The NFPA sets out illumination and visibility requirements for exit signs and lights in NFPA 101: Life Safety Code. Note: 2: Group B occupancies are those defined in Chapter 7 of the Uniform Building Code, 1979 Edition. (c) Door Leaf Width. The sign shall be in letters not less than one-inch high on a contrasting background. Buildings or structures used for human occupancy shall have at least one approved exit door. ), (4) The size of the view panel or window shall be no less than 200 square inches. or Red Exit Signs are required in your building. nearest accessible restroom. Some states depart from national standards. Restrooms that are not (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303(b)(2)(A).). accessible should have a sign showing direction to the 1. Add tactile text and Amendment filed 4-27-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. (1) Panic hardware shall cause the door latch to release when a force not exceeding 15 pounds is applied to the releasing device in the direction of exit traffic. Below is a summary of the It is always best to contact your local Fire Marshal before choosing the right Exit sign for your particular county or municipality. One shall be provided for each door of swinging double doors. 4. Exceptions: 1. Where a door opens over a landing, the landing shall be at least as wide as the door, and at least 5 feet long. (2) Exit doors shall be of the side swinging type. General Industry Safety Orders. on the restroom door, centered, 60 inches from center of sign (as appropriate): Width to height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1, Maximum 15% of character height Both treat visibility, continuous illumination, and contrast as the cornerstones of functioning exit light or sign. UL 924 Exit Sign Code Requirements Exit signs are the most common building signs in the world. Even though the European Union generally uses Green It is no wonder that environmental issues and progressive methods are used actively throughout the state. OSHA requirements for exit sign lettering. 1011.3 Tactile exit signs A tactile sign stating EXIT and complying with ICC A117.1 shall be provided adjacent to each door to an area of refuge, an exterior area for assisted rescue, an exit stairway, an exit ramp, an exit passageway and the exit discharge. (1) Mental, penal, or corrective institutions where supervisory personnel is continually on duty and effective provisions are made to remove occupants in case of fire or other emergency. Scope. opening. NFPA and OSHA requirements overlap: both require that externally illuminated exit signs have 5 foot-candles of illumination. California requires that 12 inch geometric signs be mounted Manually-operated edge bolts or surface-mounted flush bolts and surface bolts are prohibited on required exit doors. (d) Swing. UL 924 Exit Sign, Glowing Letters, Red Background, 1-Sided, UL924 Exit Sign, Glowing Letters, Green Background, 1-Sided. California is a notoriously large, diverse, and "green" state. (j) Turnstiles. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303(c).). Separate dead lock activation on room side of the corridor doors in hotels and motels shall have handle or large thumb turn in an easily reached location. Revolving, sliding, and overhead doors shall not be used as required exits. 1/32 inch. inside. minimum of 1/40 inch /.025" (0.6 mm) high at the apex. 1/10 inch (2.5 mm) is required between any two dots within No leaf of an exit door shall exceed 4 feet in width. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303(i)(2) Exception 1). (based on upper case "I"), Width to height ratio between 1:5 and 1:10, Tactile characters 48-60" above floor measured from character baselines. Exception: Where the door opens into the stairway of a smokeproof enclosure, the landing need not have a length of 5 feet. (2) Power operated doors conforming to SFM 33.1, as shown in Chapter 2-60 of Part 2 of Title 24. Tactile signs required at each door that leads to a (1) This section shall apply to every exit door. Stairway -No Landing‘ or equivalent wording, and there shall be adequate illumination. 5. (3) The bottom of the view panel or window shall be no more than 48 inches above the floor. thick and must contrast with the door. Standard Number: 1910.37 1910.37(b)(7) ... 1986, concerning exit signs. California Braille requirements differ slightly from the federal law. The locking device must be of a type that will be readily distinguishable as locked. 6. Amendment of subsection (e) filed 10-13-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. • Dot Height: Approved by State Building Standards Commission 1-24-83. For many, however, it is also important to get a “sense” of any color preference – so that your building is as consistent as possible with others in your area. (1) Manually operated horizontal sliding doors may be used when serving an occupant load of 10 or less. For prior history, see Register 76, No. (2) This requirement shall not apply to exterior exit doors in Group B occupancies, if such doors are unlocked during business hours and there is a readily visible, durable sign on or adjacent to the door stating ‘THIS DOOR TO REMAIN UNLOCKED DURING BUSINESS HOURS.‘ The sign shall be in letters not less than one-inch high on a contrasting background. The information below is for general guidance, only. Tactile signs that say "EXIT" are required at each grade level exterior exit door. be any color, however they to the finished floor. Tactile signs required at each door that leads to a grade-level exterior exit by means of a stairway or ramp (as appropriate): • EXIT STAIR DOWN or EXIT STAIR UP • EXIT RAMP DOWN or EXIT RAMP UP. Exit sign requirements vary by state and municipality, which is why it's important to check with your Fire Marshall to see whether Green Exit Signs or Red Exit Signs are required in your building. (e) Locking. the 2004 ADAAG. In cases where there is no • Cell Spacing: Exit sign placement shall be such that no point in an exit access corridor or exit passageway is more than 100 feet (30 480 mm) or the listed viewing distance for the sign, whichever is less, from the nearest visible exit sign. Braille to the sign. word, measured from the center of the dots in the second (f) Change in Floor Level at Doors. 17). Rules apply to Restrooms, • lntercell Spacing: Regardless of the occupant load, there shall be a floor or landing on each side of a door. opening, then mount the Intervening means of egress doors within exits shall be marked by exit signs. Yet, localized codes often specify one or the (n) Latches. ), (5) Guards shall be placed over windows which are not of the shatter-proof or wired glass type. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303(i)(2) Exception 5). from its web site at, Subchapter 7. Exit Signs (Red is used to specify prohibited actions), our UL 924 standards allow either Green Exit signs or Red Exit signs. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303(b)(2)(C). (2) No power-operated door shall be considered a required exit unless it also swings by manual means. In existing installations where there is no landing, doors shall be conspicuously marked with a sign stating ‘Danger! “Not an Exit” Signs Doors that might be mistaken for an exit need to have a “Not an Exit” sign to avoid possible confusion. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303(b)(2)(E).). column of the first cell to the center of the dots in the first must contrast with the door. a cell, measured from the dot centers (vertical or horizontal). Staging and Refuge Areas. Our collection of exit signs should give you the flexibility needed to stay compliant. Signs indicating “Not an Exit” are equally important for keeping occupants on the right path while making their exit from a building. There are several codes that make requirements of an exit sign. Raised characters. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303(c)(2).). The guidelines in this administrative bulletin shall apply to both new buildings and the replacement of signs in existing 2/10 inch (5 mm) is required between each cell within a Using Separate Tactile and Visual Characters, Minimum Character Heights for Visual Signs, Identification of Accessible Facilities and Features. ), (6) Glass in swinging doors shall conform to the provisions of Section 3242(d). Exit doors shall be openable from the direction of exit travel without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort whenever the building is occupied. grade-level exterior exit by means of a stairway or ramp Exit doors shall swing in the direction of exit travel when serving: (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303(b)(1).). (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303(e).). CALIFORNIA. 2. 22). The geometric door signs can Tactile signs that say "EXIT" are required at each (l) Bolts. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303(c)(3).). Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code; and Section 18943(c), Health and Safety Code. Exception: Doors to individual hotel or motel units shall operate similarly, except that when the bolt and unlatching operation is key operated from corridor or exterior side of the unit door, large bow keys (2 inch full bow or 1 1/4 inch half bow) shall be provided in lieu of lever type hardware on the corridor side. Latching and locking doors that are hand activated and which are in a path of travel, shall be operable with a single effort by lever type hardware, by panic bars, push-pull activating bars or other hardware designed to provide passage without requiring the ability to grasp the opening hardware. Note: Authority and reference cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. column of the next cell. https://www.dir.ca.gov/od_pub/disclaimer.html. (2) Windows, if used, shall be kept free of dirt or other obstruction to vision. The unlatching of any leaf shall not require more than one operation. ANSI / ADAAG. (k) Doors in Folding Partitions. (g) Special Doors. 20). Windows which could be mistaken for doors shall be made inaccessible to occupants by means of barriers or railings. Accessible restrooms California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Section 3.09, the California Health and Safety Code Section 13220, the 2010 San Francisco Fire Code, Sections 404.1, and 607.2. (3) Exit doors in places of employment in Group B occupancies, may be locked whenever the locking device or mechanism is controlled by an effective mechanical/electrical or electronic system acceptable to the Division and approved for the purpose by the State Fire Marshal. • Braille shall have a domed or rounded shape. Facilities with restrooms Amendment filed 5-25-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303(b)(2)(D). This information is provided free of charge by the Department of Industrial Relations