Directional Exit Signage in a Small Industrial Setting – Less than 40 employees

[vickyp]

#102597

Forum: Community

We are a Small Company, in Ontario Canada. We have recently put up illuminated Exit Signs at all exits, but a few of the Exits are NOT visible, when walking down corridores – from one exit to another. Do we need (by Regulations and Fire Codes) to put up “Directional Signs” indicating where the actual Exits are, being it is a small company’ We only have less than 40 employees total. The Building is an old Airplane hanger…so it is two stories tall, but totally open concept, Only working on one level floor, approx 25000sq. ft.
I have searched this issue, but to no avail. is there someone out there that can point me in the right direction so I can show my Employers the facts that pertain to Directional Exits in an industrial setting’
Thank Q:
H& S Coordinator

[vickyp]

#102970

Exit signs must be visible to persons walking down the corridors. To the extent they’re not, you’re out of compliance with OHS, Fire Code and Building Code requirements. While “directional signs” may be used as a supplementary safety measure, they’re not a substitute for illuminated Exit signs that meet the requirements of the Fire & Building Codes. I’ve copied the relevant sections below so you can see what the standards are. BTW, this is a serious matter that warrants your immediate attention before an inspector points out the problem or, heaven forbid, somebody gets injured during a fire. Hope that helps.
OHS IND EST REGULATION
PART II
BUILDINGS
120. Except as prescribed in this Part, the Building Code applies to all industrial establishments with respect to,
(a) access to an exit;
(b) exit from a floor area;
(c) structural adequacy;
(d) washrooms;
(e) service rooms;
(f) the fire-resistance rating of a separation for an access to an exit, service room and a process room that contains a flammable substance;
(g) the fire protection rating of a closure.

FIRE CODE
2.7.3.2. (1) Exit signs shall be illuminated externally or internally, as appropriate for the sign’s design, while the buildingis occupied.
(2) Exit signs that contain self-luminous or photoluminescent material shall be maintained in accordance with
(a) the sign manufacturer’s maintenance instructions, if any, and
(b) the conditions outlined in the approval of the designated evaluation body under the Building Code, if any.
Exit sign
9.3.3.10. (1)  Exit signs shall be located along a means of egress so that directions of exit travel are apparent to the occupants.[Emphasis added]
(2) Exit signs required by Sentence (1) shall have the word “EXIT” in block letters and such letters shall be
(a) internally or externally illuminated,
(b) coloured red on an opaque or contrasting field, and
(c) at least 115 mm high with a 19 mm stroke.

Illumination of egress
9.3.3.12. Corridors and stairways shall be lighted to the intensity of 50 lx measured at the floor level, or 5 watts/m2 of floor area.

BUILDING CODE
3.2.7.3. Emergency Lighting
(1) Emergency lighting shall be provided to an average level of illumination not less than 10 lx at floor or tread level in,
(a) exits,
(b) principal routes providing access to exit in an open floor area and in service rooms,
(c) corridors used by the public,
(d) corridors serving patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms in a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy,
(e) corridors serving classrooms,
(f) underground walkways,
(g) public corridors,
(h) floor areas or parts of them where the public may congregate in,
(i) Group A, Division 1 occupancies, or
(ii) Group A, Divisions 2 and 3 occupancies having an occupant load of 60 or more,
(i) floor areas or parts of them in day care centres where persons are cared for,
(j) food preparation areas in commercial kitchens,
(k) principal routes providing access to exit in a floor area that is not subdivided into rooms or suites of rooms served by corridors in a business and personal services occupancy, a mercantile occupancy or an industrial occupancy, and
(l) internal corridors or aisles serving as principal routes to exits in a business and personal services occupancy, a mercantile occupancy or an industrial occupancy that is subdivided into rooms or suites of rooms, and is not served by a public corridor.
(2) Emergency lighting to provide an average level of illumination of not less than 10 lx at floor or catwalk level shall be included,
(a) in a service space referred to in Sentence 3.2.1.1.(9), and
(b) on a shelf and rack storage system, in locations described in Sentence 3.16.1.5.(2).
(3) The minimum value of the illumination required by Sentences (1) and (2) shall not be less than 1 lx.
(4) In addition to the requirements of Sentences (1) to (3), the installation of battery-operated emergency lighting in health care facilities shall conform to the appropriate requirements of CSA Z32, “Electrical Safety and Essential Electrical Systems in Health Care Facilities”.

3.4.5. Exit Signs
3.4.5.1. Exit Signage
(1) Except as provided by Sentences (9) and (10), every exit door shall have an exit sign placed over or adjacent to it if the exit serves,
(a) a building more than 2 storeys in building height,
(b) a building having an occupant load of more than 150, or
(c) a room or floor area that has a fire escape as part of a required means of egress.
(2) Except as provided by Sentence (7), every exit sign shall,
(a) be visible on approach to the exit,  [Emphasis added]
(b) consist of a green pictogram and white graphic symbol meeting the visibility specifications referred to in ISO 3864-1, “Graphical Symbols – Safety Colours and Safety Signs – Part 1: Design Principles for Safety Signs and Safety Markings”, and
(c) conform to the dimensions indicated in ISO 7010, “Graphical Symbols – Safety Colours and Safety Signs – Safety Signs Used in Workplaces and Public Areas” for the following symbols:
(i) E001 emergency exit left,
(ii) E002 emergency exit right,
(iii) E005 90-degree directional arrow, and
(iv) E006 45-degree directional arrow.
(3) Internally illuminated exit signs shall,
(a) be continuously illuminated, and
(b) where illumination of the sign is powered by an electrical circuit, be constructed in conformance with CSA 22.2 No. 141, “Emergency Lighting Equipment”.
(4) Externally illuminated exit signs shall be continuously illuminated by a light fixture supplied by an electrical circuit.
(5) Photoluminescent and self-luminous exit signs shall,
(a) conform to CAN/ULC-S572, “Photoluminescent and Self-Luminous Signs and Path Marking Systems”,
(b) be labelled in accordance with the time duration for which they have been tested and listed,
(c) be so installed that upon failure of the regular power they will continue to be illuminated for the applicable time duration specified in Clause 3.2.7.4.(1)(b), and
(d) be continuously illuminated if reliant on an external energy source to energize the reflective coating of the sign.
(6) If illumination of an exit sign is provided from an electrical circuit, that circuit shall,
(a) serve no equipment other than emergency lighting in the area where exit signs are installed, and
(b) be connected to an emergency power supply as described in Sentence 3.2.7.4.(1)
(7) Where no exit is visible from a public corridor, from a corridor used by the public in a Group A or B major occupancy or from principal routes serving an open floor area having an occupant load of more than 150, an exit sign conforming to Clauses (2)(b) and (c) with an arrow or other indicator pointing at the direction of egress shall be provided.
(8) Except for egress doorways described in Sentence 3.3.2.3.(4), an exit sign conforming to Sentences (2) to (6) shall be placed over or adjacent to every egress doorway from rooms with an occupant load more than 60 in Group A, Division 1 occupancies, dance halls, licensed beverage establishments and other similar occupancies that, when occupied, have lighting levels below the level that would provide easy identification of the egress doorway.
(9) Except for suite doors opening directly to the exterior, every exit serving a hotel shall have an exit sign placed over or adjacent to it.
(10) An exit sign is not required within a suite containing a Group B, Division 3 occupancy if the following requirements are met:
(a) the suite contains sleeping accommodation for not more than 10 persons, and
(b) not more than 6 occupants require assistance in evacuation in case of an emergency.

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