phosphorescent | The blog of Stardustcolors paints

17 April 202317 April 2023 stardustcolors Informations|Products

Print a photoluminescent fire safety plan

In establishments open to the public, such as gymnasiums, museums, hotels, ships but also in certain factories, it is required to install a Photoluminescent PVC evacuation plan in order to guide the occupants towards the exits in case of emergency and especially in the event of lighting cuts.

It can also be safety instructions for the use of fire-fighting equipment, the use of a machine or emergency contact.

A photoluminescent security plan stores ambient light energy, whether natural or electrical, and permanently releases it in the form of photoluminescence : that is to say, it glows in the dark.

European standards govern phosphorescence levels : luminance (intensity of phosphorescence) and remanence (duration of phosphorescence) must be of a class C level. These performance indications must appear on the photoluminescent safety plan.

General sizes

The most frequently printed size is A4. It is possible to print larger plans, depending on the observation distance, and also depending on the complexity and importance of the evacuation plan.

It is possible to order free sizes and formats.

Contact ARCO IRIS SAS at info@phosphorescent.fr for prices and to obtain the printing of a photoluminescent safety and evacuation plan.

The different mediums

In general, evacuation plans are always made on PVC panels. It is a light and economical material, easy to print, and suitable for all interior areas. It is rare to place a security plan in an outdoor area, however, when it is necessary to have an evacuation plan resistant to heat or weather, then more materials such as aluminum are used. or stainless steel as a support.

Printing modes

Screen printing is the method that has been used the most since photoluminescent planes have existed. It is particularly economical and practical when printing a large number of identical plans. It turns out to be less interesting when it comes to printing one, or even 2 or 3 plans, because you have to make a “screen” for each drawing, and each colour.

Today we use more the laser printing method, which allows four-color prints to be made which is quite economical.

The fixing method

The safety boards measure approximately 1-1.5mm thick and are easy to attach to walls or doors, with double-sided adhesive tape. It is also possible to screw them, or even to install them with frames.

The costs

For a photoluminescent PVC evacuation plan, the price varies according to the size, quantity and type of materials.

Initially, as for all printing works, If a single photoluminescent plan is printed, the work of setting up and adjustments will be equivalent to that necessary for the printing of 50 photoluminescent plans.

There is therefore a sliding scale of tariffs.

In addition to the price, which logically varies according to the size of the plan, there are also different costs for the material of the support :

Rigid PVC plans are by far the most economical.

The price range then goes up with the aluminum tops, and goes up again with the stainless steel plates.

22 March 202322 March 2023 stardustcolors Informations|News

Make a phosphorescent outdoor floor with phosphorescent stones, pebbles and gravel

It’s very easy and the achievement is within everyone’s reach.

Above all, make sure that the area where you plan to embed these small phosphorescent stones is sufficiently dark during the night. If you live in a residential or urban area, with night lighting, then you can forget about this project, because the phosphorescence requires sufficient darkness to be clearly visible.

If, on the contrary, you have a house in the mountains or in the forest, then at night you will be able to see all these small luminous pebbles shining, until dawn.

It is only on a full night, when the luminosity is too high, that you will not be able to observe the phosphorescence.

On the contrary, on a dark night, you will have the impression of walking in the starry sky, when you walk on this floor encrusted with luminescent stones.

Glow-in-the-dark pebbles, how do they work ?

These small stones, gravel, fragments, pebbles contain synthetic and non-hazardous pigments, which are able to react and store ambient light. This energy is immediately converted into phosphorescence, which glows slowly and for a long time :

The release of the energy thus accumulated is done “drop by drop”, and can last up to more than 10 hours of time.

How to set up these phosphorescent stones

We advise you to embed them in concrete, mortar, plaster or cement when it is still fresh. The stone or gravel must be encrusted at least 2/3 of its thickness, in order to remain well fixed over time, and to resist trampling, or even bad weather, such as rain or frost.

When you want to incorporate these small phosphorescent gravels in an already existing construction, then there remains the solution of transparent or colored silicone glue.

It takes about 1 kg of these stones or its fragments to cover up to 3 m². Finally, it all depends on the concentration you want for your decor on the phosphorescent floor.

The different performance levels of luminescent gravels and pebbles

Stones and pebbles are often brighter and their phosphorescence lasts longer at night, compared to gravels.

You also have to take into account the color: by far, the green phosphorescent color is the most efficient, both in its luminous intensity and in the duration of its effect.

Often these materials are offered in 3 main emission colors: Green, Turquoise and Blue.

The company ARCO IRIS SAS, (site phosphorescentpaint.co.uk) offers up to 4 colors, with even purple phosphorescent stones.

The diurnal or nocturnal aspect

The materials have a slightly colorless, whitish, sometimes greenish appearance during the day.

We speak of “emitted color” to refer to the color of the light produced by the stone in the dark. It is indeed a luminous color which then emerges from this colorless stone during the day.

Resistance and composition

These stones and pebbles are relatively resistant, especially the gravels which are composed of glass (silica).

As for the stones, which are produced from plastics of the PS type, they can yellow slightly with the years, however the phosphorescence as for it, is almost eternal: that is to say that it does not drop in intensity with years.

Where to buy these stones here in England ?

The specialist in this field is ARCO IRIS, producer since 2010 : site phosphorescentpaint.co.uk

20 May 20149 December 2022 stardustcolors Uncategorised

The magical colour effects of the insect world

Scarab beetle iridescent colours

Scarab iridescence is due to the fact that its shell is composed of several layers of chitin (main component of the shell) in helical structure. Each layer gives a specific color depending on the distance travelled by light. The copper, gold or silver colour of beetles depends on the number of layers and on the distance of the reflected light between the various layers. Their shell reflects light, providing beautiful iridescent, glossy and metallic colours.

Fireflies and bioluminescent deep sea fish

The light produced by these animals is called bioluminescence. It’s the result of the biochemical reaction between luciferin and luciferase, which generates a photon. For deep sea fishes, this light allows them to communicate, enable mates to come close, attract their preys or to light the ocean for hunting. Fireflies use that light to communicate with potential mates. Their organism produces a glow located at the abdomen level and that flashes on and off.

Fluorescent scorpion

Scorpions have the particularity of being fluorescent under black light. Fluorescence occurs when some materials or surfaces are hit by light and they re-emit this energy as visible light. Scorpion fluorescence is due to the presence of chemicals contained in the cuticle of their exoskeleton. Thanks to these fluorescent substances in its durable but flexible carapace, the scorpion can emit a green glow when it’s submitted to a special light called “black light”. This property is called fluorescence.

Duck bright coloured plumage

The feathers have two types of pigments, melanins (black) and carotenoids (yellow to red). Colours appear when the light hits the duck feather and comes into contact with particles of black melanin, which reflect only the blue component of light (black melanin absorbs the rest preventing reflection). At a certain angle and depending on the light meeting with yellow pigments that can distinguish a wide variety of colurs, feathers will be blue, green or black.