NTL Record

Title Readability of self-illuminated signs obscured by black fuel-fire smoke.
Record ID 39462
Personal Name
Creator
Rasmussen, P.G.; Chesterfield, S.P.; Lowrey, D.L.
Corporate Creator Civil Aeromedical Institute
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Office of Aviation Medicine
Publisher Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Publication Date 19800700
Language English
Abstract This study, using black fuel-fire generated smoke, is a partial replication of an earlier study using an inert white smoke as the obscuring agent in the study of the readability of smoke-obscured, self-illuminated emergency exit signs. The results indicate that, within the range of sign sizes and background luminance levels studied, and under otherwise favorable viewing conditions, most of the signs were read through black smoke with optical densities ranging between 3.0 and 4.0. At two standard deviations below the means, most of the size and luminance level combinations were identified at optical densities ranging from approximately 2.5 to 3.0. A comparison of the results with those obtained in the earlier study using white smoke, shows both colors of smoke to be approximately equal in their ability to shroud the illuminated signs. Black smoke, however, appears somewhat more effective in obscuring small details at or near the normal visual acuity threshold.
Rosap ID dot:21243
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/21243
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 - AVIATION - Aviation Human Factors;
NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Safety/Airworthiness;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Accidents;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Aviation Safety/Airworthiness;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number FAA-AM-80-13; DOT/FAA/AM-80/13
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/39000/39400/39462/AM80-13.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository