Facts of Tritium

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Nuclear Safety & Tritium Radioisotope Use in the Public Sector*

Facts regarding the safety of tritium in self-luminous signs from SRB Technologies, Inc. Manufacturer of self-luminous signs.

SRB Technologies, Inc. (SRBT) manufacturers self-luminous exit signs as well as other safety signs and markers in a wide rage of shapes, sizes, colors, lifespans and languages. They do not rely on any outside energy source for their illumination, requiring no electricity, no back-up batteries or generators to keep working in a crisis.

How does a SRBT Sign Work?

SRBT's self-luminous signs are powered by tritium gas, a low-level isotope of hydrogen. As the nucleus in tritium decays, it emits a beta particle. The beta particle (an electron), reacts with a phosphor to provide light. This process of illumination is very similar to that in a television, where an electron is used to illuminate the picture tube. An electron from tritium however has only about 1/4 of the energy of the electron in a color TV picture tube. That is why self-luminous signs do not even penetrate an ordinary sheet of paper. Because of this very low energy level, tritium is approved for use in self-luminous signs in building and commercial aircraft.

What If A Tube Breaks?

SRBT self-luminous signs contain a number of individual tritium filled tubes. These tubes are inside a high impact case designed to be tamper and vandal resistant. To coincide with the regulations of governments worldwide, e.g. NRC &AECB/CNSC, SRBT signs are extensively tested to ensure their safety.

If the product shield and case are penetrated and a tube should break, there is very little hazard. The tritium gas disperses rapidly into the atmosphere. In the improbable vent that all of the tubes would break, the effect is still less than that received from naturally occurring radioactive sources during a year, and is similar to the difference between living at sea level and moving to Denver, Colorado. (See Chart Below)

What Do We Do When The Sign Reaches It's Expiration?

SRBT is ecologically minded and is proud to be considered a "green company" SRBT will dispose of any self-luminous sign. We process all necessary paperwork and assure that the product is recycled and reclaimed. SRBT does not dump or store expired signs in landfills or other storage sites

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Airport X-Ray 0.002

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Nuclear Power 0.3

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Medical X-Rays 103

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