High Rise Building Stairwell Egress Path Marking Requirements

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We can all imagine how stressful it would be to evacuate from a large building. But imagine how stressful it would be if the building's back up lighting failed and the evacuation took place in darkness. That's what happened during the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. When the bombs detonated, they destroyed the buildings' backup generators, leaving thousands of evacuees to stumble their way to safety while fearing for their lives. Following the World Trade Center's lighting failure, cities and states across the U.S. enacted new safety measures for exit enclosures. Today, high rises that contain occupied floors above 75 feet from the lowest level of fire department vehicle access practice these measures according to International Building Code and the International Fire Code's egress marking guidelines.

The International Building Code regulates new construction and is practiced by all 50 states. The International Fire Code regulates both new and exiting construction but is practiced by only 42 states, leaving a large number of buildings that still rely on old egress safety measures. If you own a building in a state that hasn't adopted a version of the International Fire Code, implementing International Fire Code measures is still critical for the safety of your building occupants in the event of an evacuation. Even if you have an evacuation plan, its effectiveness could depend on the evacuees' ability to retain their vision under smoky conditions, and only International Fire Code regulations insure that they can.




Regardless of whether a high rise contains emergency back up lighting, the International Building Code and International Fire Code require the application of luminous egress markings to steps, landings and handrails within exit enclosures. For steps, a continuous 1-2 inch wide stripe should be placed at the horizontal leading edge of each step and extend the full length of the step, with the edge of the stripe placed no more than ½ inch from the leading edge of the step and not overlapping the step's edge by more than the same measurement. For landings, the leading edge of each landing should be marked with a stripe of the same dimensions as for steps. For handrails, a continuous stripe not less than 1 inch wide should be placed on the top surface of the handrail and extend its length, including its extension. Where handrails bend or turn corners, no more than 4 inches should separate the stripes.

Implementing egress path markings according to the International Building Code and International Fire Code is neither difficult nor expensive. The only requirements are the purchase of photoluminescent components and their application according to the codes' guidelines. If you own a high rise in a state that hasn't adopted a version of the International Fire Code, it's still critical to place luminous egress markings in your building's exit enclosures. Chances are that your building won't experience a low visibility evacuation. But if it does, having its stairwells equipped with luminous egress markings could mean the difference between a smooth evacuation and one that results in casualties.

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• photoluminescent exit signs