-face

At most intersections and open areas, double-face signs do more with fewer fixtures. In tight corridors with a single approach, a single-face sign may be fine. The wizard’s counts are face-agnostic; convert to single/double during layout to trim the total.

Arrows & “obvious direction”

Use chevrons at every ambiguous decision. If the path turns immediately after a doorway, place the arrowed sign so it’s seen before someone reaches the decision point.

Stairs, ramps & discharge

• Stairs: Mark the stair entry and confirm down-stair visibility; add landing markers if needed.
• Exit discharge: The last interior sign should clearly direct to the door leading outside or to the public way.
• Low-level signs: Some occupancies (e.g., hotels) require floor-proximate signage—plan both heights where adopted.

Common Scenarios

Long office bar with few doors

These spaces hide the reassurance problem: from the middle, you can’t see a sign at either end. Add intermediate signs per the formula. If an art wall or bookcase interrupts views, bump the visibility factor or add one center sign.

Retail with movable fixtures

Gondolas and seasonal displays turn straight sightlines into a maze. Choose the “some obstructions” setting and use double-face with arrows to solve multiple approaches with fewer housings.

Warehouse aisles

Racking blocks long-distance reads. Place signs high enough to clear top beams, or at aisle ends facing into travel lanes. Use arrows at cross-aisles so the fastest exit is always evident.

Schools & assembly spaces

When lights dim for performances, ensure exit signs remain readable and arrows are visible from the audience. In multi-use gyms/cafes, suspend double-face signs over main circulation paths.

Hotels & apartments

Corridors often bend around cores. Treat every bend like an L-turn and add reassurance signs mid-run on long floors. Include low-level requirements where adopted.

Choosing a Viewing Distance

100 ft: Long, uncluttered corridors with neutral walls and steady lighting (modern office floors, healthcare back-of-house).

75 ft: Balanced for most facilities; tolerates some visual complexity (glass, art, signage) without over-signing.

50 ft: Busy sightlines and lower contrast—retail, warehouses with signage clutter, restaurants with decorative lighting.

When in doubt, start with 75 ft, run the wizard, then walk the site. If anyone standing mid-corridor can’t read a face plainly, drop to 50 ft or add a reassurance sign.

30-Minute Field Walkthrough

1. Print the CSV. It lists each corridor run and how many internal signs you planned.
2. Do a quick walk. Stand at mid-run and corners. Can you clearly see a sign without moving? If not, add one.
3. Check conflicts. Look for banners, screens, or seasonal displays that may block views later.
4. Validate arrows. At each decision, would a first-time visitor choose correctly within two seconds? If not, relocate or rotate.
5. Review doors. Every exit access door along the route should be unmistakable from the approach.

Product Choices

• Double-face, universal arrows: Simplifies ordering and cuts fixtures at intersections.
• High-contrast faces: Pick letter color and panel finish that stand out in your interior, not just on a spec sheet.
• Battery-backed vs photoluminescent: Photoluminescent signs need reliable charging light; in dim corridors, battery-backed LED is safer.
• Wet/cold-rated: Use gasketed housings outdoors, in freezers, or near washdown areas so faces don’t fog or fail.
• Self-testing electronics: Cuts maintenance friction and surfaces problems early.

What It Does / Doesn’t Do

• Does: Give a defendable starting point for counts and a placement rationale you can share with your AHJ.
• Doesn’t: Replace engineered lighting calculations or jurisdiction-specific mandates.
• Assumes: Typical U.S. model-code expectations for visibility and directionality; always verify locally.

Bottom line: Treat the output as a planning sketch. Before you buy, walk the route with your electrical contractor or facility team and confirm the counts feel right in the real space.

Next Steps

1. Run the wizard with best-guess inputs; export CSV to your project folder.
2. Walk the site and note obstructions or special views.
3. Revise counts inside the tool if the field check suggests tighter spacing or extra arrows.
4. Choose products (single vs double-face, arrow options, wet/cold-rated).
5. Confirm with AHJ. Bring the one-page summary to your fire marshal or plan reviewer.

Testing & Maintenance

• Monthly: Quick test (~30 s) to confirm lamps and indicators.
• Annually: Full 90-minute test (or self-diagnostic cycle) with battery replacements as needed.
• Recordkeeping: Keep a simple log—date, pass/fail, corrective action. It makes inspections painless.