NTL Record

Title Readability of self-illuminated signs in a smoke-obscured environment.
Record ID 39388
Personal Name
Creator
Rasmussen, P.G.; Garner, J.D.; Blethrow, J.G.; Lowrey, D.L.
Corporate Creator Civil Aeromedical Institute
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Office of Aviation Medicine
Publisher Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Publication Date 19791100
Language English
Abstract This study investigates the ability of people with normal distant visual acuity to identify self-illuminated emergency signs in a smoke-obscured environment. The results indicate that signs whose background luminance meets or exceeds the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 25.812 are readable under favorable conditions when the total optical density of the smoke between the observer and the signs ranges between 3.00 and 3.55. Substantial increases in character sizes in the signs produce only moderate improvement in readability. Some limitations on the practical application of these data to predicting sign visibility in adverse conditions are discussed.
Rosap ID dot:21175
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/21175
TRT Terms Air transportation crashes; Smoke; Visual perception; Distance perception; Vision tests; Emergency exits; Signals; Lighting; Luminance; Experiments; Human subject testing
General Subjects Aircraft accidents; Smoke; Visual acuity; Vision--Testing; Signals and signaling; Luminescence
Classification NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Accidents;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Aviation Safety/Airworthiness;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors;
NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Human Factors;
NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Safety/Airworthiness
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number FAA-AM-79-22; DOT/FAA/AM-79/22
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/39000/39300/39388/AM79-22.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository