PL Safety Signs Are Prominent in European Airports, Train Stations

Traveling to Europe soon? Look around while at airports and in train stations and you’ll probably notice photoluminescent safety signs, such as the internationally preferred Man Running/Arrow symbols, fire extinguisher signage and more. PL products have been adopted because the symbol signage is easy to understand by everybody and inexpensive to install—and because the markings provide easy-to-see emergency directions. PL signs are also gaining acceptance in the US, especially in rail cars where they are now mandatory.

Photoluminescent Emergency Signage is a requirement in Passenger Rail Equipment, per APTA (American Public Transportation Association) requirement APTA SS-PS-002-98, Rev. 3, Standard for Emergency Signage for Egress/Access of Passenger Rail Equipment, published by the APTA. The photoluminescent signage becomes visible, when a rail car loses power and its interior is plunged into darkness.

A May 14 fire in a footwear factory in a Manila suburb in the Philippines killed 72 people, authorities said.  The fire generated huge clouds of thick black smoke and spread quickly.  Many of the dead bodies were recovered from the second floor of the factory building, authorities said, suggesting those building occupants had become trapped there.

The latest edition of E2072 standard is now available online. The previous 2010 edition was replaced with the 2014 edition, ASTM E2072-14 Standard Specification for Photoluminescent (Phosphorescent) Safety Markings, available for purchase here: http://www.astm.org/Standards/E2072.htm  If you are interested in becoming a member in ASTM E12.13, sign up at http://www.astm.org/MEMBERSHIP/index.html  If you have questions about the three photoluminescence-related standards, you may contact the ASTM Subcommittee E12.13  Chairperson Marina Batzke (Marina@americanpermalight.com) or ASTM Staff Manager Thomas O’Toole totoole@astm.org.