The New York City's Department of Buildings recently invited public comment on its planned building code changes. The exit change will require so-called photoluminescent strips to show exit paths, staircases, exit signs and signs directing people to exit doorways in the event of a power failure or other emergency.
All office buildings more than 75 feet tall are to have the markings in place by July 1, 2006. The change was mandated by City Council legislation passed last summer, but it will not apply to hospitals, residential buildings or other structures.
The law change only deals with office buildings. However, co-op boards, hospitals and other parties are welcome to voluntarily use the standard. The agency hopes to issue its final set of code changes by the end of May.
The requirement comes from a World Trade Center task force that recommended several changes to the city's building codes as a response to the lessons learned from the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Very few representatives objected to the rule change at yesterday's hearing, although several speakers suggested tweaks, such as making the markings one inch apart rather than half an inch. One manufacturer said the glow-in-the-dark color should be blue rather than green.
The Empire State Building and several other buildings are already using the photoluminescent exit strips, said Richard Heller, senior vice president at W&M Properties Inc. It cost W&M Properties about $500 to $1,000 per floor to install the markings.
New York will be the first major city in the country to require the glow strips for exits, although many trains, planes and boats already have them.
The city buildings department is accepting written comments until next Monday. Details of the code changes can be found on its Web site at www.nyc.gov/buildings.
