Application of glow-in-the-dark signs

For floor markings glowing in the dark as part of a photoluminescent evacuation system (FES), the entire range of photoluminescent materials is used: self-adhesive film, plastic, paint, the smoothness of the surface on which the elements are applied is important. This requirement especially applies to floor elements with an adhesive layer: they must be mounted on a clean, flat surface.

This is a prerequisite for installing self-adhesive films, since otherwise the quality of the adhesive will not be strong enough and will require replacement of the mounted elements in the near future. But quite often the situation develops in such a way that even with careful preliminary preparation of the floor surface, it is almost impossible to achieve its evenness and cleanliness; roughness may still remain. It is also worth understanding that floor cleanliness is a relative concept.

Planning Phase:

When planning the installation of glow in the dark exit signs or floor markings, it is also necessary to take into account the quality of the flooring material, in particular its adhesive properties.

In warehouses, industrial premises, parking lots and garages, due to the existing need, the floor is made from materials with increased strength and abrasion resistance: concrete, cement-acrylic component, the adhesive properties of which do not allow the installation of photoluminescent materials such as film or plastic on the floor surface . Another popular flooring material in high-traffic areas is tile.
Concrete floors and floor tiles have a special feature – the surface of these floors is rough. An obstacle to high-quality installation of photoluminescent materials on a tiled floor is also the joints, or seams, between the tiles.

When it is not possible to create floor markings from other materials that glow in the dark, then photoluminescent paint comes to the rescue, or, as in this case, a photoluminescent two-component compound. Markings with a photoluminescent compound have a yellow color in light, and a yellow-green glow color in the dark.

The thixotropic properties of the compound (it does not spread when applied) allow it to be applied to walls. In this way, the photoluminescent compound can be applied to the rough surface of the floor, steps of stairs and walls with a slight convex relief. Surface materials for application can be different: concrete, plaster, water-based coating and many others.

The process of creating glow-in-the-dark floor markings

For applying glow-in-the-dark floor markings using a stencil, the photoluminescent compound, which has a long afterglow effect, is ideal.

In describing the process of installing point markings, we used a stencil in the form of arrows.
Dot markings can also be made in the form of circles, in which case you need to use an appropriate stencil.
To apply dot markings we will also need: a spatula, a primer for the photoluminescent compound.
The recommended primer is designed specifically for applying white primer before installing photoluminescent paints and compounds on floors and staircases, as well as other surfaces.

Before preparing to apply photoluminescent paint, it is worth taking into account that the thickness of the applied coating layer will depend on the thickness of the stencil; it is also worth considering the thickness of the layer of white primer applied.

Consumption – from 1 kg of compound with a stencil thickness of 1 mm you can get:

150 arrows or circles Ø 50 mm;
80 arrows or circles Ø 100 mm.

Let’s consider a method of applying point photoluminescent markings with a compound (arrows indicating the direction of movement during evacuation) on the floor of a warehouse using a stencil.

Installation

After the preparation has been completed, the installation of floor markings using photoluminescent compound is carried out in three stages.

We clean the floor surface and mark places on it for marking.
Apply primer in 1-2 layers depending on the surface. After application, allow time for the primer to dry. Depending on its properties, this time will take from several minutes to several hours. The primer for the EFL-2 compound polymerizes for 4 hours.
We apply a photoluminescent compound to the prepared primed surface through a stencil. The time for complete polymerization of the compound is no more than 24 hours.

To clean the instrument, we used acetone; you can use any other organic solvent.

In the same way, using a stencil, but only in the form of stripes for guide lines, you can apply linear markings, or use masking tape. Markings made from a photoluminescent compound have increased resistance to chemicals and increased abrasion resistance.

Methods for determining the quality of photoluminescent products

Compliance of photoluminescent materials with ASTM E2072 standards is confirmed by the presence of a certificate. The certificate must indicate which points of the standard the products tested in laboratory conditions comply with.

In addition to requesting a certificate of conformity from the supplier of photoluminescent elements, you can find confirmation of the quality of the resulting products as follows.

The observation method will already give the first results in determining the characteristics of photoluminescent products that comply with ASTM E2072 standard points.

In this way you can check the following parameters:

Marking on the front side of the material (indication of the manufacturer’s name or trademark).

The information on the label must match that specified in the certificate.

Glow in the dark . It is necessary to take into account that before testing the glow-in-the-dark effect, the photoluminescent material must first be sufficiently evenly illuminated, which requires exposure to a natural or artificial light source. You can focus on the ASTM E2072 requirements for the lighting conditions of places for the location of solar power plants.

The duration of the afterglow can also be checked visually by comparing the brightness of the glow of the FES element (part) and the reference sample 1440 minutes after the end of illumination.

Conclusion:

The application of glow-in-the-dark signs, especially as integral components of a photoluminescent evacuation system (FES), involves a meticulous consideration of materials and surfaces. The entire spectrum of photoluminescent materials, including self-adhesive film, plastic, and paint, comes into play. Ensuring a clean, flat surface is paramount for adhesive-backed floor elements, demanding thorough preparation. However, achieving absolute evenness and cleanliness is often a nuanced challenge, prompting the exploration of alternatives.