After extensive consultation with market participants the board of the Photoluminescent Lighting Council has ratified 3 standards relating to photoluminescent exit signs.
Although primarily written for Australia and New Zealand the standards have been structured so that they can be easily adapted to any performance based building code.
Download the standards at: http://www.plcouncil.com.au/
I got a lot of comment last month regarding “Ecoglo Equivalent” products and I was reminded of an “Ecoglo Equivalent” sample that was sent to us last year. The sample was for a step nosing that was being proposed for Perth Stadium as an alternative.
Take a look at the photo of the sample taken last week, the sample has been sitting on a shelf in my office completely protected from any weather. I don’t know if this product was finally installed in Perth Stadium but let’s hope not.
The most frustrating thing is that products like these are made to look like Ecoglo and when they fail it impacts on our brand. We’ve had exactly this problem at AAMI Park in Melbourne, an Ecoglo look-a-like gets installed and very quickly starts delaminating, not great.
After the “no comment” wall went up from the building contractor at Perth Stadium we tried to advise the responsible government department and the building surveyor of our concerns relating to the “Ecoglo Equivalent” product’s durability and also shortcomings with the luminance testing. We had no response – I suppose just too hard for them to deal with!
The Photoluminescent Lighting Council (PLC) has released its next draft standard for public comment.
The PLC was formed in October 2015 to advance the use of photoluminescent (PL) technology in exit sign and emergency visibility solutions.
The PLC is currently working on a standard for “PRODUCT SPECIFICATION OF PHOTOLUMINESCENT EXIT SIGNS”.
As building codes are modified to recognise PL exit signs we need to ensure that the initiative doesn’t get bogged down with standards that are full of outdated electrical lighting terminology and procedures.
For a full rundown of the PLC objectives take a look at:
http://www.plcouncil.com.au/
If you want to be kept up-to-date with the development of standards you can join the PLC through the Members’ page on the website or send your input to info@plcouncil.com.au
We’re starting to see quite a few “Ecoglo Equivalent” products being promoted especially in Australia. Usually their promotional literature has a bit of cut and paste from Ecoglo’s website to back up the Equivalent’s performance 🙂
Take a look at one Ecoglo Equivalent sample that we were sent by a distributor.
Ecoglo is on the left and the “Ecoglo Equivalent” on the right. Top photo shows both products charging, middle photo is one minute after lights off and the bottom photo after only 7 minutes of darkness.
Maybe an Independent Test Report would be useful!
Ecoglo had the opportunity to be a sponsor at the Green Property Summit 2017. During the summit there were a few side discussions among attendees about exciting new battery technologies but all agreed that battery disposal continues to be an issue.
With emergency exit signs the batteries can now be disposed of forever! Batteries in exit signs and emergency lighting have now been superceded by Ecoglo’s photoluminescent technology.
Ecoglo’s technology is essentially a photonic storage device that replaces the battery. Ecoglo exit signs and emergency visibility products recycle photonic energy from natural or artificial light. The energy is stored and then used to produce visible light in an emergency.
This means no more battery failures and no need to find someone else’s backyard to dump the old batteries in.
Cost effective, failsafe, sustainable!
The Photoluminescent Lighting Council (PLC) has been consulting with industry participants over the last 18 months, initially to develop a best practice document, and now a draft standard for the Inspection & Maintenance of Photoluminescent Exit Signs.
As PLC Chairman I invite you to have your say. You can download the draft standard here:
PLC Exit Sign Inspection and Maintenance Draft V4.1
Comments can be emailed to: info@PLCouncil.com.au
Ecoglo has just released it’s design strategy to deal with smoke. It’s so simple but it seems to annoy the incumbent electrical emergency lighting industry. Not sure why? $$$$$
Download it here:
While I was at TEDx Christchurch on Saturday it was great to see Ecoglo installed as the emergency lighting solution at the rebuilt Isaac Theatre Royal. Post earthquake Christchurch rebuilds have been very focused on ensuring that emergency systems are resilient and outdoor sectors of evacuation routes have traditionally been a big problem – high capital cost, higher maintenance costs and even higher failure rates. Now all SOLVED BY ECOGLO!
They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery but this is ridiculous!
Last year I came across this Ecoglo imitation (with yellow anti-slip) in a large Australian stadium. It had been installed for about 8 months and was clearly produced to look like an Ecoglo extrusion. The problem was that after 8 months the product was falling to bits! Now an imitation with black anti-slip has surfaced bidding for a large facility and the samples are showing the same weaknesses as seen in the stadium product last year.
Although the impostor has created an Ecoglo lookalike they can’t replicate the patented Ecoglo manufacturing process which creates its unique durability, essential in emergency lighting systems. A quick check of independent testing documentation would sort this out.
The Photoluminescent Lighting Council (PLC) was formed in October 2015 to advance the use of photoluminescent (PL) technology in exit sign and emergency visibility solutions.
The PLC is currently working on a Best Practice for the “Inspection & Maintenance of Exit Signs”. As building codes are modified to recognise PL exit signs we need to ensure that the initiative doesn’t get bogged down with standards that are full of outdated electrical lighting terminology and procedures.
For a full rundown of the PLC objectives take a look at:
http://www.plcouncil.com.au/
If you want to be kept up-to-date with the development of the Best Practice you can join the PLC through the Members’ page on the website or send your input to info@plcouncil.com.au.
Innovation at Ecoglo 