Photoluminescent Building Products FAQs

Photoluminescent Building Products FAQs

Q. What types of AfterGlow® Brand Photoluminescent Building Safety Products are available?

A. AfterGlow® Brand Photoluminescent (PL) Safety Products include a wide range of Low Level Exit Path Markings (LLEPM) and other types of standard PL signage. Custom PL signage is also available.

Q. What causes these products to glow?

A. All photoluminescent products sold by DHi use strontium aluminate or strontium silicate which absorb light energy when exposed to artificial or natural light sources. Once the light source is taken away, they begin to slowly discharge that energy, making them glow.  This is what we call their “afterglow.”

Q. Are these materials environmentally friendly?

A. Yes DHi’s AfterGlow® Brand Photoluminescent Building Safety Products use “Safety Grade” phosphors and are non-toxic and non-radioactive.

Q. A few years ago we put some photoluminescent stars on the ceiling of my child’s room. They glowed for a few months but seemed to lose their ability to recharge and glow. Will that happen with DHi’s products?

A. The “Safety Grade” photoluminescent phosphors used in DHi’s AfterGlow® Brand Safety Products are physically and chemically different from the “Novelty Grade” phosphors you remember. Safety Grade phosphors retain their ability to be recharged and glow brightly for many, many years.

Q. What are Low Level Exit Path Markings (LLEPM)?

A. Low Level Exit Path Markings (LLEPM) are a relatively new type of Life Safety Improvement and consist of a mix of exit path markings at traditional heights and other markings located near the floor where they wouldn’t be hidden by a layer of dense smoke descending from the ceiling and where they could be seen by someone crawling along the floor. They can provide life-saving exit guidance to all residents, employees and tenants during an emergency evacuation.

Q. Other than LLEPM Systems, what types of signage and building safety products does DHi offer?

A. We offer a wide range of other signage ranging from our energy-saving, UL listed, PL exit signs, to stairwell signage, emergency signage and many others. All are available in our commercial catalog and can be purchased from our AfterGlowDirect Web Store.

Q. Does DHi offer custom signs?A. DHi also designs, manufactures and sells a variety of custom signs. Need a PL “You Are Here” sign? We can do that. Need a type of sign you don’t see listed? Contact us and we can probably do that, too!

Q. Are DHi’s AfterGlow® Brand PL Building Safety Products approved under NYC’s Local Law 26?

A. A number of DHi’s AfterGlow® Brand PL Building Safety Products have been approved Under NYC’s Local Law 26 and have been granted Materials and Equipment Acceptance (MEA) numbers by the New York City (NYC) Department of Buildings. These items are available at DHi’s AfterGlowDirect web store. The New York City Department of Buildings’ MEA division regulates materials and equipment requiring the Department’s acceptance, including manufactured items affecting public safety, health, and welfare that are usually considered a permanent part of a building.

Q. What is AfterGlo® Brand Photoluminescent Building Safety Paint?

A. DHi’s AfterGlo® Brand Photoluminescent (PL) Building Safety Paint consists of a white base coat and a tough epoxy, blue- or green- glowing photoluminescent coat with integrated sealer. The paint is cream-colored under normal light. This paint, which is available in both standard and high-performance formulations, is ideal for floor applications in exit stairwells where other products may not hold up over time and is extremely economical when compared to tape products.

Q. Is DHi’s AfterGlo® Brand PL Building Safety Paint approved under NYC’s Local Law 26?

A. The paint has been granted a Materials and Equipment Acceptance (MEA) number by the New York City (NYC) Department of Buildings and is available at DHi’s AfterGlowDirect web store. The MEA number for DHi’s AfterGlo® High Performance Photoluminescent Green paint is MEA 387-07-M. The paint represents an attractive, cost-effective, easy-to-apply alternative to tape-based photoluminescent (PL) safety products currently used on stairs and stairwell landings. These were initially the only products available to address updated building safety requirements mandated by NYC Local Law 26 in 2006. DHi’s AfterGlo® Brand High Performance Photoluminescent Building Safety Paint is the definitive solution in challenging building environments where available adhesive-backed appliqué products have proven unsuitable for wall or stairwell application due to irregular surface conditions or other related issues.

Q. How do I apply DHi’s AfterGlo® Brand PL Building Safety Paint?

A. DHi’s AfterGlo® Brand Photoluminescent Building Safety Paint can be brushed or rolled directly onto concrete, wood, metal, or painted surfaces. It can be used on floors as well as vertical surfaces such as door trim. It’s a tough, abrasion-resistant acrylic polymer coating that resists wear and tear. Application is simple, and when the job is done, it’s easy to clean both brushes and accidental spills with soap and water while the paint is still wet.

Q. What kind of coverage can I expect with DHi’s AfterGlo® Brand PL Building Safety Paint?

A. A one-gallon kit of DHi’s AfterGlo® Brand Photoluminescent Safety Paint will cover 400 square feet or a 1-inch stripe, 2,400 feet long. The cost of the paint for a 1-inch stripe? Less than 40 cents per linear foot. This compares favorably to tape, plastic, or aluminum-backed PL products selling commercially at $1.50 per foot or more.

Q. How do I keep AfterGlo® Brand PL Building Safety Paint clean?

A. DHi’s AfterGlo® Brand Photoluminescent Building Safety Paint is a tough, abrasion-resistant acrylic polymer coating that resists wear and tear. When properly cured, the coating can be washed with standard household and institutional cleaners and a stiff bristle brush.

Q. How long does it take to charge DHi’s AfterGlo® Brand PL Safety Paint and AfterGlow® Brand PL Safety Products and how long do they continue to glow?

A. DHi’s AfterGlo® Brand PL Safety Paint and AfterGlow® Brand PL Safety Products are charged in minutes by UV light sources including:

  • The sun (best source for charging)
  • Electric light sources such as fluorescent/incandescent lights, black lights or flashlights

Once fully charged by a light source, the afterglow remains visible for 8+ hours after the light source is removed.

A full charge can be achieved by:

  • 3-4 minutes of ultraviolet (black) light, or
  • 7-8 minutes of direct sunlight, or
  • 21-23 minutes of fluorescent light, or
  • 24-26 minutes of incandescent light

    Q. What is the service temperature range for DHi’s AfterGlow® Brand PL Safety Products

    A. The service temperature range is -30°F to 200°F. The PL phosphors are stable to well below -100°F and stable to 1000°F.

    Q. What conditions and preparation/surface cleaning is required before installing DHi’s AfterGlow® Brand PL Safety Tape?

    A. The installation (application) temperature range for both the air and substrate is 50°F to 100°F. The surface where the PL tape is to be applied should be cleaned with denatured alcohol and allowed to dry thoroughly before PL application.

    Q. How do I remove DHi’s AfterGlow® Brand PL Safety Tape and the adhesive residue should I ever choose to do so?

    A. The PL tape has an aggressive, pressure sensitive adhesive. The use of a heat gun or steam cleaner (if available) will aid in removal. A citrus-based cleaner is recommended for the removal of adhesive residue from substrates.