In an emergency, especially during a power failure or smoke-filled evacuation, traditional safety signage can be obscured or missed entirely. That’s where photoluminescent floor marking tapes and directional floor markers come into their own - offering a low-tech, highly effective way to guide people to safety, even in total darkness.
At SafetyBuyer, we offer a professional range of Glo-Brite® photoluminescent tapes and markers that help businesses strengthen their duty of care, improve compliance with best-practice safety guidance, and support faster, more confident evacuations. While some tapes are floor-applied (such as arrows and markers), many are designed for low-level wall or skirting board placement - ideal for visibility without tripping hazards.
Let’s explore how they work, why performance matters, and what to look for when selecting photoluminescent tapes for your environment.
In high-stress evacuations, visibility is everything. Smoke rises quickly, and in many fire scenarios, signage placed at typical head height becomes useless within minutes. ISO 16069:2017 recognises this and defines best practices for Safety Way Guidance Systems (SWGS) - including low-location photoluminescent guidance lines, directional tapes, stair markings, and hazard borders.
These systems are designed to:
Low-level wayfinding markings are particularly effective in buildings with complex layouts or unfamiliar visitors - think healthcare facilities, public venues, education settings, and transport infrastructure.
Photoluminescent tapes absorb ambient light and then emit a visible glow in darkness - no electricity, wiring, or batteries required. They charge under natural or artificial light and glow long enough to support a safe evacuation, even during prolonged power outages.
Applications include:
Despite the “floor marking” name, many photoluminescent tapes are applied at floor level but on vertical surfaces, such as skirting boards or corridor walls. This placement improves visibility without adding slip or trip hazards.
We supply Jessup Glo-Brite® printed photoluminescent tapes, trusted in building, marine, rail, and military environments for their outstanding safety performance.
Key benefits include:
Whether you’re upgrading safety in a warehouse or specifying a system for a transport hub, Glo-Brite® tapes offer robust, professional-grade performance you can trust.
Not all glow-in-the-dark materials are created equal.
Photoluminescent products are rated by their brightness and duration of glow. Glo-Brite® tapes exceed the performance requirements of:
Class C offers significantly brighter and longer-lasting glow properties - meaning clearer wayfinding and more time to escape safely during an emergency.
This enhanced performance is ideal for critical environments such as offshore platforms, mass transit systems, tunnels, and public buildings.
Safety shouldn’t come at the cost of sustainability. Glo-Brite® tapes meet strict environmental and product safety standards, including:
With no power requirements, no toxic materials, and virtually no maintenance, they’re a clean, compliant choice for long-term safety improvements.
Photoluminescent floor marking tape is a glow-in-the-dark safety product used to guide people during power cuts or low-visibility emergencies. It absorbs light and emits a visible glow, helping to mark escape routes, hazards, or emergency equipment locations.
Photoluminescent tape is typically installed at low level -on skirting boards, door frames, staircases, or floor edges - to ensure visibility in blackout or smoke conditions. Floor-applied arrows and footprints are also used to reinforce directional guidance.
While not legally required, photoluminescent tape supports compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and aligns with ISO 16069 guidance on emergency escape route marking. It enhances duty of care and emergency preparedness.
Class C tape has higher luminance and glows for longer than Class B. It’s often recommended for critical or complex environments like public venues, transport hubs, and marine or offshore settings, where extended visibility is essential during evacuation.
These tapes and markers are easy to apply using their self-adhesive backing. Whether you’re fitting out a new site or retrofitting an existing one, you can upgrade your escape route visibility quickly and efficiently.
For a complete safety way guidance system, combine printed photoluminescent tapes with:
Explore our full range of Glow Tapes & Floor Markers or get in touch if you’d like help selecting the right products for your site layout.
At SafetyBuyer, we help you go beyond minimum compliance - with simple, proven solutions that protect people, demonstrate best practice, and bring safety to light.
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