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
Virginia recommends red Exit signs; however, the District of Columbia requires strict fire safety laws. As you may imagine, the District of Columbia takes security and fire safety very seriously. If there is a report of unsafe conditions in a building, D.C. authorities enact a "fire watch" on that building, which is a detailed examination and protection of occupants while the hazardous condition is investigated. This is a detailed watch involving several people to manage the safety of the building and communicate between each other, as one of the many ways that the D.C. fire department deals with serious danger. Egress paths are easily a point of examination, and Exit signs and proper illumination are crucial to staying off of "fire watch" in your building.
