Tritium Exit Signs: Are they as Dangerous as People Say?
Posted on 20. Jul, 2010 by keith in Fire Safety
If you asked someone to hold a box that contained radioactive material that was sealed in a shockproof case, chances are that they would refuse and move as far away from the box as possible. But if you told someone that an exit sign was powered by radioactive material that was contained in a shockproof case, chances are that they wouldn’t think twice about passing beneath it. An exit sign, of course, is less threatening than a mystery box. But the question still deserves to be asked: Does a shockproof casing mean that the radioactive material will never enter a building’s environment? In the case of Tritium exit signs, the answer is no.
Tritium exit signs are powered by radioactive capsules that, despite their potential danger to building occupants and the environment at large, give Tritium signs an edge over electrical exit signs: Tritium signs don’t use electricity, and therefore don’t require wiring, replacement batteries or replacement lamps, making them more cost effective than incandescent, compact fluorescent and LED exit signs. However, there have been reports of Tritium capsules breaking, which required the intervention of a radioactive clean up crew. Furthermore, even if the capsules remain safe, you still have to pay a $75 fee to dispose of a Tritium sign at the end of its lifespan.
Overall, the danger of Tritium exit signs is rather low. Yet, it doesn’t make sense to purchase Tritium signs in the name of cost savings when you can purchase photoluminescent exit signs instead, which are non-toxic, 100 percent recyclable, maintenance-free and electricity-free. Photoluminescent and Tritium exit signs cost roughly the same to purchase and operate over the course of their lifetime. But if you want the safest exit sign for the environment, photoluminescent exit signs are the obvious choice.
