Everything we see has a unique history. Have you ever looked at an emergency exit light and wondered what led to its creation? In this article, you’ll learn the history of emergency lights, their evolution, and the tragedy that led to the stringent enforcement of emergency lightning.
For a century, the Iroquois Theater Fire remained the biggest tragedy to ever take place in the USA until the unfortunate incident on 9/11. The fire broke out in the backstage of the theater after an arc lamp broke down and ignited the muslin curtains. The stage actor, Foy, came on stage to calm the public, but to no avail. The crowd panicked and flooded towards the exit, stamping fellow viewers and creating a stampede. The exits were blocked, there wasn’t enough lighting, and the staff weren’t trained for emergencies. In short, the building wasn’t fireproof or fire-ready as they advertised it to be. The fire claimed the lives of over 600 people, many of whom were women and children.
The immediate aftermath of the Iroquois Theater Fire saw public outcry and a demand for better safety measures in public buildings. The tragedy led to the implementation of laws requiring outward-swinging doors on public buildings, ensuring that large crowds could not be trapped by their own panic. It also highlighted the need for clearly marked and well-illuminated exits that people could easily find in emergencies.
Subsequent fires, such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, where 146 garment workers perished due to locked exits and inadequate escape routes, further reinforced the need for stringent fire safety codes. These incidents laid the groundwork for modern building codes, which mandate the presence of exit signs and emergency lighting in all public buildings. The reforms required exits to be clearly marked, unobstructed, and easily accessible, even in the chaos of an emergency.
Born out of necessity to prevent further tragedies, early exit signs were simple in nature. They were often just painted or printed signs indicating the direction of the exit. However, they couldn’t serve their purpose as their visibility was way too low when they were needed the most, in times of fire and smoke. As a result, illuminated exit signs became standard.
The earliest versions of illuminated signs used incandescent bulbs, which, while effective, had significant drawbacks. Incandescent bulbs generate a lot of heat, consume considerable energy, and have a relatively short lifespan, requiring frequent maintenance and replacements. Despite these limitations, incandescent lights served their purpose, but they weren’t as good as what we have now.
The next major leap in exit light wholesale sign technology came with the advent of fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent bulbs were more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs and had a longer lifespan. However, they still had their issues, such as flickering, the need for ballasts, and the environmental concern of mercury content. While these signs were a step forward, they were far from perfect.
The real revolution in emergency light wholesale came with the introduction of LED technology. LEDs are far more energy-efficient than both incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, consuming up to 80% less energy. They also have an incredibly long lifespan, often exceeding 50,000 hours, which significantly reduces maintenance costs. Additionally, LEDs do not generate heat like incandescent bulbs, making them safer in fire situations.
LED exit signs offer bright, consistent illumination, ensuring that exits are clearly visible even in thick smoke. They are also more environmentally friendly, as they do not contain hazardous materials like mercury. These benefits quickly made LED the preferred choice for exit signs, and they have become the standard in new construction and renovations.
With the march of signs and technology, the exit signs evolved accordingly. We’re not blessed with smart signs that not only illuminate but are also integrated into the building management system. If a sign were to fail, it can be found through the console and fixed promptly. These signs also adjust their brightness levels to match the ambient lighting, thus saving energy.
All in all, the evolution of emergency light exit sign wholesale is a necessity that sprung from the lessons learned from history’s most tragic fires. From the Iroquois Theater Fire to the Cocoanut Grove Nightclub disaster, each tragedy has driven improvements in safety standards, culminating in the advanced, reliable systems we have today. The transition from simple painted signs to smart, LED-illuminated exit signs reflects the continuous effort to protect lives and ensure that history does not repeat itself. As technology continues to advance, so too will the methods we use to safeguard our buildings and the people within them.
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