New York Local Law 26/04

As a result of the 9/11 tragedy and the blackout of August 14, 2003, everyone involved with commercial building issues—architects, engineers, property managers, owners, and city officials—gained an increasing awareness of just how critical safety and security measures have become in the 21st century.

As a response to this new awareness, the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) recently enacted Local Law 26/04, a multi-phased amendment to the Building Code of the City of New York. This local law includes detailed provisions on elevator vestibules, exit lighting, exit signs, ventilation, fire alarms, communication systems, sprinklers, and more. One of the provisions, which has the most pressing installation deadline of July 1, 2006, mandates the installation of photoluminescent (PL)—or "glow-in-the-dark"—signage for all Class E commercial high rise buildings (office buildings over 75 feet high).

Local Law 26 takes a huge step toward a future where photoluminescent (PL) safety systems are standardized and codified, not to mention made reliable. Once regarded as a novelty, PL is coming into its own as the preferred way to guide people out of a stricken building, whether the emergency involves a massive electrical power outage, an explosion or fire of unknown origin, or even another terrorist attack. New York City and its leading-edge property owners and managers—concerned about the safety and security of their valued tenants— will set the safety standards for cities around the world in the years to come. Already, several cities are using Local Law 26 as a basis for their own similar statute.

Looking not too far ahead, we at AfterGlow^® Federal expect similar requirements are in the offing for residential high-rise buildings. Further in the future, we foresee an increasing interest in PL safety solutions at hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and a variety of other public and commercial buildings.

Read full text of the New York Local Law 26/04 (PDF, 170 KB)