According to the proposal, “All high rise office buildings and all high rise buildings classified in occupancy group E shall have exit path markings conforming to this subdivision. This provision shall be retroactive and shall apply to buildings constructed on and after such date and to buildings in existence on such date. All exit path markings required herein shall be of an approved photoluminescent material.”
Following Sept. 11, the World Trade Center Building Code Task Force concluded that because the WTC had already implemented safety markings to create clear paths for emergency evacuation, more people were able to escape when the attack occurred. The power blackout of Aug. 14, 2003, which affected most of the Northeast, was also a factor in the council’s decision.