RE: Tritium Exit Signs

["John DeLaHunt" <jdelahunt@cc.colorado.edu>]

> In a recent wave of new construction on the UCSB campus, contractors have
> been installing "EXIT" signs that contain upwards of 20 Curies of tritium
> to provide luminescence.  Normally this is not a concern, but some have
> been installed near ground level - right where someone might kick it, a
> forklift or pallet jack could smack it, or any number of things could
> happen.  Has anyone experienced any problems with these general licensed
> devices rupturing or leaking?  Is there potential for mass contamination
> if the thing was seriously damaged?  Perhaps any research that has been
> done into this area could be shared with us.  Also, are there any non-
> electrical alternatives to the tritium exit sign.
>
> After 7 years or so, the tritium signs are marked to "expire" because of
> decay.  - How are these signs disposed of?
> _ Does anyone have a rotation program for these things when they
> expire?  Is it really necessary?

You may want to check with Azmi Imad, RSO and Director of EH&S at the
University of Colorado at Boulder.  Azmi is not netted yet, but has done a
great deal of research in re: tritium exit signs.

Azmi Imad
(303)492-6025

Hope this helps.
John

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