GB2441199A

GB2441199A - Glow in the dark items including luminescent material and clear resin

Info

Publication number: GB2441199A
Application number: GB0715620A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Roger Curzon Donald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-19
Filing date: 2007-08-10
Publication date: 2008-02-27
Also published as: GB2440915A; GB0616546D0; GB0715620D0

Abstract

Luminous item comprises a photoluminescent substance and colourless resin. Preferably a carrier 2 comprising the translucent or transparent resin and photoluminescent additive is coated onto a substrate 2, cast onto a mould or pultruded. Preferably a fine powder of glass beads 4 is sprinkled on to the wet resin mixture 3 on the substrate 2 and the resin 3 polymerised to bind the beads 4 to the substrate 2. A layer of colourless, translucent or transparent resin 5 is applied to the surface of the glass beads 4 and polymerised to give a smooth continuous surface. The method produces a decorative item, handrail, stair tread, or a direction sign on a wall or floor, which glows when lighting conditions are poor, thus providing an emergency lighting system.

Description

GLOW IN THE DARK ITEMS

This specification relates to photoluminescent materials and their use to provide visible illumination in the dark. The specification is primarily, but not exclusively, relevant to directing people towards exits in emergency situations.

Green emergency exit signs and direction signs are common features in public buildings, hotels, conference centres, etc. and are permanently illuminated by the emergency lighting systems so that, in the event of mains power failures, these should remain lighted.

However, it is not unknown for the emergency lighting to fail at this most critical of times.

Even when the emergency lighting works properly another problem can be when many people are hurrying towards an exit and each is casting a shadow in the limited light available so that it is difficult to see, for example, the first step of a flight of stairs. In such circumstances, it can take only a single person to stumble and fall for an orderly exodus to become a stampede and people to be trampled to death. Additionally, of course, people walking through the smoke could stumble over others, on their hands and knees, trying to avoid the higher-level smoke.

Clearly, the more emergency lights there are on any exit route, the better. In practice, however, the cost and capacity of battery I emergency power systems will restrict the number of lights that can be employed and, even the minimum legal limits, can still leave some areas poorly illuminated. If power availability limits the number of lights, which can be provided, the question arises whether non-powered illumination can be provided to supplement the light available? In the worst possible case, when the emergency lighting fails completely, non-powered illumination would be the only option available.

Photolumiriescent substances are known and can be used to supplement emergency lighting.

Thus, there is a need for a means to supplement emergency lighting, particularly in critical areas, such as flights of stairs, etc. Ideally, this supplementary illumination should not rely on electrical power and be applicable at low levels, which might otherwise be in shadow.

1P1783A According to a first embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of making luminous items, comprising: i) creating a substrate; ii) incorporating a photoluminescent substance into the substrate dunng the process to create the substrate to form a luminous item and iii) providing the luminous item for use; characterised in that the photoluminescent substance is present within a translucent I transparent resin mixture which is used to manufacture the substrate.

According to a first variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the substrate is a pultrusion.

According to a second variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the substrate is a casting According to a third variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the photoluminescent substance is present in a transparent I translucent carrier.

According to a fourth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the photoluminescent substance is intimately mixed with the transparent / translucent carrier.

According to a fifth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the transparent / translucent carrier is the polymensable resin mixture used to create the substrate as part of the formation of the luminous item.

According to a sixth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the transparent I translucent carrier is a polymerisable resin mixture added as a coating to the substrate, after its creation, as part of the formation of the luminous item.

According to a seventh variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, a I the transparent / translucent carrier is used both to create the substrate and added as a coating to the substrate, after its creation, as part of the formation of the luminous item.

According to an eighth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the substrate is an element attachable to a structural member.

IP178 2 According to a ninth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the substrate is a structural member.

According to a tenth variation of the first embodiment the method of the invention, particles of a translucent I transparent filler are applied to the un-polymerised carrier coating on the substrate.

According to an eleventh variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the un-polymensed carrier coating is polymensed so that the translucent / transparent filler particles applied thereto become permanently bonded therewith.

According to a twelfth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, a further translucent I transparent coating is applied to the translucent / transparent filler particles bonded to the polymerised carrier layer.

According to a thirteenth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the further translucent I transparent coating is polymerised so that it forms a smooth external coating over the filler particles.

According to a fourteenth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the translucent I transparent particles are incorporated with un-polymensed resin to form a camer mixture which is applied directly as a coating to the un-polymensed substrate.

According to a fifteenth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the un-polymerised substrate and the un-polymerised coating are polymerised at the same time.

According to a sixteenth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, both translucent I transparent filler particles and the photoluminescent substance are incorporated into the resin mixture and this mixture is applied as the coating to the substrate.

According to a seventeenth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the translucent / transparent filler is inorganic or organic particles or a mixture(s) thereof.

1P1783A 3 According to an eighteenth vanation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the translucent I transparent filler is glass beads.

According to a nineteenth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the resin(s) used in the substrate and in the coating(s) / coating mixture(s) is I are either colourless or translucent or has / have a colour tinted translucence.

According to a twentieth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the luminous item is a handrail.

According to a twenty first vanation of the first embodiment of the invention, the handrail is a hollow tube with a string of light emitting diodes located in the bore of the tube.

According to a twenty second variation of the first embodiment, the light emitting diodes are operable by the emergency lighting system.

According to a twenty third variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the luminous item is attachable to a wall or floor.

According to a twenty fourth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the luminous part of the luminous item is shaped to point in a particular direction.

According to a twenty fifth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the luminous item is attachable to the tread or nose of a stair / step.

According to a twenty sixth variation of the first embodiment of the method of the invention, the luminous item is a decorative feature.

P1783A 4 According to a second embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of making luminous items, comprising: iv) providing a substrate; v) affixing / applying a photoluminescent substance to the substrate to form a luminous item and vi) providing the luminous item for use; characterised in that the photoluminescent substance is present within a translucent I transparent carrier, which is fast I firmly bondable with the substrate and which protects the photoluminescent substance from regular wear and tear and accidental damage.

In a preferred application of the method of the invention, a GRP tube is formed by a pultrusion process with the resin mixture containing a photoluminescent substance so that, when polymerised, the tube will glow in the dark after exposure to light energy. Additionally, if preferred, a coating of resin, containing colourless glass beads (and more luminous substance, if required) is applied to the pultruded tube, either before polymensation and both potymensed together, or after polymerisation and the coating polymensed separately.

Straight tubes may be supported by pegs inserted into the bore and the tube rotated during curing, which may include an initial period at room temperature, and final curing in an oven.

The coated tube described above may be used as the handrail to a flight of stairs. Under normal conditions the photoluminescent substance will absorb incident light and emit it as a visible, phosphorescent glow in the dark. The emission of light will continue, causing the rail to glow and this will continue, with a gradually reducing light output, for a period, e.g. an hour, or more. The presence of this glowing handrail will greatly assist the evacuation of any building, subway, underground rail station, etc. By being totally independent of mains or battery power, the items of the invention will be 100% available, whenever required. The only proviso is that there must normally be sufficient ambient light incident upon the item to be absorbed so that the light output is at a level detectable by the human eye.

In a variation of the invention, a string of light emitting diodes is provided in the bore of the handrail and operated by the emergency lighting system. This will provide a brighter light for people in an evacuation and help peoples' eyes to become accustomed to the lower light levels immediately after the main lighting has gone out. If the emergency lighting also fails, the photolurninescence will still remain.

1P1783A 5 Additional items, made according to the method of the invention, include panels and direction indicators attachable to walls and panels and to the treads of stairs. The method of the invention is applicable in a single stage, i.e. by creating a luminous substrate and / or adding a luminous coating, in a single manufacturing process or in a two stage process by adding a luminous coating to a pre-existing substrate. In the two stage process, the pre-existing substrate of the invention could be a wall or the treads of the stairs. For blind people, the panels in the treads, etc, can be provided with tactile surfaces, shaped or tapered to provide guidance.

Resin-covered glass beads will give the handrails a warm, comfortable feel (as opposed to that of cold metal) and act as a wearing layer and provide protection against minor impacts and accidental damage. Fibreglass is excellent substrates for items produced according to the invention and, flbreglass tubes used as handrails, will be pleasant to touch.

With pre-existing substrates, the surface is gently abraded, degreased with a solvent cleaner and sprayed with a colourless resin-hardener carrier mixture containing a photoluminescent substance to give an even coating. The viscosity of the resin mixture is controlled so that the resin is sprayable but will not drip off the substrate. As soon as the spraying is complete and while the surface of the resin is still wet, colourless glass beads are sprinkled onto the wet surface so that they adhere to the wet resin mixture.

Straight tubes may be supported by pegs inserted into the bore and the tube rotated under the spray and particle sprinkler, in a single pass. When the full length has been sprayed and spnnkled, the tube is further rotated and tapped to cause any beads, which are not properly bonded, to fall off. Then a second resin layer is sprayed onto the surface of the glass beads, to give a uniform covering. This second resin layer is identical to the first, except that it contains no photoluminescent substance. Both resin layers are now polymensed simultaneously. This may include an initial period at room temperature, during which the tubes are rotated so that the coating does not flow under the force of gravity and form an oval, rather than annular coating. Final curing may be in an oven.

The second resin coats the surfaces of the beads and, via its surface tension, wets the whole of the free surface area of the beads down to, and bonds with, the first resin mixture.

Thus, the result is a single integral coating, tightly bonded to the tube.

1P1783A 6 For a clearer understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a substrate, showing the separate stages of one method of the invention; Figure 2 is a section of the substrate shown in Fig. 1 after application of the resin layer; Figure 3 is a section of the substrate and resin shown in Fig. 2 after the application of glass beads; Figure 4 is a section of the substrate, resin and beads shown in Fig. 3 after the application of the clear resin coating.

Figure 5 is an elevation showing the application of the invention to a handrail and wall panels for a flight of stairs; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a flight of stairs showing photoluminescent strips placed on the treads at / near the nose of each step and Figure 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a second method of the invention showing the creation of the substrate and surface coating in a single operation.

In the following description, the same reference numeral is used for the same part or for different parts fulfilling an identical function. The luminous items of the invention may be created on a pre-existing substrate (two stages) or in a single stage in which both the substrate and the surface finish are manufactured at the same time. In many applications, the single process is preferred but both options are equally possible.

Fig. I shows the four separate stages (moving from left to right) of a first method of implementing the invention for the manufacture of a handrail 6. At the extreme left is a pre-existing tubular member 2 with a centreline 1. Tube 2 may be any suitable item but a pultruded polymeric member is preferred. The outer surface 2A of tube 2 is roughened, e.g. with a suitable abrasive such as sandpaper, and degreased, with a solvent, to give a clean keyed, surface 2A to which a polymensable resin can adhere.

1P1783A 7 A colourless resin is mixed with an appropriate quantity of a photoluminescent substance.

After through mixing, the hardener is added, mixed in and the resultant mixture is sprayed, using a high volume, low pressure spray gun, on to surface 2A of tube 2 to give an even thickness of annular coating 3 (Fig. 2). Polyurethane resins are preferred and a resin / hardener ratio of 5: 1 is suitable. Phosphor pigment, added at the rate of 10-20% by weight, is suitable for the handrail 6 of the application. Ideally, the sprayed coating is about 0.5 mm thick. The resin, phosphor pigment and hardener proportions quoted give a mixture 3, which is both sprayable but yet sufficiently viscous not to drip off tube 2.

While the resin mixture 3 is still wet, glass beads 4 are sprinkled uniformly onto the resin surface 3A to give a uniform surface 4. Tube 2 is rotated during both the spraying and sprinkling processes so that uniform annular coatings 3 and 4 are applied around the whole surfaces 2A, 3A (Fig. 3). If necessary, a gentle pressure can be applied to ensure that beads 4 adhere positively to resin surface 3A. By rotating tube 2 and tapping it, unattached glass beads 4 will fall off. At this point, a total, or partial cure, may be undertaken, as described below. This polymensation will bind the glass beads 4 firmly onto the resin layer 3.

The final stage is to apply a spray of the same resin / hardener mixture as before (3), but without the pigment, to form a uniform coating 5 over beads 4 (Fig. 4). The surface tension and viscosity of the resin allows it both to form a uniform covering layer 5 over beads 4, fill the interstices between beads 4 and flow down to resin layer 3, i.e. to bind beads 4 into a high integrity annular layer around tube 2. Clear Balotini glass beads, ideally passing a 0.5 mm mesh sieve, are preferred as they are basically spherical, uniform in size and will bind well with the resin mixture.

At this point, either the final resin layer 5, or both resin layers 3 and 5 are allowed to cure until polymerisation is complete. As indicated above, the polymensation may take place either in two stages, i.e. after application of beads 4 and again after application of coating 5, or in a single stage, when coating 5 is applied directly after beads 4 have been sprinkled and pressed onto surface 3A. In both cases, the cure, ideally, commences at room temperature, where the coated tubes 6 are supported on pegs, inserted in the bores, and rotated periodically so that the coating does not slump due to the effects of gravity. After about 30 minutes at room temperature, the tubes 6 are placed in an oven at 35 C for a further 120 minutes, until fully cured.

1P1783A 8 Resin spray 5 gives the final surface a smooth, clear coating, which is easy to grip and pleasant to touch. The application being taught is for the handrail 6 (Fig. 5), e.g. for a flight of stairs (Fig. 6) and it will be appreciated that, over a period of time, touching from many hands will wear away the surface. It is a feature of the invention that the glass beads 4 and surface coating 5 provide a wearable layer through which the phototuminescent pigment can shine in the darkness. The wearable layer is resistant to minor impacts and accidental damage.

Fig. 7 shows a second method of implementing the invention. Here the substrate and surface finish are produced in a single process. Glass fibre yam or tape 23 is drawn off reels 22 and fed into a first die 24, where it is thoroughly wetted with a resin and pigment mixture 25, and tube 26 is pultruded 30A out of first die 24. Colourless polyurethane resin and hardeners, as taught above, are preferred, with the resin: hardener ratio mixture appropriate for pultrusion. The phosphor pigment, taught above, would be added to the resin at the rate of 10-20% by weight and premixed into the resin before addition of the hardener and feeding 25 to first die 24.

From first die 24, the partly completed tube 26 is drawn 30A into a second die 27 where a finishing mixture 28 is added to form the surface layer on finished tube 29. The finishing mixture is preferably a resin and a filler. The filler may be further pigment or the clear Balotini glass beads, taught above. A further option is to have pigment only in the finishing layer 28 and not in base layer 25. Depending on the application, there may be no need for a second die 27 and finishing mixture 28. The finished tube is designated 29 and drawn 30B from the pultrusion apparatus, whence it is polymerised and cured at room temperature, or in an oven, as appropriate.

The partly finished tube 26 may be used as the substrate 2 in the first method of implementing the invention.

Fig. 5 shows how straight sections of handrail 6 are used with angled members 7 and end pieces 8 to form a continuous handrail for a flight of stairs. Angled members 7 would have members (not shown) affixable to appropriate structures, e.g. the walls of the passageways, or central banisters, etc., by appropriate means (not shown). Intermediate supporting members (not shown) would be provided for use along long straight lengths 6, as required.

Below, in Fig. 6, a flight of stairs 14 is shown for reference purposes.

1P1783A 9 The stairs 14 (Fig. 6), consist of risers 11 and treads 12. At / near the nose of each step and affixed to the tread 12 is a photoluminescent strip 13 prepared according to the invention. To minimise wear of the photoluminescent member, raised protective edgings (not shown) are provided around the photoluminescent member 13. Additionally, though not shown in Fig. 6, photoluminescent strips may be incorporated into the actual nose of the stairs and I or into the upper part of the risers 11, so that they are more easily visible to persons approaching the bottom of the stairs or actually ascending Photoluminescent materials absorb incident light energy and emit that energy as visible light. When the ambient light is very low, the emitted photoluminescent light becomes visible to the naked eye. Thus, if the normal lighting fails, the handrail 6 and strips 13 will immediately glow with visible light. This can be used to act as guidance to people approaching a flight of stairs 14 in the dark so that they will know where the steps begin and where to hold on to handrail 6.

As a further safety feature, where the substrate tube 2 or 26 is made of transparent or translucent material, a string of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) (not shown) are provided in the bore I of tube 2, 26. Such a string of LEDs may be permanently illuminated, illuminated at specific times, e.g. only at night, or be connected to the emergency lighting and be illuminated as a part of this system. The electrical connections to the LED string would be via the handrail supports (not shown).

An additional feature could be to apply the method of the invention to flat strips 9 and attach these to the walls of underpasses, underground train access passages, etc. These could be resin panels 9, either cast directly on to a substrate (not shown) (first method of the invention) for attachment to the wall, or cast in a mould, i.e. part of the substrate itsetf (second method of the invention), for removal and direct affixment to the wall. An example of the use of such panels is shown 9 in Fig. 5 by placing them above handrails 6. This will act as additional guidance to people approaching and using flights of stairs 14.

Though a clear resin is preferred for coating 5, appropriately tinted transparent coatings may be used for particular applications, e.g. greenish for level passages 9A and, say, pinkish for stairs 9B. Alternatively, photoluminescent pigments having different colours can be used for different items.

1P1783A 10 In normal access passages, panels 9 may be shaped into the form of arrows (not shown) to indicate the direction in which people should proceed towards the exit to leave the passageway. For blind people, shaped tactile tiling in the floor (not shown) could be provided. While these would appear as photoluminescent, visible directional indicators to the sighted, Blind people could sense them under their feet, or with sticks.

Polymenc substrates and Balotini beads are preferred as they bond well with the polyurethane resin taught herein but any suitable materials and compatible resin systems may be used. The skilled man will know of the appropriate procedures for using polymerisable resin systems.

The use of spherical glass beads 4 enables the illumination from the photoluminescent pigment in resin mixture 3 to be viewed from acute angles as the light will be reflected internally within the beads and refracted outwardly through resin coating 5. Thus, the photoluminescent items of the invention can be seen by people approaching, e.g. a staircase, rather than just by those actually on the stairs.

The skilled man will appreciate many other applications of the principle of the invention, e.g. push panels on doors, arrows indicating the direction to the nearest escape route on the insides of the doors of hotel bedrooms, arrows affixed at regular intervals to walls and I or skirting boards (visible to escapees stooping under smoke clouds, obscuring high-level, emergency lights), etc. Though the description to date has been written with reference to emergency escape routes, the method of the invention is equally applicable to decorative applications, e.g. features to decorate patios or the walls of houses adjacent to patios, garden paths and features in gardens, e.g. statues, gnomes, etc. Coloured tints in the surface coating 5 may be used to enhance the aesthetic charm of the decorative features. Such features would be visible after dark and could give an ethereal atmosphere to nocturnal garden parties.

P1783A 11 In the above description, the pleasant nature of the handrail to the touch has been taught as a separate aspect to the main purpose of the invention, i.e. indication of escape routes.

Clearly, blind and partially sighted people will gain little or nothing from the photoluminesent aspects of the invention. However, such people usually have an enhanced sense of touch.

It is possible to vary the texture (tactile surface) of the handrail to indicate changing conditions, e.g. the approach of oncoming hazards, such as flights of stairs. For example, the end sections of the handrails, i.e. between points 15, past angled sections 7 to ends 8 (Fig. 5), could be provided with a rougher textured, tactile surface, e.g. by using clear angular-shaped particles 4, e.g. crushed glass, instead of clear, round Balotini beads.

In this case, a blind person approaching handrail 6 (and stairs 14) from the right, would feel end 8' of rail 6' and know that there were stairs 14 ahead because of the (relative) roughness of tactile surface 16'. Being forewarned, he I she would expect angled member 7', indicating descending stairs 14. When his I her hand passed 15', the tactile change to the normal pleasant surface 16 would indicate a flight of stairs 14 (i.e. as opposed to a single step). Descending further, he I she would encounter tactile change 15" and rougher surface 16" and be warned of the approach of the bottom of stairs 14. Though ends 8', 8" are shown, handrail 6 could be continuous along a corridor, down stairs and along another corridor. By applying the rougher, tactile surface 16' to only, say, the lower half of the rail 6' and 16" to only the upper half of rail 6", a blind person would know that the approaching stairs 14 were either respectively descending or ascending. Such advance indication would be a boon to blind people, especially in the stress of an emergency evacuation.

1P1783A 12

Claims

Claims: I A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items,

compnsing: i) creating a substrate; ii) incorporating a photoluminescent substance into the substrate during the process to create the substrate to form a luminous item and iii) providing the luminous item for use; characterised in that the photoluminescent substance is present within a translucent / transparent resin mixture which is used to manufacture the substrate.

2 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a pultrusion.

3 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a casting 4 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claims 2 or 3, wherein the photoluminescent substance is present in a transparent / translucent carrier.

5 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the photoluminescent substance is intimately mixed with the transparent / translucent camer.

6 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claims 4 or 5, wherein the transparent I translucent camer is the polymensable resin mixture used to create the substrate as part of the formation of the luminous item.

7 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claims 4 or wherein the transparent / translucent carrier is a polymensable resin mixture added as a coating to the substrate, after its creation, as part of the formation of the luminous item.

8 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claims 4 -7 wherein a I the transparent / translucent carrier is used both to create the substrate and added as a coating to the substrate, after its creation, as part of the formation of the luminous item.

1P1783A 13 9 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the substrate is an element attachable to a structural member.

A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the substrate is a structural member.

11 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 9 or wherein particles of a translucent I transparent filler are applied to the un-polymerised carrier coating on the substrate.

12 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the un-polymerised carrier coating is polymensed so that the translucent I transparent filler particles applied thereto become permanently bonded therewith.

13 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 12, wherein a further translucent I transparent coating is applied to the translucent I transparent filler particles bonded to the polymensed carrier layer.

14 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the further translucent I transparent coating is polymensed so that it forms a smooth external coating over the filler particles.

A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claims 9 or 10, wherein the translucent I transparent particles are incorporated with un-polymerised resin to form a carrier mixture which is applied directly as a coating to the un-polymensed substrate.

16 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claims 12 - 15, wherein the un-polymensed substrate and the un-polymerised coating are polymensed at the same time.

17 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein both translucent I transparent filler particles and the photoluminescent substance are incorporated into the resin mixture and this mixture is applied as the coating to the substrate.

18 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claims 11 - 17 wherein the translucent / transparent filler is inorganic or organic particles or a mixture(s) thereof.

19 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 18, wherein the translucent / transparent filler is glass beads.

A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the resin(s) used in the substrate and in the coating(s) / coating mixture(s) is / are either colourless or translucent or has I have a colour tinted translucence.

21 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the luminous item is a handrail.

22 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 21, wherein the handrail is a hollow tube with a string of light emitting diodes located in the bore of the tube.

23 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 22, wherein the light emitting diodes are operable by the emergency lighting system.

24 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the luminous item is attachable to a wall or floor.

25 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 24, wherein the luminous part of the luminous item is shaped to point in a particular direction.

26 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in claim 24, wherein the luminous item is attachable to the tread or nose of a stair I step.

27 A first embodiment of a method of making luminous items, as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the luminous item is a decorative feature.

P178 15 28 A second embodiment of a method of making luminous items, comprising: I) providing a substrate; ii) affixing I applying a photoluminescent substance to the substrate to form a luminous item and iii) providing the luminous item for use; charactensed in that the photoluminescent substance is present within a translucent I transparent carrier, which is fast I firmly bondable with the substrate and which protects the photoluminescent substance from regular wear and tear and accidental damage.

29 A method of making luminous items, as described in and by the above statement with reference to the accompanying drawings.

P178 16