Codes
What New York City requires for photoluminescent egress marking, in plain words. Use it to check a job, write a submittal, or ask us to check yours.
Which rule is which
- Local Law 26 of 2004 and Reference Standard RS 6-1. High-rise office and Group E (school) buildings. Photoluminescent door signs and markings in exit stairs, in place from July 1, 2006.
- Building Code section BC 1025, Luminous Egress Path Markings. The marking rules for stairs, landings, handrails, doors and floor lines in high-rise buildings with occupied floors more than 75 feet above fire department vehicle access. Egress paths serving apartments (Group R-2) are excepted.
- 3 RCNY 505-01 and 505-02. The apartment and hotel rules. 505-01 covers unit number signs and corridor and lobby directional signs. 505-02 covers the low door jamb marking, star and triangle, multi-floor units and stairwell door markings.
- Local Law 141 of 2013. Lists exit signs and path markings among the systems that must be maintained.
Does your building need this?
- 1. How tall is it? Luminous egress path markings are required in high-rise buildings with occupied floors more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
- 2. What is it used for? Offices and schools are covered by Local Law 26. Apartments and hotels are covered by 3 RCNY 505 instead.
- 3. When were the plans approved? Plans approved before July 1, 2006 can use lighter options for step markings, and are exempt from handrail marking, stair directional signs and NOT AN EXIT signs.
Not sure? Send us your drawings. We will tell you what applies.
Send us your drawingsWhat each rule needs, by location
| Where | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Door signs | New buildings: top of the sign no higher than 18 in above the floor. On the door, or on the wall beside it; a wall sign is no more than 6 in from the door. Existing buildings (plans before July 1, 2006) may go as high as 26 in where molding or baseboards require. | RS 6-1 2.1.1; BC 1025.2.6 |
| Steps | A solid stripe on the full leading edge of each step. 1 in minimum, 2 in maximum wide. Edge of the stripe no more than 1/2 in from the step edge. | RS 6-1 2.2.1; BC 1025.2.1 |
| Landings | Leading edge marked the same way as steps, in every building. | RS 6-1 2.2.2; BC 1025.2.2 |
| Handrails | A continuous stripe, at least 1 in wide, on the top of the rail, its extensions and newel caps. Gaps no more than 4 in at bends. Existing buildings: not required. | RS 6-1 2.2.3; BC 1025.2.3 |
| Floor lines | 1 to 2 in wide, on the floor within 4 in of the wall, or on the wall with the bottom edge no more than 4 in above the floor. Runs across the floor in front of doors. | BC 1025.2.4; RS 6-1 2.2.4 |
| Obstacles | Anything at or below 6 ft 6 in that sticks out more than 4 in (102 mm) is outlined with bands at least 1 in wide, alternating luminous and black, bands no more than 2 in thick, at 45 degrees. | RS 6-1 2.2.5; BC 1025.2.5 |
| Stair directional signs | Inside every stair entrance, visible with the door open, top edge within 18 in of the floor. Also at transfer levels and where the way is not clear. Existing buildings: not required except below grade. | RS 6-1 2.2.6, 2.2.7 |
| NOT AN EXIT | On dead-end doors along the path. Sans serif letters at least 1 in high. Existing buildings: not required. | RS 6-1 2.2.8 |
| Door hardware | At least 16 sq in of luminous material at the handle; on a panic bar, at least 1 in wide for the whole bar. | RS 6-1 2.2.9.2 |
| Material | UL 1994, or ASTM E2072 with 30 mcd/m2 at 10 minutes and 5 at 90 minutes (charged at 1 foot-candle for 60 minutes). | BC 1025.4 |
Apartments and hotels: 505-01 and 505-02
505-02, door jamb marking. On the hinged-side door jamb, corridor side. The top edge of the highest character or symbol is no more than 12 in above the floor. Characters at least 3/4 in, sans serif, read top to bottom, no punctuation. A star above the number marks the main entrance; a triangle marks a secondary entrance. Photoluminescent material is allowed. Multi-floor units add arrows at least 3 in high. Stairwell doors carry the word EXIT and the stair letter. Not required where a floor has 8 or fewer units or the building is fully sprinklered, except for multi-floor units.
505-01, signs. Unit number signs: characters at least 1/2 in, 48 to 60 in above the floor. Directional signs: in the elevator lobby or public entry on each floor and on the wall opposite each stair door, with arrows and unit numbers, 48 to 60 in above the floor. Required where a floor has more than 8 dwelling units and the units are not all in one direction.
We will check your building against all of this.
Send us your drawings, or just the address and stair count. A person on our team will tell you what your building needs and what it already has. Or call (212) 842-5833.