Bang Creations

Project

Evaclite

Bang Creations: Learn how we developed an innovative range of standards compliant safety signage for building evacuation.

Evaclite dynamic emergency exit sign with a white housing above a green panel showing a running figure and an up arrow, with small red lights scattered across it
Exit sign seen from below at an angle beneath a white mounting plate, with a pale left arrow studded with small glowing lights beside a running figure
Exit sign seen straight on, with a white frame held by four screws around a green panel showing a running figure and a right-pointing arrow
Angled view of a framed exit sign, showing the depth of its box-like body behind the green panel with a running figure and a right arrow
Exit sign seen straight on, with a speckled metal housing above a white flange and a green panel showing a running figure and a right arrow
Exit sign from a low angle, showing the speckled metal housing with small black fittings at its ends above the white flange and green panel
Exit sign seen from below at an angle, with a plain white left arrow and running figure on a green panel and small red lights glowing across its face

The brief

Evaclite contacted us with the idea of designing and developing ‘dynamic’ emergency exit signage. They had tested the idea with an academic research group and found that having a dynamic element to the sign such as flashing arrows draws the eye and helps people to evacuate more quickly in an emergency.

The signs must also have adaptive capabilities. This allows the central system to control the flow of evacuation by illuminating signs with a red cross if they lead towards hazard areas. This led to 2x faster sign detection and 3x quicker decision making when identifying the best exit from the area.

The bang

The illuminations needed to be clear, cost-effective and safe. As a result, much of this project focused on research, prototyping and testing- using our Design Compass tool to review and track progress. The product we developed was innovative enough to constitute a new category of emergency signage that did not yet have its own safety assessment procedure.

We had to comply with existing standards for passive signage as well as working with standards bodies to set the benchmark for all future dynamic products. Within this project, we designed many different products to fill the various needs of the market and some custom designs for tunnels and hotels. Key challenges included: including keeping lighting consistent across the range and innovating in the market whilst creating a product that would still be familiar to installers, allowing them to retrofit into existing fire systems.

The result

In 2018, we worked with electronics partners to create Evaclite’s first production model: Vienna. Since then, it has been installed in many locations across the UK. It was designed to be very simple and fit alongside a current non-dynamic range. We then developed ‘Barcelona’, an IP65 rated outdoor model and ‘Monaco’. Prototypes have also been created for a high-end stylish model is currently in development. Winner of ‘FIRE Product Innovation of the Year’ at the IFSEC/FIREX ‘Security and Fire Excellence Awards’ 2018. Runner-up at the SHE Safety and Health Excellence awards 2019

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