| Photoluminescent Building Products FAQs |
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Q. What types of AfterGlow® Brand Photoluminescent Building Safety Products are available? A. AfterGlow® brand Photoluminescent Safety Products include a wide range of Low Level Exit Path Markings (LLEPM) and other types of standard photoluminescent signage. Custom photoluminescent signage is also available. Q. What causes these products to glow? A. All photoluminescent products sold by AfterGlow, LLC 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 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 AfterGlow® brand products? A. The “Safety Grade” photoluminescent phosphors used in 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 AfterGlow, LLC offer? A. We offer a wide range of other signage ranging from energy-saving, UL listed, photoluminescent exit signs, to stairwell signage, emergency signage and many others. All are available in our commercial catalog and can be purchased online through AfterGlowDirect.com. Q. Does AfterGlow, LLC offer custom signs? A. AfterGlow, LLC has the ability to design, manufacture and sell a variety of custom signs. Need a photoluminescent “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 AfterGlow® brand photoluminescent building safety products approved under NYC’s Local Law 26? A. A number of AfterGlow® brand photoluminescent 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 online through AfterGlowDirect.com. 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. AfterGlo® brand Photoluminescent 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 AfterGlo® brand Photoluminescent 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 online through AfterGlowDirect.com. The MEA number for AfterGlo® brand High Performance Photoluminescent Green Paint is MEA 387-07-M. The paint presents an attractive, cost-effective, easy-to-apply alternative to tape-based photoluminescent 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. 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 AfterGlo® brand Photoluminescent Building Safety Paint? A. 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 AfterGlo® brand Photoluminescent Building Safety Paint? A. A one-gallon kit of 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 photoluminescent products selling commercially at $1.50 per foot or more. Q. How do I keep AfterGlo® brand Photoluminescent Building Safety Paint clean? A. 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 AfterGlo® brand Photoluminescent Safety Paint and AfterGlow® brand Photoluminescent Safety Products, and how long do they continue to glow? A. AfterGlo® brand Photoluminescent Safety Paint and AfterGlow® brand Photoluminescent Safety Products are charged in minutes by UV light sources including:
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:
Q. What is the service temperature range for AfterGlow® brand Photoluminescent Safety Products A. The service temperature range is -30°F to 200°F. The photoluminescent phosphors are stable to well below -100°F and stable to 1000°F. Q. What conditions and preparation/surface cleaning is required before installing AfterGlow® brand Photoluminescent Safety Tape? A. The installation (application) temperature range for both the air and substrate is 50°F to 100°F. The surface where the photoluminescent tape is to be applied should be cleaned with denatured alcohol and allowed to dry thoroughly before photoluminescent product application. Q. How do I remove AfterGlow® brand Photoluminescent Safety Tape and the adhesive residue should I ever choose to do so? A. AfterGlow® brand photoluminescent 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. |