ION, SUSTAINABLE EXIT SIGN
Manufacturer of emergency lighting solutions, Philip Payne, wanted to create a family of exit signs that had a consistent aesthetic and were modular in construction, to be called the ION range. While not directly aimed at the specification market, finish and material selection were important – explicitly, the inclusion of more metal than plastic was a key consideration in the design. Sustainability was also a key part of the product development brief. It was vital to Philip Payne that the new product was designed in a way that maximised opportunities to improve the eco-credentials when compared to a conventional exit sign.

Key elements which support improved sustainability goals within the design are the modular construction, a consideration for future remanufacturing, shorter supply chain and the related carbon footrprint and a timeless design.  The main exit sign housing for the ION range is common accross all installation types – wall mount, ceiling recessed, pendant, etc – which reduces component waste. This approach also allows for the exit sign housing to be easily re-used in the future for different applications, simply by swapping to different mounting accessories.  The concept of future re-use is further supported by material selection and the general construction of the exit sign.  No adhesives have been used, and no plastic-snap fits are included which can break. A small quantity of easily accessible screws for easy disassembly have been used; and all metal parts can be easily separated for repair or repainting.  When considering the products aesthetics, the concept is that a timeless design reduces the impact of our disposal culture.  Being clean and simple makes it timeless. This means there is no reason why it can’t fit into future building architecture as it won’t look like a dated piece of technology or design.