Year upon year FIREX sets the bar for fire safety events in the UK, consistently proving itself to be the key exhibition that brings together all interested parties including manufacturers, suppliers, industry professionals and end user stakeholders under the same roof.
Once again, Everlux are pleased to announce that we shall be exhibiting at this year’s FIREX 2023 at the ExCeL, London May 16th to 18th.
Probably unsurprisingly to those who know us, Everlux are at the forefront of all relevant changes to the standards and legislation that guide the UK fire industry and this year is no exception.
2023 has seen the implementation of the new Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 which prescribes new, mandatory fire safety measures for high-rise residential buildings following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in 2017. A key element of the new legislation is the requirement for "Wayfinding Signage for Fire Services” which provides clear and unambiguous identification of each floor and the flats/dwellings contained within it along with "Safety Instructions & Fire Notices” for residents.
Everlux will be showcasing our bespoke range of wayfinding signage solutions that meet these requirements as well as our renowned extensive range of photoluminescent safety sign and systems.
If you would like to discuss these and perhaps experience our immersive Low Location Lighting (LLL) tunnel we can be found at Stand F1:1412 where our team will be delighted to receive you!
Once again, Everlux are pleased to announce that we shall be exhibiting at this year’s FIREX 2023 at the ExCeL, London May 16th to 18th.
Probably unsurprisingly to those who know us, Everlux are at the forefront of all relevant changes to the standards and legislation that guide the UK fire industry and this year is no exception.
2023 has seen the implementation of the new Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 which prescribes new, mandatory fire safety measures for high-rise residential buildings following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in 2017. A key element of the new legislation is the requirement for "Wayfinding Signage for Fire Services” which provides clear and unambiguous identification of each floor and the flats/dwellings contained within it along with "Safety Instructions & Fire Notices” for residents.
Everlux will be showcasing our bespoke range of wayfinding signage solutions that meet these requirements as well as our renowned extensive range of photoluminescent safety sign and systems.
If you would like to discuss these and perhaps experience our immersive Low Location Lighting (LLL) tunnel we can be found at Stand F1:1412 where our team will be delighted to receive you!
Everlux are pleased to once again be an exhibitor at one of the most important events the UK Fire Safety calendar – The Fire Safety Event!
Next week, from 25th - 27th April at the NEC
Birmingham, or Everlux team will be ready to welcome you at our Stand – 3A/L40
– to discuss any matters relating to fire safety & evacuation signage and
demonstrate our extensive range of photoluminescent solutions including the new
Wayfinding signage for high-rise residential buildings in compliance with the
new Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 that came into effect at the start
of the year.
Everlux are proud to be part of this key event that will gather the highest quality manufacturers, suppliers and service providers across the entire active and passive fire protection industry and we hope you can join us.
If you wish to attend this year’s Fire Safety Event and visit our team then tickets are free and you can register to attend HERE.
The Energy Crisis – The case for a wider use of Photoluminescent Safety Wayguidance Systems.
Adrian Iley, Managing Director,
G.B.C. (Speciality Chemicals) Limited., Director & Secretary,
Photoluminescent Safety Products Association (P.S.P.A.)
Adrian Iley, Managing Director, G.B.C. (Speciality Chemicals) Limited., Director & Secretary, Photoluminescent Safety Products Association (P.S.P.A.)
The energy crisis means that there is a strong possibility of power shortages and blackouts in the next year at least. It therefore makes sense for everyone to think about how they can manage without power. Of course, you can invest in battery back-up systems but unless you are in the fortunate position to have your own solar or wind farm most people just have to manage somehow.
In
public buildings or multiple occupancy buildings there should be adequate
escape route marking in all public areas as is specified by National and local
regulations. Usually, these systems involve emergency electrical lighting with
battery back-up systems. However, we have seen in numerous examples including the
Twin Towers (9/11), and more recently Grenfell Tower, that such systems, even if
installed correctly, do not necessarily function properly in an emergency. What
is always true is that electrical systems require power and if the power source
is interrupted or if not properly maintained, it does not function. Stairwell
with Photoluminescent system in natural
light Stairwell with Photoluminescent system in natural light in the dark
Photoluminescent (PL) systems are based on special pigments which absorb UV light, store it and re-emit the energy in the form of visible light over a period of several hours. Critically, these systems – provided they are first charged with UV light, cannot fail. There are many examples of cases where their existence has meant that people have managed to safely evacuate public buildings and transport only because such systems were installed – often supplementary to electrical systems, just because in an emergency they work! The most famous example of course was 9/11 when several people only managed to evacuate down the stairwells because of the photoluminescent paint markings which guided them to safety (all electrical systems had ceased to operate).
If you travel on a ferry, cruise ship, plane, train or transit many road tunnels you will find photoluminescent escape route systems installed. The unfortunate fact is that in most cases these systems were only installed subsequently as a result of a disaster. You may remember the ‘Herald of Free Enterprise’ ferry accident, the Piper Alpha Oil platform explosion, the Scandinavian Star cruise ship disaster, Swiss Tunnel fires, World Trade Centre New York bombing, 9/11 etc. etc. There is a long list of such accidents which have led to Photoluminescent systems being introduced into safety regulations and successfully installed.
In 1945 when the Americans dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the whole area was devastated. However, people had to be able to move around despite the chaos that ensued. The founder of Nemoto & Co. Japan, Kenzo Nemoto first started business making photoluminescent paints to help people find their way in the wake of the devastation. Today as the worlds’ leading manufacturer of PL pigments, the main applications remain for emergency evacuation. You might consider that in other war zones – one thinks today of Ukraine, there could be a case for similar applications now unfortunately.
Away from war zones, but as a direct result, on a practical level (if energy is likely to become rationed in future due to escalating costs), it surely must make sense for us to consider simple applications in the home for Photoluminescent material in case of blackouts, not just for emergency evacuation? Applications could include:
- Marking torches/mobile phones
- Marking doorways/stair treads
- Marking door handles/keyholes/keys
- Marking Spectacles/hearing aids
- Marking Nebulisers/pill dispensers
- Marking on safety jackets (in addition to reflective)
- Marking any hazards (e.g. obstacles, trip hazards)
When you experience a serious blackout first hand it makes you realise how difficult it is to navigate in the dark, especially if there is also smoke present as a result of a fire incident or powder atmosphere as a result of the collapse of a building (earthquake, bombing etc.).
In 2003 there was an interesting study made by Ilmenau University in Germany where Photoluminescent systems were compared with electrical evacuation systems in smoky conditions (typical of an emergency situation). The study concluded that continuous lines of low ambient light fitted at a low level (approx. 1m above floor level – typical of a Photoluminescent system), were found to be much more effective as an escape route marking system than high mounted, high brightness electrical sources. The reason being that bright lights are scattered by smoke and can cause disorientation while Photoluminescent systems below the smoke offered a continuous escape pathway.
From an environmental perspective the
common LED lights and Photoluminescent systems both require special pigments
and a lot of energy to produce. The big difference is that if you use a high
quality Photoluminescent system, there is no end of life. As long as there
is a source of UV light, Photoluminescent systems will work when there is a
sudden blackout and we should be more prepared for that in the future.
NOTES:
LumiNova® pigments were invented by Nemoto & Co, Japan in 1993. These pigments are not radioactive and are activated by UV light sources. The energy is stored and re-emitted over many hours as a visible yellow/green light – so most discernible to the human eye and appropriate for safety.
Photoluminescent systems containing LumiNova® are already widely installed in ships, cars, aircraft, tunnels and public buildings where in some cases they have totally replaced electrical systems.
G.B.C. (Speciality Chemicals) Limited is the European marketing company for Nemoto & Co., Japan and Nemoto is a shareholder in the company.
Photographs courtesy of Nemoto & Co, Japan.
References:
https://www.tu-ilmenau.de/fileadmin/Bereiche/MB/lichttechnik/Literatur/2003/BieskeInterLumen2003.pdf
AGI/06.01.2023©
Our stand will be featuring our extensive range of photoluminescent safety signs and systems including our solutions for the new "wayfinding signs for the fire service” that are now a mandatory requirement in most high- rise residential buildings as a result of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations which became came in to effect from the 23rd January. If these new, prescribed signs are of particular interest or you require further information our UK Sales Manager, Mark Bridgens, will be on hand to discuss this with you personally.
You can register your interest in attending this event for free here.