There is often confusion over which colors are allowed when choosing an Exit sign for your building. Exit sign requirements vary by state and municipality, which is why it's important to check with your Fire Marshall to see whether Green Exit Signs
or Red Exit Signs are required in your building. The information below is for general guidance, only. For many, however, it is also important to get a “sense” of any color preference – so that your building is as consistent as possible with others in your area. Even though the European Union generally uses Green
Exit Signs (Red is used to specify prohibited actions), our UL 924 standards allow either Green Exit signs or Red Exit signs. Yet, localized codes often specify one or the
other.
State Summary
Baltimore requires green Exit signs. Exit signs aren't the only thing that's "green" in Maryland; the recently passed Energy Efficiency Standards act has strict requirements for minimum energy efficiency of illuminated Exit signs. Unlike the "Energy Star" program, this initiative is mandatory in Maryland, marking a new wave of energy requirements that are emerging all over the country. Photoluminescent signs are reccommended to follow these energy guidelines, since they require no internal energy source and only need a dim light outside source to operate properly.
