Presenter: John Bullough, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

LEDs and other innovative energy-saving lighting technologies (e.g., fluorescents) are rapidly entering the marketplace and are available for application to emergency notification appliances. The existing requirements for the performance and application of visible notification appliances are based on relatively short duration, high-peak intensity flashing lights — strobe lights. The National Fire Alarm Code and referenced listing standards define a method for calculating the equivalent or effective intensity of a flashing light source. The calculation method is subjective and does not produce an exact comparison; it is intended only to approximate the perceived brightness for direct viewing of the light source. It has worked because all of the lights approved using the standard have had relatively similar, short-pulse durations. Thus, the peak intensities have been relatively similar. This FPRF project works to develop preliminary methods and criteria to evaluate performance of light sources used in emergency notification appliances for inclusion in NFPA 72®.