READABILITY OF SELF-ILLUMINATED SIGNS IN A SMOKE-OBSCURED ENVIRONMENT

This study investigates the ability of people with normal distant visual acuity to identify self-illuminated emergency signs in a smoke-obscured environment. The results indicate that signs whose background luminance meets or exceeds the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 25.812 are readable under favorable conditions when the total optical density of the smoke between the observer and the signs ranges between 3.00 and 3.55. Substantial increases in character sizes in the signs produce only moderate improvement in readability. Some limitations on the practical application of these data to predicting sign visibility in adverse conditions are discussed. (Author)

Media Info

  • Pagination: 11 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00313226
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
  • Report/Paper Numbers: FAA-AM-79-22, FAA-ARD-79-108
  • Files: NTIS, USDOT
  • Created Date: May 21 2003 12:00AM