Work Item
ASTM WK90162
Reinstatement of E2072-14 Standard Specification for Photoluminescent (Phosphorescent) Safety Markings (Withdrawn 2023)
Rationale
Specification E2072 is one of two U.S. standards that may be used to specify the suitability of photoluminescent egress path markings that are required by the U.S. wide building codes for installation inside certain high-rise building emergency staircases (including Hotels/Motels, Office/ Administrative Buildings, Hospitals). The other U.S. Test Method option is Standard UL1994 published by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. E2072 therefore plays an important role in helping specify photoluminescent life safety markings for installation to support the evacuation of building occupants in case of emergency.
E2072-14 had been balloted on at the start of COVID-19 and received two negative votes. During the COVID-19 years, E12.13 activities were halted due to more pressing needs imposed on subcommittee members by the pandemic.
In 2023, E12.13 subcommittee met virtually, yet it was too late to update the year 2014 edition of E2072 as ASTM Regulations required automatic withdrawal of this standard due to its old age. At the June 2023 subcommittee meeting, members were invited to join an ASTM task group to work on addressing the negative votes previously received and further improving historic E2072-14. The Task Group addressed the suggestions made by the negative votes and worked on improvements in the Fall of 2023. At the January 2024 virtual meeting, E12.13 meeting attendees decided to go to Concurrent/ Main ballot to ask for reinstatement with minor revision.
Since ASTM E2072 is one of only two accepted Standards to specify Photoluminescent Egress Path Markings for life safety use as required by U.S. building codes for high-rise building emergency staircases, NOT having an Active E2072 standard creates a void. It creates a limitation to only Standard UL1994 and a restriction for all parties involved in the construction process, from architects, builders, general constructors, subcontractors all the way to the manufacturers who use the standard specification. NOT having the ASTM Standard E2072 active creates a single point of failure in UL-certification that could halt many construction projects unnecessarily.
It is therefore the primary goal of this Concurrent Main ballot action to get E2072 back on the books again. E12.13 subcommittee proposes the historic E2072-14 for re-instatement with minor revisions.
You receive the entire Standard Specification for ballot action, and we ask for your Affirmative Vote. Should you for any reason consider a Negative vote, you are encouraged to vote Affirmative with Comment, so the dropped standard can get reactivated as soon as possible, and afterwards the Subcommittee can work on Comments for Improvement to the updated E2072-24 new edition.
Work Item Status
Date Initiated: 04-02-2024
Technical Contact: Marina Batzke