Use LEDs for Exit Signs

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Affordability

The lasting power of LEDs decreases the risk of having exit signs out of service, increasing safety and reducing maintenance requirements.

Cost savings

LED exit signs can offer lifetime savings of up to $300 per sign in reduced energy, materials and labour for bulb changes, compared with standard incandescent models.

Environmental considerations

With notable energy savings and long life, LED exit signs benefit the environment. Consider upgrading your existing light with a retrofit kit to reduce waste while you save energy.

What you need to know

• Not all LED products offer equal performance. Exit signs using the newest LED technology start out brighter and maintain their brightness longer than those using older technologies. Look for products that use aluminum, indium, gallium and phosphorus LEDs, referred to in the trade as AlInGaP.
• There are currently no ENERGY STAR® certified exit signs in Canada as the November, 2004 efficiency regulation of five watts matches the previous ENERGY STAR standard. Watch the ENERGY STAR website to see if even more efficient technologies are developed. 

FAQ

My LED exit sign has a 25-year warranty. Does that mean I will never need to replace or maintain it over the life of this building?
No. Do not pick a product only because it boasts a long warranty. LED brightness does fade over time, depending on the component materials and the temperatures and humidity they are subjected to. In some situations, the brightness of a sign may diminish in a few years to the point that it no longer meets the code. In the past, some manufacturers offered long warranties on their products – 25 years or more – leading buyers to expect they would last for the life of the building without any maintenance. Although the newest LED products are expected to last longer than earlier signs, reputable manufacturers are now offering shorter warranties. It is likely that the LEDs will last longer than the warranty but no 25-year tests have yet been conducted.