(i) A red arrow, with a shaft at least three-fourths-inch wide and a head twice the width of the shaft, extending along at least 70° of arc at a radius approximately equal to three-fourths of the handle length; and
(ii) The word "open" in red letters 1-inch high, placed horizontally near the head of the arrow.
(f) Each emergency exit that is required to be openable from the outside, and its means of opening, must be marked on the outside of the airplane. In addition, the following apply:
(1) The outside marking for each passenger emergency exit in the side of the fuselage must include a 2-inch colored band outlining the exit.
(2) Each outside marking including the band, must have color contrast to be readily distinguishable from the surrounding fuselage surface. The contrast must be such that if the reflectance of the darker color is 15 percent or less, the reflectance of the lighter color must be at least 45 percent. "Reflectance" is the ratio of the luminous flux reflected by a body to the luminous flux it receives. When the reflectance of the darker color is greater than 15 percent, at least a 30-percent difference between its reflectance and the reflectance of the lighter color must be provided.
(3) In the case of exits other than those in the side of the fuselage, such as ventral or tail cone exits, the external means of opening, including instructions if applicable, must be conspicuously marked in red, or bright chrome yellow if the background color is such that red is inconspicuous. When the opening means is located on only one side of the fuselage, a conspicuous marking to that effect must be provided on the other side.
[(g) Each sign required by paragraph (d) of this section may use the word "exit" in its legend in place of the term "emergency exit.”]
b. Guidance.
(1) Paragraphs (a) and (e). Exit identity and conspicuity of operating instructions should be readable by a person with 20/20 vision making a normal effort under representative day and emergency night lighting. (Amendment 25-0)
(2) Paragraph (c). The intent of this requirement is to require additional hardware means to materially enhance occupant’s ability to locate the exits. Compliance with the floor proximity emergency escape path marking requirements of § 25.812(e) Amendment 25-58 is also considered compliance with the requirements of this section. (Amendment 25-15)
(3) Paragraph (d). The signs required by paragraphs (d)(1), (2) and (3) are intended to be independent and serve different functions. However, certain cabin arrangements might permit a single sign to serve the functions of both paragraph (d)(1) and (3). If such an arrangement
346 were presented, the sign should meet the contrast and brightness requirements of § 25.812(b)(1)(i) and should be in close proximity to the exits concerned. Compliance with both §§ 25.811(d)(1) and (3) is required regardless of the number of signs employed. (Amendment 25-32)
(4) Paragraph (d). Similar to the guidance immediately above, certain cabin arrangements and especially small cabin sizes might permit a single sign to serve both the locator and marker sign functions of paragraphs (d)(1) and (d)(2). If such a proposal was presented, the proposal should address all pertinent requirements of § 25.812, and it should be demonstrated that the sign satisfactorily performs both marker and locator sign functions. (Amendment 25-32)
(5) Paragraph (d)(2). Prior to Amendment 25-32, the exit marking sign of § 25.811(d)(2) was referred to as a locator sign in § 25.811(d)(2) for floor level exits. The locator sign requirement of § 25.811(d)(1) for floor level exits was introduced by Amendment 25-32. (Amendment 25-32)
(6) Paragraph (d). The signs required by paragraphs (d)(1) and (3) should be removed from the passenger compartment in mixed passenger/cargo arrangements if they indicate exits in the cargo compartment which are not accessible to passengers. For exits inaccessible in the cargo portion of the fuselage, the signs installed by this paragraph for passenger configurations may be left installed if they are not visible to the passengers. (Amendment 25-1)
(7) Paragraph (d)(2). The requirement for a sign next to each floor level exit is not satisfied by a sign mounted on the exit. The sign should remain visible whether or not the exit is open. In the case of an exit-mounted sign, the sign is removed when the exit is opened. This arrangement should not be employed. (Amendment 25-1)
(8) Paragraph (e)(2). An exit opening handle where motion is in the plane perpendicular to the exit is not considered a rotary handle as defined in this paragraph.
Therefore, the marking arrow specified is not required by this regulation. However, in order to provide an equivalent level of safety for this type of handle motion, markings appropriate to this type of handle should be provided. This should be documented in an Equivalent Safety Finding Issue Paper. (Amendment 25-1)
(9) Paragraph (f). Exit bands are not required for "flightcrew only" exits or other emergency exits not in the sides of the fuselage. (Amendment 25-15)
(10) Paragraph (f). (Amendment 25-1)
(i) Guidance material for exterior colored bands around exits is provided in AC 20-47, “Exterior Colored Band Around Exits on Transport Airplanes,” dated 2/8/66.
(Amendment 25-1)
(ii) For airplanes that are convertible from passenger to mixed passenger/cargo arrangements, the exits unusable due to cargo blockage should be so marked. This can be indicated by a placard on or adjacent to the exit. The placard should provide obvious indication
347 from the ground, to a rescue crew that the exit is not operable. No other change to the external markings is required. (Amendment 25-1)
(iii) If exits are deactivated, refer to § 25.807, Amendment 25-15, for guidance regarding deletion of markings for deactivated exits. (Amendment 25-1)
(11) Paragraphs (f)(1) and (2). The FAA issued policy memorandum ANM-03-115-04, dated April 2, 2003, and titled “Policy Statement on Exit Bands.” The policy is applicable to Amendment 25-32 for §§ 25.811(f)(1) and (2) as follows: (Amendment 25-1)
(i) The FAA has been asked if compliance with §§ 25.811(f)(1) and (2) can be found with the lower section of a two-inch colored band located a few-inches above the base of an exit. Metal door sills are often installed on the fuselage below floor-level exits to provide protection from impacts with loading equipment. If the band is located on the bottom edge of an exit, its color must be compared with the door sill color to determine compliance with § 25.811(f)(2). This requirement can result in a color scheme which is not desired by the operator. Note that painting the door sill is not considered a viable option since impacts with loading equipment cause the paint to scratch and wear away quickly. If the band is located a few-inches above the base of the exit, its color is compared with the door color below the band instead of the metal door sill. This results in more color options for operators to choose from in determining a desired color scheme. (Amendment 25-1)
(ii) The purpose of these bands is to assist rescue personnel in recognizing exits in the side of the fuselage. Section 25.811(f)(1) requires that a two-inch color band outline each passenger emergency exit in the side of the fuselage. Advisory Circular 20-47, paragraph 4b, indicates that a color band outlining an exit is considered to comply with applicable regulations whether the band is on the edge of the exit itself, on the fuselage surrounding the exit, or partially on both. Although this guidance indicates acceptance of bands located on the edge of the exit itself, the FAA considers that a band could be located a small distance away from the exit’s edge and still be considered to “outline” the exit as required by § 25.811(f)(1). The FAA finds that for floor-level exits the size of a Type II exit or larger, compliance can be found with the top and side sections of a band located a maximum of 2-inches away from the exit’s edge and the bottom section of a band located between 2-inches below and 3-inches above the exit’s edge. Figure 384-1 is a figure that demonstrates these boundaries. The bottom section of the band is allowed to be farther away from the exit’s edge than the other sides of the band to be consistent with past practices for exits with a door sill installed at their base. Although the band is not required to be on the edge of the exit, it must be parallel to the exit’s edge in order to outline the exit as required by the rule. (Amendment 25-1)
FIGURE 384-1 ACCEPTABLE COLOR BAND LOCATIONS FOR AN EXIT THE SIZE
OF A TYPE II EXIT OR LARGER 2" Max 2" Max Color Bands (Two bands included solely to demonstrate the acceptable locations of a band) Edge of Exit 2" Max 2" Max 2" Max 2" Max ] 3" Max 2" Max 348
385. AMENDMENT 25-46, Effective December 1, 1978.
a. Regulation.
(a) Each passenger emergency exit, its means of access, and its means of opening must be conspicuously marked.
(b) The identify and location of each passenger emergency exit must be recognizable from a distance equal to the width of the cabin.
(c) Means must be provided to assist the occupants in locating the exits in conditions of dense smoke.
(d) The location of each passenger emergency exit must be indicated by a sign visible to occupants approaching along the main passenger aisle (or aisles). There must be-
(1) A passenger emergency exit locator sign above the aisle (or aisles) near each passenger emergency exit, or at another overhead location if it is more practical because of low headroom, except that one sign may serve more than one exit if each exit can be seen readily from the sign;
(2) A passenger emergency exit marking sign next to each passenger emergency exit, except that one sign may serve two such exits if they both can be seen readily from the sign; and
(3) A sign on each bulkhead or divider that prevents fore and aft vision along the passenger cabin to indicate emergency exits beyond and obscured by the bulkhead or divider, except that if this is not possible the sign may be placed at another appropriate location.
[(e) The location of the operating handle and instructions for opening exits from the inside of the airplane must be shown in the following manner:
(1) Each passenger emergency exit must have, on or near the exit, a marking that is readable from a distance of 30-inches.
(2) Each Type I and Type A passenger emergency exit operating handle must-
(i) Be self-illuminated with an initial brightness of at least 160 microlamberts or
(ii) Be conspicuously located and well illuminated by the emergency lighting even in conditions of occupant crowding at the exit.
(3) Each Type III passenger emergency exit operating handle must be selfilluminated with an initial brightness of at least 160 microlamberts. If the operating
350 handle is covered, self-illuminated cover removal instructions having an initial brightness of at least 160 microlamberts must also be provided.
(4) Each Type A, Type I, and Type II passenger emergency exit with a locking mechanism released by rotary motion of the handle must be marked-
(i) With a red arrow, with a shaft at least three-fourths of an-inch wide and a head twice the width of the shaft, extending along at least 70 degrees of arc at a radius approximately equal to three-fourths of the handle length.
(ii) So that the centerline of the exit handle is within ±1-inch of the projected point of the arrow when the handle has reached full travel and has released the locking mechanism, and
(iii) With the word "open" in red letters 1-inch high, placed horizontally near the head of the arrow.]
(f) Each emergency exit that is required to be openable from the outside, and its means of opening, must be marked on the outside of the airplane. In addition, the following apply:
(1) The outside marking for each passenger emergency exit in the side of the fuselage must include a 2-inch colored band outlining the exit.
(2) Each outside marking including the band, must have color contrast to be readily distinguishable from the surrounding fuselage surface. The contrast must be such that if the reflectance of the darker color is 15 percent or less, the reflectance of the lighter color must be at least 45 percent. "Reflectance" is the ratio of the luminous flux reflected by a body to the luminous flux it receives. When the reflectance of the darker color is greater than 15 percent, at least a 30-percent difference between its reflectance and the reflectance of the lighter color must be provided.
(3) In the case of exits other than those in the side of the fuselage, such as ventral or tail cone exits, the external means of opening, including instructions if applicable, must be conspicuously marked in red, or bright chrome yellow if the background color is such that red is inconspicuous. When the opening means is located on only one side of the fuselage, a conspicuous marking to that effect must be provided on the other side.
(g) Each sign required by paragraph (d) of this section may use the word "exit" in its legend in place of the term "emergency exit.”
b. Guidance.
(1) Paragraphs (a) and (e). Exit identity and conspicuity of operating instructions should be readable by a person with 20/20 vision making a normal effort under representative day and emergency night lighting. (Amendment 25-0)
(2) Paragraph (c). The intent of this requirement is to require additional hardware means to materially enhance occupant’s ability to locate the exits. Compliance with the floor proximity emergency escape path marking requirements of § 25.812(e) Amendment 25-58 is also considered compliance with the requirements of this section. (Amendment 25-15)
(3) Paragraph (d). The signs required by paragraphs (d)(1), (2) and (3) are intended to be independent and serve different functions. However, certain cabin arrangements might permit a single sign to serve the functions of both paragraph (d)(1) and (3). If such an arrangement were presented, the sign should meet the contrast and brightness requirements of § 25.812(b)(1)(i) and should be in close proximity to the exits concerned. Compliance with both §§ 25.811(d)(1) and (3) is required regardless of the number of signs employed. (Amendment 25-32)
(4) Paragraph (d). Similar to the guidance immediately above, certain cabin arrangements and especially small cabin sizes might permit a single sign to serve both the locator and marker sign functions of paragraphs (d)(1) and (d)(2). If such a proposal was presented, the proposal should address all pertinent requirements of § 25.812, and it should be demonstrated that the sign satisfactorily performs both marker and locator sign functions. (Amendment 25-32)
(5) Paragraph (d)(2). Prior to Amendment 25-32, the exit marking sign of § 25.811(d)(2) was referred to as a locator sign in § 25.811(d)(2) for floor level exits. The locator sign requirement of § 25.811(d)(1) for floor level exits was introduced by Amendment 25-32. (Amendment 25-32)
(6) Paragraph (d). The signs required by paragraphs (d)(1) and (3) should be removed from the passenger compartment in mixed passenger/cargo arrangements if they indicate exits in the cargo compartment which are not accessible to passengers. For exits inaccessible in the cargo portion of the fuselage, the signs installed by this paragraph for passenger configurations may be left installed if they are not visible to the passengers. (Amendment 25-1)
(7) Paragraph (d)(2). The requirement for a sign next to each floor level exit is not satisfied by a sign mounted on the exit. The sign should remain visible whether or not the exit is open. In the case of an exit-mounted sign, the sign is removed when the exit is opened. This arrangement should not be employed. (Amendment 25-1)
(8) Paragraph (e). An exit opening handle where motion is in the plane perpendicular to the exit is not considered a rotary handle as defined in this paragraph. Therefore, the marking arrow specified is not required by this regulation. However, in order to provide an equivalent level of safety for this type of handle motion, markings appropriate to this type of handle should
352 be provided. This should be documented in an Equivalent Safety Finding Issue Paper.
(Amendment 25-1)
(9) Paragraph (f). Exit bands are not required for "flightcrew only" exits or other emergency exits not in the sides of the fuselage. (Amendment 25-15)
(10) Paragraph (f). (Amendment 25-1)
(i) Guidance material for exterior colored bands around exits is provided in AC 20-47, “Exterior Colored Band Around Exits on Transport Airplanes,” dated 2/8/66.
(Amendment 25-1)
(ii) For airplanes that are convertible from passenger to mixed passenger/cargo arrangements, the exits unusable due to cargo blockage should be so marked. This can be indicated by a placard on or adjacent to the exit. The placard should provide obvious indication from the ground, to a rescue crew that the exit is not operable. No other change to the external markings is required. (Amendment 25-1)
(iii) If exits are deactivated, refer to § 25.807, Amendment 25-15, for guidance regarding deletion of markings for deactivated exits. (Amendment 25-1)
(11) Paragraphs (f)(1) and (2). The FAA issued policy memorandum ANM-03-115-04, dated April 2, 2003, and titled “Policy Statement on Exit Bands.” The policy is applicable to Amendment 25-46 for §§ 25.811(f)(1) and (2) as follows: (Amendment 25-1)
(i) The FAA has been asked if compliance with §§ 25.811(f)(1) and (2) can be found with the lower section of a two-inch colored band located a few-inches above the base of an exit. Metal door sills are often installed on the fuselage below floor-level exits to provide protection from impacts with loading equipment. If the band is located on the bottom edge of an exit, its color must be compared with the door sill color to determine compliance with § 25.811(f)(2). This requirement can result in a color scheme which is not desired by the operator. Note that painting the door sill is not considered a viable option since impacts with loading equipment cause the paint to scratch and wear away quickly. If the band is located a few-inches above the base of the exit, its color is compared with the door color below the band instead of the metal door sill. This results in more color options for operators to choose from in determining a desired color scheme. (Amendment 25-1)
(ii) The purpose of these bands is to assist rescue personnel in recognizing exits in the side of the fuselage. Section 25.811(f)(1) requires that a two-inch color band outline each passenger emergency exit in the side of the fuselage. Advisory Circular 20-47, paragraph 4b, indicates that a color band outlining an exit is considered to comply with applicable regulations whether the band is on the edge of the exit itself, on the fuselage surrounding the exit, or partially on both. Although this guidance indicates acceptance of bands located on the edge of the exit itself, the FAA considers that a band could be located a small distance away from the exit’s edge and still be considered to “outline” the exit as required by § 25.811(f)(1). The FAA finds that for floor-level exits the size of a Type II exit or larger, compliance can be found with the top and
353 side sections of a band located a maximum of 2-inches away from the exit’s edge and the bottom section of a band located between 2-inches below and 3-inches above the exit’s edge. Figure 385-1 is a figure that demonstrates these boundaries. The bottom section of the band is allowed to be farther away from the exit’s edge than the other sides of the band to be consistent with past practices for exits with a door sill installed at their base. Although the band is not required to be on the edge of the exit, it must be parallel to the exit’s edge in order to outline the exit as required by the rule. (Amendment 25-1)
FIGURE 385-1 ACCEPTABLE COLOR BAND LOCATIONS FOR AN EXIT THE SIZE
OF A TYPE II EXIT OR LARGER 2" Max 2" Max Color Bands (Two bands included solely to demonstrate the acceptable locations of a band) Edge of Exit 2" Max 2" Max 2" Max 2" Max ] 3" Max 2" Max 354
386. AMENDMENT 25-79, Effective September 27, 1993.
a. Regulation.
(a) Each passenger emergency exit, its means of access, and its means of opening must be conspicuously marked.
(b) The identity and location of each passenger emergency exit must be recognizable from a distance equal to the width of the cabin.
(c) Means must be provided to assist the occupants in locating the exits in conditions of dense smoke.
(d) The location of each passenger emergency exit must be indicated by a sign visible to occupants approaching along the main passenger aisle (or aisles). There must be-
(1) A passenger emergency exit locator sign above the aisle (or aisles) near each passenger emergency exit, or at another overhead location if it is more practical because of low headroom, except that one sign may serve more than one exit if each exit can be seen readily from the sign;
(2) A passenger emergency exit marking sign next to each passenger emergency exit, except that one sign may serve two such exits if they both can be seen readily from the sign; and
(3) A sign on each bulkhead or divider that prevents fore and aft vision along the passenger cabin to indicate emergency exits beyond and obscured by the bulkhead or divider, except that if this is not possible the sign may be placed at another appropriate location.
(e) The location of the operating handle and instructions for opening exits from the inside of the airplane must be shown in the following manner:
(1) Each passenger emergency exit must have, on or near the exit, a marking that is readable from a distance of 30-inches.
[(2) Each passenger emergency exit operating handle and the cover removal instructions, if the operating handle is covered, must-]
(i) Be self-illuminated with an initial brightness of at least 160 microlamberts; or
(ii) Be conspicuously located and well illuminated by the emergency lighting even in conditions of occupant crowding at the exit.
[ (3) [Reserved.]]
(4) Each Type A, Type I, and Type II passenger emergency exit with a locking mechanism released by rotary motion of the handle must be marked-
(i) With a red arrow, with a shaft at least three-fourths of an-inch wide and a head twice the width of the shaft, extending along at least 70 degrees of arc at a radius approximately equal to three-fourths of the handle length.
(ii) So that the centerline of the exit handle is within ±1-inch of the projected point of the arrow when the handle has reached full travel and has released the locking mechanism, and
(iii) With the word "open" in red letters 1-inch high, placed horizontally near the head of the arrow.
(f) Each emergency exit that is required to be openable from the outside, and its means of opening, must be marked on the outside of the airplane. In addition, the following apply:
(1) The outside marking for each passenger emergency exit in the side of the fuselage must include a 2-inch colored band outlining the exit.
(2) Each outside marking including the band, must have color contrast to be readily distinguishable from the surrounding fuselage surface. The contrast must be such that if the reflectance of the darker color is 15 percent or less, the reflectance of the lighter color must be at lest 45 percent. "Reflectance" is the ratio of the luminous flux reflected by a body to the luminous flux it receives. When the reflectance of the darker color is greater than 15 percent, at least a 30-percent difference between its reflectance and the reflectance of the lighter color must be provided.
(3) In the case of exits other than those in the side of the fuselage, such as ventral or tail cone exits, the external means of opening, including instructions if applicable, must be conspicuously marked in red, or bright chrome yellow if the background color is such that red is inconspicuous. When the opening means is located on only one side of the fuselage, a conspicuous marking to that effect must be provided on the other side.
(g) Each sign required by paragraph (d) of this section may use the word "exit" in its legend in place of the term "emergency exit.”
b. Guidance.
(1) Paragraphs (a) and (e). Exit identity and conspicuity of operating instructions should be readable by a person with 20/20 vision making a normal effort under representative day and emergency night lighting. (Amendment 25-0)