Photoluminescent Exit Signs and Signage Standards AU

Exit signs and evacuation signage are among the most visible elements of a building's life safety system, yet they are also among the most frequently misunderstood. Facility managers often conflate exit signs (the illuminated or photoluminescent signs above exit doors) with evacuation diagrams (the A3 or A4 floor plan diagrams posted on walls). These are distinct elements governed by different standards, and both are required.

In Australia, exit and emergency signage requirements are primarily governed by the National Construction Code (NCC), specifically Volume One (commercial buildings) Section E for egress, and by AS/NZS 2293, the three-part standard covering emergency escape lighting and exit signage. Understanding which standard applies to which element, and where photoluminescent technology is permitted versus illuminated systems, is essential knowledge for facility managers, building certifiers and compliance officers.

Exit Signs vs Evacuation Diagrams: A Critical Distinction

Exit signs are the signs installed above or adjacent to exit doors and along exit paths to direct building occupants to the nearest exit. They are a fixed element of the building's life safety infrastructure, required under the NCC to be installed at the time of construction and maintained as part of the building's essential services. Their purpose is purely directional: they tell you where to go.

Evacuation diagrams (also called emergency egress diagrams or fire escape plans) are the floor plan-based documents required under AS 3745:2010 that show occupants where they are, where the exits are, where fire safety equipment is located, and where the assembly area is. They provide spatial context that exit signs alone cannot provide. A person who has never been in a building before can follow exit signs to find a door, but without an evacuation diagram they cannot know which assembly area to report to, where the nearest fire extinguisher is, or whether there is a closer exit they may have missed.

Both elements are required under their respective standards. The NCC mandates exit signs as part of building construction. AS 3745 mandates evacuation diagrams as part of the occupier's emergency planning obligations. The building certifier checks exit signs; the WHS regulator checks evacuation diagrams. Compliance with one does not satisfy the requirement for the other.

AS/NZS 2293: The Emergency Lighting and Exit Sign Standard

AS/NZS 2293 is a three-part standard. Part 1 covers system design, installation and operation. Part 2 covers inspection and maintenance. Part 3 covers emergency escape luminaires and exit signs as products. Together, these parts govern what type of emergency lighting and exit signage must be installed, how it must perform, and how it must be tested and maintained over the life of the building.

The standard distinguishes between illuminated exit signs (which are powered by the building's electrical system and backed up by a battery or central power supply during power failure) and photoluminescent exit signs (which are charged by ambient or ultraviolet light and emit a glow in the dark for a defined period after the light source is removed). The conditions under which each type is acceptable, and the performance criteria each must meet, are set out in the standard and in the NCC.

Key performance requirements for exit signs under AS/NZS 2293 include visibility from a specified distance, luminance output after a power failure, and durability of the legend (the 'EXIT' text or running man graphic). The NCC specifies minimum illuminance levels for emergency escape lighting along evacuation paths, which is separate from the exit sign requirement.

• AS/NZS 2293.1: design, installation and operation of systems
• AS/NZS 2293.2: inspection and maintenance requirements
• AS/NZS 2293.3: performance requirements for emergency luminaires and exit signs
• NCC Section E: egress requirements including exit sign placement and lighting levels
• Exit signs must remain functional during power failure for the duration required by the NCC

Photoluminescent Signs: When Are They Acceptable?

Photoluminescent exit signs contain materials, typically strontium aluminate compounds, that absorb light energy and re-emit it as a visible glow in dark or low-light conditions. They require no electrical power and no battery backup, which makes them attractive for facilities with limited electrical infrastructure, heritage buildings where wiring is difficult, or operators seeking to reduce ongoing maintenance costs.

However, photoluminescent signs are not universally acceptable under the NCC as a substitute for illuminated signs. The NCC (Building Code of Australia) Volume One permits photoluminescent exit signs in specific circumstances, typically in buildings of low to moderate occupancy or height where illuminated systems may be impractical, subject to the sign meeting the luminance performance requirements of AS/NZS 2293.3. In higher-risk environments such as large public assembly buildings, high-rise buildings and hospitals, illuminated systems with backup power are generally required.

The critical limitation of photoluminescent signs is their dependence on adequate charging light. A photoluminescent sign in a poorly lit corridor may not receive sufficient charge to perform adequately in an emergency. AS/NZS 2293.3 specifies minimum charging illuminance levels that must be maintained for the sign to perform to standard. Facility managers installing or accepting photoluminescent signs must verify that the ambient lighting in the sign's location is adequate for charging, and that this is documented.

• Photoluminescent signs are not universally acceptable; check NCC classification and building height
• Must meet luminance performance requirements of AS/NZS 2293.3
• Adequate ambient charging illuminance must be maintained and documented
• Not suitable for locations where ambient lighting is frequently low (e.g. cinema foyers, plant rooms)
• Most appropriate for low-rise, lower-occupancy buildings with well-lit corridors
• Heritage buildings and remote facilities are common legitimate use cases

Low-Level Evacuation Guidance Systems

Low-level evacuation guidance systems, sometimes called wayfinding strips or floor-level guidance systems, are a relatively recent development in Australian emergency signage. These systems use photoluminescent strips, LED strips or a combination of both, installed at skirting board height or embedded in the floor, to guide occupants along evacuation paths when visibility at standing height is reduced by smoke.

The rationale for low-level systems is well supported by research: in a smoke-filled corridor, air quality and visibility are significantly better close to the floor than at head height. A person crawling or crouching to avoid smoke exposure may be unable to see standard exit signs mounted above doors, but can follow a floor-level luminescent strip to an exit. This benefit has led to low-level systems being mandated in some building types under the NCC, including certain high-rise residential buildings.

For existing buildings undergoing refurbishment, low-level guidance systems are increasingly being specified as an upgrade to the base building life safety infrastructure. The NCC 2022 introduced updated provisions for these systems, and building certifiers are increasingly looking for them in new construction and major refurbishments. Facility managers should review whether their building's current certification included low-level guidance provisions.

Inspection, Maintenance and Testing Obligations

AS/NZS 2293.2 imposes ongoing inspection and testing obligations for emergency lighting and exit sign systems. Monthly functional tests (verifying that the system activates on power failure simulation and that all signs and luminaires are operational) and annual discharge tests (running the system on battery power for its full rated duration) are required. Records of all tests must be maintained and made available to building certifiers and WHS regulators on request.

For photoluminescent signs, the maintenance obligation is different but equally important. There is no battery to test, but the signs must be inspected for physical condition. Fading, cracking, contamination or vandalism can significantly reduce luminance output. The charging light environment must also be checked periodically to confirm that lamps providing the charging illuminance are not failed or dimming with age. A photoluminescent sign that has not been recharged adequately will fail to perform when needed.

Common compliance failures discovered during building audits include signs with expired batteries, luminaires that have been painted over during redecoration, signs obscured by added fit-out elements (new partitions, shelving), and missing test records. Facility managers should include emergency lighting and exit sign testing in their essential services maintenance contracts and ensure test records are retained for a minimum of three years.

• Monthly functional tests required for battery-backed emergency lighting systems
• Annual discharge tests required; run system on battery for full rated duration
• Maintain written test records for at least three years
• Inspect photoluminescent signs for fading, physical damage and charging adequacy
• Ensure fit-out works do not obscure or remove existing exit signage
• Include emergency lighting in essential services maintenance schedule

Relationship Between Exit Signs and Evacuation Diagrams

Exit signs and evacuation diagrams work together as a system. Exit signs provide real-time directional guidance during an evacuation; they are the in-the-moment wayfinding tool. Evacuation diagrams provide advance information that enables occupants to understand the building's exit strategy before an emergency occurs, and to make informed decisions during one.

AS 3745:2010 requires that evacuation diagrams include the location of all exits, the location of all exit signs, and the routes to the assembly area. A well-designed evacuation diagram effectively maps the exit sign network, showing occupants where each sign is and what path it is directing them towards. This correspondence between the diagram and the physical signage is important. If exit signs have been added, removed or redirected since the diagram was produced, the diagram becomes misleading rather than helpful.

Facility managers who commission a new or updated set of evacuation diagrams should use the process as an opportunity to audit their exit signage for compliance. The diagram drafter, working from the floor plan, will identify where exit signs are currently shown and can flag inconsistencies with the current signage installation. Any discrepancies should be investigated and resolved before the new diagrams are posted.

Get Evacuation Diagrams That Reflect Your Signage

EvacPath produces AS 3745-compliant evacuation diagrams that accurately show exit sign locations, emergency lighting positions and escape routes throughout your facility. Our diagrams are cross-checked against your floor plan to ensure consistency with your actual signage installation.

Send us your floor plan and we will deliver print-ready PDFs in 3 to 5 business days. No site visit required. Pricing starts at A$70 per diagram. Basic Package A$280 for up to 4 diagrams, Standard Package A$420 for up to 8 diagrams.