lift | Accessible Exit Sign Project

Cartoons Send a Clear Message

Lee Wilson, founder of the Accessible Exit Sign Project believes that cartoons are an excellent way to send a message in a clear, informative and humorous way. As people say, “a picture paints a thousand words“.

The following cartoons are a creative collaboration between Lee Wilson and Michael Richards. Michael is a professional cartoonist based in Washington in the U.S. Michael’s the creative drawing talent and Lee comes up with the ideas and colors in the cartoons.

Whilst these cartoons may not be humorous, we hope that they can help highlight the need for accessible buildings with an accessible means of egress.

Please contact Lee to discuss the free use of these cartoons for non-commercial purposes, such as in presentations, websites, newsletters, magazines or the like where they will help convey an important message.

A Lack of Emergency Evacuation Lift

No accessible egress via a fire stairs

Emergency Evacuation Lift

Refuge Area Communication

Evacuation Chair Use

Network Messages via Computer System

Non-Accessible Exit Door

Over the last four decades there has been a growing consensus that tall buildings must consider the use of specially designed and constructed evacuation lifts as part of the overall egress strategy of a building.

It has been widely acknowledged that the use of an evacuation elevator / passenger lift will speed up fire evacuation and will provide a critical component of an accessible means of egress for those occupants with disability.

However, when an evacuation lift is provided, there needs to be suitable signage displayed in prominent locations so that building occupants know of its availability.

There is no point designing and installing an evacuation elevator but neglecting to provide suitable signs. This would be unsafe and defeat the purposes of the extra level of evacuation safety provided by the evacuation elevator.

Furthermore, people are conditioned not to use an elevator during an emergency. “Do not Use Elevator in Emergency” signs (or similar wording) are displayed in most buildings. So if the lift is to be used for evacuation purposes, then people need to know.

A consistent approach using the Accessible Means of Egress Icon can help to provide a consistent, clear and informative message to building occupants. There must also be accessible formats of signs installed at an accessible height range for all people, with Braille and tactile information.

The image above shows a suitable sign currently being produced in Australia by Braille Sign Supplies, http://braillesignsupplies.com.au/stock-sign-categories/egress.html

This design also has a tactile version of the Accessible Means of Egress Icon.