Are Your Stairwell Identification Signs Compliant with New City of Bellevue Code?

The City of Bellevue has recently made a change in their fire code safety signage requirements.  They have laid out new specifications for stairway identification signs in Public Information Handout F-54.  The intent of the  new requirement is to make signs visible and immediately recognizable to building occupants and emergency responders using the stairway.  This change requires that these signs be constructed from self luminous materials to improve building safety.  These "glow-in-the-dark" signs assist in emergency evacuation for building occupants and first responders in the event of an emergency.

Who is Affected by This Change

This change may impact builders, building owners, property managers and business owners of buildings located in Bellevue, WA with public access and 3 or more floors.

The basics - material, information, size and placement

While all fire safety signage must ultimately meet the approval of your individual fire safety inspector or marshal, the Public Information Handout does an excellent job outlining the specifications for the new signage requirements.

"FLOOR IDENTIFICATION SIGNS A sign shall be provided at each floor landing in an interior exit stairway and ramp connecting more than three stories designating all of the following:

• Identification of the stair or ramp
• Floor level
• Terminus of the top and bottom of the interior exit stairway and ramp
• Availability of roof access from the interior exit stairway and ramp for the fire department
• Direction to, the exit discharge, and
• Be located 60" (1524 mm) above the floor landing in a position that is readily visible when the doors are in the open and closed positions."

 Tactile and Braille Elements are Also Required

While the self luminous material will aid in visibility of emergency evacuation routs, the braille and tactile elements will assist those who are visually impaired.  The floor number must be tactile and paired with braille characters in compliance with ICC A 117.1.

To aid people with vision impairment, a floor level sign in raised characters and Braille complying with ICC A117.1 shall be located at each floor level landing adjacent to the door leading from the interior exit stairway and ramp into the corridor to identify the floor level. Braille may be located on floor ID sign or a separate sign placed directly below the floor ID sign.

RainMaker Signs is Your Local Resource for Self Luminous Stairwell Identification Signs

RainMaker Signs, a Bellevue WA company, is a local fabricator who will keep you compliant, your building occupants safe, and your businesses operational.    As a local provider, they have expertise in the new fire code requirements and understand that meeting the exact specifications of your individual fire marshal is essential. RainMaker Signs is prepared to assist you with the following:

• Comprehensive knowledge of local fire codes
• Self luminous egress signage
• Self luminous stairwell identification signs
• Custom in house fabrication
• Lead ADA expert with over 15 years experience with tactile and braille signage
• A job site evaluation if needed
• Professional installation available if required
• Removal of old stairway signs available if required

Whether your fire inspector has required new signage or you want to be in compliance before that next inspection, contact RainMaker Signs at 425 861-7446 or email answers@rainmakersigns.com.   Or simply click the link below to get a quote for your building.