Exit signs are used to show occupants within a facility where they can exit in case of a fire or other emergency. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are very good for exit sign illumination.

LEDs are made of semiconductor materials. Light is produced when an electron within semiconductor material goes from a high-energy state to low-energy state, releasing a photon at an appropriate frequency to produce visible light.

This process of light production produces relatively low amounts of heat and most of the energy goes into producing visible light.

LED exit signs can be found with low input wattages of two watts or less, compared to up to 40 watts for an incandescent exit sign.

Although the input wattages seem rather miniscule compared to other lighting sources it is important to realize that exit signs run 24/7.

The payback with energy savings alone can be four years or less. When factoring in the additional maintenance costs associated with replacing bulbs in incandescent and fluorescent exit lights, the payback often times is less than a year.

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What are the options?

There are primarily three different types of exit signs – Incandescent, fluorescent, and LEDs.

The table below shows a summary of the different types of exit signs:


Exit Sign Summary
	Incandescent	Fluorescent	LED
Input power (watts)	40	11	2
Yearly energy (kWh)	350	96	18
Lamp life (years)	0.25-0.5	1-2	10+
Estimated energy cost per year ($0.06/kWh)	$21.00	$5.75	$1.10

Incandescent

Incandescent exit signs are inexpensive, and can use a wide variety and number of lamps. However, incandescent lamps are very inefficient and lose a lot of their energy to heat instead of useful light.

Standard incandescent lamps have a relatively short life, around 1,000 hours on average. Some incandescent lamps specifically designed for exit signs have longer lamp lives up to 7,000 hours.

To increase lamp life, some facility managers install lamps rated for higher voltage, which greatly increases lamp life but doesn’t save energy.

Fluorescent

Fluorescent exit lights are also inexpensive, typically using two 11- or 7-watt lamps. One lamp is illuminated until it burns out, after which the other lamp is illuminated which saves on maintenance cost.

A fluorescent lamp has an expected life of about 10,000 hours, significantly reducing maintenance expenses.

LED

LED exit signs are more expensive than incandescent and fluorescent exit signs, but that cost gap has been closing quickly. LEDs are the most efficient powered exit signs on the market.

LED exit lights are typically designed with strips of LEDs where the light is reflected out of the face of the exit sign or the LEDs can be placed directly behind the face of the exit sign for illumination.

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Making the best choice

A LED retrofit kit, which can plug into existing incandescent bases within the exit sign, can be purchased for $20 – compared to new LED fixtures that cost around $40 each.

Although the retrofit solution is less expensive, the new LED exit lamp may not have adequate illumination. In addition, retrofits carry the risk of someone replacing them with inefficient incandescent bulbs at a later date.

Selecting the best LED exit sign

Not all LED exit signs are the same. Lower quality LEDs infrequently burn out but the light output can decrease after a couple years to the point where the exit sign does not meet code.

Look for red exit signs where the LEDs semiconductor material is made of aluminum, indium, gallium, and phosphor.

Although rare, some LED exit lights have the LEDs wired in series, which means when one LED burns out, the whole exit sign loses its illumination. Look for LED exit signs where the LEDs are wired in parallel.

Green LED signs

Green exit signs are preferred and, in some states, required. While green LEDs were inferior in light output when compared to red, improvements have made them more appealing.

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On the horizon

With the increased use of LEDs in applications such as exit signs, traffic lights and other signage, look to see the prices to continue to decrease.

Also, white LEDs are being made and some manufacturers are looking to begin making LEDs for task lighting and some space lighting applications.

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