Improper Exit Arrangement

Life Safety Tip from Bob Trotter, CBO, CFM, MCP

Improper Exit Arrangement

If a temporary partition is installed to separate an area undergoing construction, repair, or improvement operations, alternate EXITS need to be identified. According to LS.01.02.01 Element of Performance 2 of the 2012 Hospital Accreditation Standards “The hospital posts signage identifying the location of alternate exits to everyone affected”. The appropriate action for this scenario would be to cover or remove the EXIT sign and post the (floor plan) signage indicating the location(s) of alternate EXITS.

Conflicting Exit Signs

Life Safety Tip from Bob Trotter, BS, MCP

Conflicting Exit Signs

This scenario exists at the bottom of an EXIT stair enclosure. The original EXIT sign did not indicate the direction of egress travel. Therefore the more modern EXIT sign was installed with the left Chevron indicating the direction of egress travel. However, the original sign should have been removed to eliminate the conflict that could pose risk to life safety.

Directional Exit Signs

The Joint Commission Statement of Conditions™ requires exit signs to be readily visible from any direction of access and it refers the user to NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code® section 7.10.1.2.

Exits, other than the main exterior exit doors that obviously and clearly are identifiable as readily visible from any direction of exit access.

An exit sign with directional indicator should be installed to indicate the direction of travel to the exit. While there are many situations where the actual need for exit signs is debatable, it is desirable to be on the safe side by providing signs, because it is known that panic seldom develops, even in the presence of danger, as long as occupants of buildings are moving toward exits where signs are visible within a reasonable distance in the path of travel.

Life Safety Essentials: Legibility of EXIT Signs

Learning Objective: To be able to recognize the improper installation of EXIT signs.

By Robert Trotter, CBO, CFM, MCP - Manager, Sr. Life Safety Specialist

For a more aesthetically pleasing built environment, architects and building managers are marking the means of egress in new buildings and existing buildings with edge lit LED exit signs in favor of the standard thermoplastic or cast aluminum exit signs. Occasionally these exit signs have been in existence for many years or even recently installed where no one has noticed the sign does not meet the applicable provisions of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code® nor any locally adopted building code. The edge lit exit sign (shown right) is listed as a ceiling mounted sign to be located near the wall. Double face signs utilize a Mylar insert to avoid viewing of the EXIT in reverse. 

Exit Verbiage

A hospital has a sign posted that says “Not An Exit”, but the standard actually reads that “No Exit” should be posted.   Will this be an issue?