NFPA Journal - Summer 2023 - 56

20
23
C&E
PREVIEW
recently published a study that included a review of the
types of dynamic exit signage systems currently under
consideration, ranging from commercially available
systems to technology that is still largely theoretical
(see " Smart & Smarter, " previous page). While the
study underscored the complexity of such systems
and the numerous technological gaps that exist in
their development, it also suggested the vast promise
these systems hold for improving life safety in an array
of applications. Decades of continuous research and
development will be required to advance the concept
of the dynamic exit sign system and its integration
with other smart fire, life safety, and building systems.
CASE STUDIES AND
LOOKING FORWARD
As dynamic exit signage systems have begun to gain
traction worldwide, studies have been conducted
to demonstrate the effectiveness of these systems.
For example, a case study conducted in the UK
compared occupant response and evacuation efficiency
with static signage versus dynamic signage. The
dynamic sign utilized an exit sign that under normal
operating conditions looks identical to a standard
static pictogram emergency exit sign; under emergency
conditions, however, the sign became dynamic.
Two different dynamic exit signage types were tested.
One type was a fixed dynamic exit sign where the fire
alarm panel sent signals to the exit signage to provide
a dynamic pulsing array of green lights within arrows
on the sign to draw attention to the sign and encourage
the use of a particular exit. The other type was an
adaptive exit sign that had the same characteristics
as the fixed exit sign, except that when an exit was
no longer encouraged for safe egress, the fire panel
communicated with the dynamic exit sign to display
a red cross across the sign to dissuade occupants from
using that particular exit or egress path.
These evacuation trials, involving 152 occupants,
found that occupants tended to utilize the closest exit
in the static signage scenarios, and that the signage
itself played a minor role in their decision making.
By comparison, dynamic exit signage significantly
influenced participant exit route choice by dissuading
occupants from utilizing the closer, nonviable exit and
encouraging movement toward more distant exits with
safer egress paths. In this case, the dynamic exit signage
system increased the signage recognition rate by more
than 60 percent, facilitated a 50 percent faster evacuation,
and improved evacuee decision-making by 44
percent compared to static signage. These are remarkable
results, considering that the standard occupant
response when only static exit signage is present is to
go to the nearest exit or back to the door where they
entered, actions that underscore the passive nature of
static signage and its relatively weaker influence on
changing occupant behavior. The dynamic concept,
therefore, appears to address a significant weakness of
conventional signage systems by providing a means to
adapt the guidance according to the developing hazard
56 | NFPA JOURNAL * SUMMER 2023
In a trial conducted in the UK, a
dynamic exit signage system
increased the signage recognition
rate by more than 60 percent,
facilitated a 50 percent faster
evacuation, and improved evacuee
decision-making by 44 percent
compared to static signage.
environment. However, trials participants indicated
that when negative information is conveyed on the
sign, it should be coupled with positive exit route information
to reinforce the desired action.
Another case study, conducted in Australia, used
dynamic signage in an attempt to increase exit
signage visibility, provide audible cues, and offer dissuasive
messages to evacuees. The dynamic elements
of the signage boosted the sign detection rate by 77
percent and decreased evacuation time by 40 percent.
While such results are promising, gaps remain with
respect to standards, technology, and knowledge that
are limiting broader public acceptance of dynamic exit
signage, as well as its adoption in standards and its
broader implementation. Those gaps include a lack of
established standards on the positioning of dynamic
exit signage, display methods and patterns, and the
greatest allowable complexity; underdeveloped technologies
that can lead to reluctant public acceptance,
tentative adoption of networks and algorithms, and
unauthenticated objectives; and insufficient case
studies on the actual implementation of dynamic exit
signage and its impact on human behavior, the impact
of smoke on dynamic signage performance, and more.
Dynamic exit signage systems are still a new
concept in industry and in academia, with the
increasingly intelligent systems still primarily in
the research and development stages. Given that
academic research, codes and standards, and existing
building applications are still fairly limited,
sophisticated implementation of dynamic exit signage
systems still has a long way to go. Based on
the early promise shown by this technology, however,
researchers and professionals must continue
to investigate its impact on human behavior, implement
additional real-life experiments, and continue
introducing emerging technologies into these systems.
Our safety future requires it.
VICTORIA HUTCHISON is a research project manager at the
Fire Protection Research Foundation.
NFPA Journal - Summer 2023

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