When you last walked into a large public hospital or maybe even a shopping centre did you notice there were different types of exit signs? (Maybe not?) The reason there are a mixture of both types is that only the signs in altered areas must comply with the latest requirements.
Under the legislation in Victoria that controls the way we build, alter and maintain buildings there is no retrospective requirement to upgrade exit signs in a building to the new “running man” exit signs.
There are only a few special cases where the existing “text” type signs would be required to be upgraded to the “running man” type e.g.:
- A major upgrade of an existing building; or
- A change in the use of the building.
The decision as to whether to change them over is a policy decision. Having said that, for some building occupiers and owners, there are a number of funding agency guideline processes which may result in a requirement to change existing “text” type exit signs in a building to the new running man signs. This applies to health and aged care facilities particularly: (more…)