Not enough safety signage in Colombo’s new high-rises
View(s):Colombo’s upcoming high-rise buildings do not have the necessary safety signage and procedures in place to facilitate evacuation in case of a fire or Emergency blackout, according to research conducted by Zeppelin Advertising Services.
A recent statement by this homegrown Sri Lankan advertising firm, said “The City of Colombo has suddenly evolved into a burst of high rise buildings, with many presently under construction and many more on the drawing board waiting to fly off. But, how safe are the occupants of these buildings during a crisis or calamity? Do these buildings have escape route signage along corridors guiding people in the dark towards stairways and other exits showing them the way down many flights of twisting stairways for swift evacuation? Are basement parking lots geared with illuminated escape routings in case of a blackout? Is there direction signage along corridors to locate safety and fire equipment and fuse boxes for immediate access in an emergency blackout? Our research in the city of Colombo has come up with a firm NO to all of these vital questions”.
As a solution, Zeppelin has advocated the use of its Photoluminescent safety signage products, which it claims are the “most practical answer” for high-rise safety and “extremely important for high-rise buildings, hospitals, apartments, banks, factories and hotels for safe and swift evacuation in a crisis”. Further, the firm also noted that the “Photoluminescent pigment layer is activated within a few seconds by daylight or any other light source and light is thus stored and emitted instantly when sudden darkness envelopes its surroundings. Reactivation of Photoluminescent safety products is practically unlimited, making it the most economical safety exit lighting around”.
Additionally, the advertising company also signalled that a “key turning point for this technology occurred in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. Building occupants who attempted to escape the collapsing World Trade Center Towers attested that Photoluminescent markings helped them quickly navigate and orient themselves. This event resulted in a resurgence of Photoluminescent awareness and in the replacement of safety lighting in the Pentagon’s corridors and stairwells”.
(JH)