exit signs | Pegasus Lighting Blog

Prepare Your Emergency Plans! Check Those Exit Sign Batteries

May 102013

Edge LitLEDEXITSign1 Prepare Your Emergency Plans! Check Those Exit Sign Batteries

My lights have already gone out once this spring, thanks to a lovely, unexpected North Carolina thunderstorm. Lucky for me, I live in an apartment with small rooms and large windows. During the day, electric lights don’t make that much of a difference.

However, if you’re charged managing a large shopping mall, school, theater, or office, your power outage protocol isn’t nearly as simple.

When the lights go out, it’s up to you to ensure the people’s safety.

Are you prepared?

Most importantly, you’ve got to maintain functional exit signs, because they might be the only thing during an outage that stands between order and panic. When the power goes out, your lighted exit signs will too, unless they have functional backup batteries.

We suggest you make it a goal to inspect the exit sign batteries around your establishment at least once every three months. Most exit signs have convenient “push to test buttons” that let you do this in a matter of seconds.

What if the battery isn’t working? Continue reading »

Share|

Product Spotlight: The FreeLite Photoluminescent Exit Sign

Product Spotlight No Responses »

Mar 142013

PinExt Product Spotlight: The FreeLite Photoluminescent Exit Sign

I’m very excited to share one of our most innovative products here at Pegasus Lighting – the FreeLite Photoluminescent Exit Sign.

This special exit sign uses absolutely no electricity and generates light that can be seen up to 100 feet away!

How is that possible? Well, the sign’s innovative photoluminescent technology absorbs the ambient light around it and stores it to use when the lights go dark. It does this completely on its own; it doesn’t require any extra maintenance or upkeep. No attention at all, really.

You may have experience with other self-illuminating signs, but unlike those our photoluminescent sign isn’t radioactive (it contains no tritium). You don’t have to test it periodically, and it’s completely recyclable, so you don’t have to worry about extra disposal costs. Continue reading »

Share|

Safety Program Helps Bring LED Exit Signs to Schools Across the Country

Pegasus News No Responses »

Aug 052010

PinExt Safety Program Helps Bring LED Exit Signs to Schools Across the Country

Edge LitLEDEXITSign1 Safety Program Helps Bring LED Exit Signs to Schools Across the Country BEAVER FALLS, PA, August 5, 2010 – Pegasus Associates Lighting has initiated a Commitment to Education & Safety program that offers LED exit signs to education institutions at a heavily discounted price. The aim is to support schools strapped for funds and to encourage the integration of LED lights into buildings in order to cut energy and maintenance costs.

Although the economy is beginning to improve in other sectors, education leaders say any degree of recovery is not reflected in the school systems, where budget cuts are continuing to strain resources. A recent survey from the American Association of School Administrators found that budget cuts will be much more significant for 2010-2011 than in the past. According to the survey, the majority of K-12 school leaders are planning to delay technology updates next year. Half of school leaders will also eliminate or delay instructional improvement programs. Class sizes will continue to escalate as well: 62 percent of school leaders plan to increase class sizes for 2010-2011.

Share|

Spread the Word: Our Commitment to Education & Safety Program

Pegasus News No Responses »

Aug 042010

PinExt Spread the Word: Our Commitment to Education & Safety Program

Budget cuts across the country are leaving schools short on resources and overflowing on class sizes.

The latest survey from the American Association of School Administrators found that 57% of K-12 school leaders will delay needed technology purchases for the 2010-2011 school year. Half of school leaders will also eliminate or delay instructional improvement programs. 62% of school leaders plan to increase class sizes next year.

The Associated Press recently reported that libraries are fading as administrators are forced to cut back on staff because of the school budget crisis.

In our effort to help even if only in some small way, we are offering a significant discount on exit signs for education institutions. Public or private schools, colleges, and universities are eligible for the program, which will offer a free LED exit sign for every three signs purchased by an education institution. It is our hope that the program will help schools make necessary safety updates and set themselves up to save money in the future through highly-efficient LED lighting. Check out our recent blog post on the many cost-saving benefits of LED exit signs.

If you know anyone in an administrative position at a school, spread the word! We want to offer this program to as many schools as possible.

*If you are eligible, make sure to call our toll-free number, 800.392.4818, to place your order for the discount. This offer is not available for online orders. To view the products available, visit our LED exit signs page.

Share|

What You Should Know About LEDs & Exit Signs

Lighting Tips Comments Off

Aug 022010

PinExt What You Should Know About LEDs & Exit Signs

You probably didn’t notice what type of light was illuminating the last exit sign you saw. If you’re a building/business owner, start paying attention.

If your exit signs are currently lit by incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, you can save hundreds of dollars by switching to LED exit signs.

The first exit signs were lit by incandescent bulbs, and this type continues to be popular in commercial buildings because of low bulb cost. However, these are the same incandescent bulbs that burn out quickly, use a ton of energy, emit heat, and are set to be banned in 2012 by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Fluorescent-lit exit signs are certainly more energy efficient than incandescent, but they work the same way: both sides of an exit fixture are backlit from the inside. This provides for uneven illumination. In addition, bulbs still need to be changed fairly frequently, and the cost of replacement bulbs is high.

LED exit signs might be a slightly higher initial investment, but reduced maintenance costs, energy savings, and overall performance makes the switch well worth it for business owners. Check out this Cost Comparison Table completed by the North Carolina Department of Commerce (“Energy Efficiency for Restaurants: LED Exit Signs” fact sheet):

Fixture Type	Typical Wattage (watts)	Bulb Life (years)	Annual Bulb + Labor Cost	Purchase + Install Cost	Annual Energy Cost	1st Year Cost	10th Year Cost Savings
Incandescent (existing)	40	0.5	$26	0	$39	$65	–
Fluorescent (existing)	11	1.0	$27	0	$11	$38	$269
LED (new installation)	2	10+	$0	$20 + $25	$2	$47	$581

Share|

This Way to Safety?

Lighting News No Responses »

Mar 222010

Chances are, you’ve never given much thought to the EXIT sign. It’s a ubiquitous icon in America for “this way to safety”, hanging familiarly in every public building. An article in Slate this month called question to the logic of the sign. After all, the rest of the world uses an emergency sign that is opposite in every way. Green instead of red, an image rather than text, the sign is an International Organization for Standardization symbol that most countries adopted years ago. It was created in the 1970s by a Japanese designer and selected by the ISO in 1985. Informally, it’s called “the running man.”

And doesn’t it make sense? The fact that it’s a pictogram means it can be understood in any language. The color green has historically represented safety, something to turn to when in danger. Red, in contrast, is typically the universal sign for “stop”, “alert”, or “don’t touch.”
Continue reading »

Share|

Five Little-Known Facts About LEDs

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Feb 102010

PinExt Five Little Known Facts About LEDs

1) They help you absorb more nutrients from fruits and vegetables.

Because LEDs do not emit ultraviolet rays, they are better options for supermarkets, restaurants, and kitchen lighting. UV rays decrease nutrient levels in foods, and all other light sources, including natural and artificial, emit UV rays. In addition, LEDs do not give off heat, keeping food fresher for longer.

2) They never burn out.

LEDs have a lifetime estimate of 35,000-60,000 hours, compared with the 1,000 hour lifetime of incandescent light bulbs and the 8,000 hour lifetime for compact fluorescent lamps. And even after they reach that limit, they will simply become progressively dimmer rather than immediately burning out.
Continue reading »

Share|

Great Lighting Products Now at Reduced Prices

Pegasus News No Responses »

Jul 232009

PinExt Great Lighting Products Now at Reduced Prices

Over the past few weeks we have been busy reducing prices on many great lighting products sold on our website.

Below is a list of products that we have recently reduced in price.

Under Cabinet Lights

Share|

Lighting Tips for Home Theaters

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Jul 012009

Guiding Principle
“Light is the first element of design; without it there is no color, form, or texture.” – Thomas E. Farin

Types of Lighting
There are several different types of lights that should be considered to be part of a well-lit home theater. Recessed downlights, step lights if there are steps, pathway lighting if the theater has several rows of seats, wall sconces and/or wall washer downlights, a fiber optic star ceiling, cove lighting, cabinet lighting, exit signs, rope lights, and stage lighting each provide an important component of a well-layered lighting plan for a home theater.
Continue reading »

Share|