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Author Topic: A New Low in Presentation Standards Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 05-30-2017 02:40 PM                     We do have nation wide standards for exit sign brightness and emergency lights in germany. However, they do not deal with cinema explicitly. I know some vendors of exit signs that have two brightness modes, one 'dim', one brighter for 'emergency' mode. So if your system allows it, you can have a dimmer emergency sign during presentations, and it will only light up brighter when alarm is on. Not many cinemas have them, though. - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Manny Montes Master Film Handler Posts: 270 From: United States Registered: Feb 2010 posted 05-31-2017 04:28 AM                     A better option i've found (while more expensive) is the tritium powered signs, no need for electrical, they meet fire code (at least in every city i've worked in) and they're dimmer than the electrical ones (especially the newer much brighter LED versions)  |  IP: Logged Harold Hallikainen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 906 From: Denver, CO, USA Registered: Aug 2009 posted 05-31-2017 05:09 PM                        Tritium appears to be required to be handled carefully. A quick search found this" http://www.everglow.us/?photoluminescent=20&signs=replace-tritium-exit-signs&gclid=CjwKEAjw07nJBRDG_tvshefHhWQSJABRcE-ZoEx3k5VqLFZ7072wrBJURbokY7OUfX-Qp5lGVBbTvhoCwBfw_wcB . They sell "photoluminescent" signs that are supposedly approved. I think the are "charged" by ambient light, then emit light when it's dark. I wonder if there is ever enough ambient light in an auditorium. Harold  |  IP: Logged David Buckley Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 525 From: Oxford, N. Canterbury, New Zealand Registered: Aug 2004 posted 05-31-2017 06:55 PM                        quote: Frank Cox So if the power goes out the exit signs are off too. I find that... "astounding". Here in NZ and in other places I've lived, where exit signs are legally required then they have to continue to operate when the power fails for a minimum of three hours, same as legally required emergency lighting. There's a popular type of exit sign available here, that has either a white background with green lettering, or black background with green lettering. The white version is great in most applications where there is "ordinary" lighting, but is horrible in cinemas and theatres. For which venues they make the black version, which emits just a soft glow, which is much less obnoxious in dark spaces.  |  IP: Logged Manny Montes Master Film Handler Posts: 270 From: United States Registered: Feb 2010 posted 06-01-2017 02:54 AM                     That is true that it is required to be handled delicately, however the company we buy from, if you are replacing a sign they will pay for you to ship it back to them for disposal since it is considered "nuclear waste", it's included in their replacement sign price.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 06-01-2017 11:57 AM                     I'm used to seeing tritium used in glow in the dark gun sights. I bought a Sig Sauer P226 over 10 years ago and the tritium night sights still glow just about as well when I first bought the pistol.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-01-2017 11:38 PM                     quote: Harold Hallikainen I think the are "charged" by ambient light, then emit light when it's dark. I wonder if there is ever enough ambient light in an auditorium. The signs are filled with tritium gas and phosphorus. Tritium decays radioactively and the released beta particles excite the phosphorus to make it glow, continuously. No sunlight is necessary to make them glow. They will glow for about ten years before they need to be replaced. The half-life of tritium is approximately 10 to 12 years. Since tritium decays into beta particles, it is relatively harmless as far as radioactivity is concerned. Beta particles will not penetrate more than a fraction of a millimeter through human skin. The tritium inside glowing signs, etc., is encased in glass and metal. It is totally safe as long as the sign enclosure remains intact. The only real negatives that I see are because if tritium leaks out it can become an environmental contaminant. Radiation isn't much of a hazard and, although it is toxic, it isn't a great concern unless it is ingested or inhaled. Even then, if one seeks medical treatment, there isn't much danger. Just use them as directed and don't break open the enclosure and there will be virtually no danger at all. Many theaters that I have worked in used tritium luminescent signs. They have all worked just fine. No issues with replacing batteries or backup power supplies. But for the expense and the issues of disposal, I would use them virtually anywhere.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 06-06-2017 04:48 AM                        Are you able to turn them on or off, or do they just glow for 10 years and then die? Are there already available in formats that would be useful in a theatre environment...isle lighting, decorative rope lighting for concessions and the like? Who is selling the stuff?  |  IP: Logged

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