The International Sign Assn. (ISA), Alexandria, VA, has issued new recommendations for effective and responsible brightness levels of electronic message centers (EMCs) in order to help sign companies, end users and local officials draft reasonable sign codes. The recommendations suggest specific EMC brightness levels that can be easily seen by motorists and comply with community standards.
The online tool, available at www.signs.org, currently contains model, statutory language and step-by-step directions on how to measure EMC brightness.
Dr. Ian Lewin of Lighting Sciences Inc. (Scottsdale, AZ) conducted the related research incorporated in the new recommendations. Dr. Lewin has more than 30 years’ lighting-industry experience, including a term as president of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.
David Hickey, ISA’s director of government relations, said, “In many ways, local officials are in the dark when it comes to knowing how EMCs work and how to optimize their effectiveness. These new recommendations can be used to help provide responsible answers to these questions, to everyone’s satisfaction.”
Since 2009, ISA has helped educate local officials on the science behind EMC lighting and assisted in drafting reasonable and beneficial sign codes.
For further information, call Tracey Cook at (703) 836-6067 or e-mail tracey.cook@signs.org.