This article explains how black (theatre style) exit signs are treated under the Australian and New Zealand emergency lighting standards, and how to choose the correct face option for a project.
Applies to: Ektor exit signs supplied with a black housing and a choice of green/white or theatre (black) pictogram.
Which standards apply to exit signs in Australia and New Zealand?
Two parts of the AS/NZS 2293 series are relevant.
AS/NZS 2293.3:2018 (incorporating Amendment 1:2021) is the product standard. It sets out what an emergency luminaire or exit sign must be able to do, including the running man pictogram, colour requirements for the illuminated face, minimum face luminance, uniformity across the face, contrast between the pictogram and its background, and the viewing distance classification.
AS/NZS 2293.1:2018 (incorporating Amendment 1:2021) is the system design, installation and operation standard. It determines where signs are placed, how they are mounted, and which pictogram type may be used in a given space.
A compliant installation requires both: a product certified to AS/NZS 2293.3, installed in accordance with AS/NZS 2293.1.
Are black exit signs permitted under the standards?
Yes. AS/NZS 2293.3 recognises a low luminance pictogram, commonly referred to as a theatre pictogram, in addition to the standard green and white pictogram. A black faced exit sign that has been tested to AS/NZS 2293.3 is a legitimate, certifiable product.
Where can a theatre (black) pictogram be installed?
AS/NZS 2293.1 clause 5.4 restricts the low illumination pictogram to areas with low ambient light, such as theatres, cinemas, auditoriums and lecture halls. In these spaces a standard bright green sign would be intrusive, and the lower luminance face is designed to remain visible without causing glare.
The theatre pictogram must not be used in normally lit spaces such as offices, retail areas, restaurants, foyers or car parks. In these environments the face is washed out by ambient light and its visibility is reduced. An installation of this type is non compliant with AS/NZS 2293.1 even though the fitting itself carries AS/NZS 2293.3 certification.
Does the colour of the housing matter?
No. The standards regulate the illuminated face of the sign, not the colour of the body. A black housing fitted with a standard green and white pictogram is a normal luminance exit sign and may be installed anywhere a conventional exit sign is permitted.
This is the recommended option for architecturally driven projects that want a dark fitting in a normally lit space.
Our black exit signs are offered with two faces. Which one should I specify?
| Face option | Where it can be used | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|
| Green / white pictogram on black housing | Any location where a standard exit sign is permitted | Offices, retail, hospitality, apartments, galleries, foyers, education |
| Theatre (black) pictogram on black housing | Low ambient light areas only, per AS/NZS 2293.1 clause 5.4 | Theatres, cinemas, auditoriums, lecture halls, performance spaces |
If there is any doubt about the ambient light level of the space, specify the green and white face.
Is the product compliant if it was tested to AS/NZS 2293.3?
Testing to AS/NZS 2293.3 confirms that the product meets the requirements of the product standard. Compliance of the finished installation still depends on the sign being used in an appropriate location under AS/NZS 2293.1.
Photometric requirements such as luminance, uniformity and contrast are measured on the illuminated face, so the green and white face and the theatre face are assessed separately. Evolt black exit signs that are offered with both face options, such as the Ektor Mercury Core (EV-MERCURY-CORE-24M-B), hold a separate AS/NZS 2293.3 test report for each face. Either face can therefore be supplied as a tested product, provided it is installed in a location permitted for that face type.
What are the luminance requirements for each face type?
AS/NZS 2293.3 sets different face luminance requirements for the two pictogram types. The figures below are taken from the clause text as reproduced in Evolt test reports.
| Requirement | Standard green / white sign (clause 3.4.2) | Low illuminance (theatre) sign (clause 3.4.3) |
|---|---|---|
| Green element luminance (C0) at each measurement site | Not less than 8 cd/m² | Not less than 2 cd/m² and not greater than 25 cd/m² |
| C60 luminance relative to C0 | Not less than 10% | Not less than 10% |
| White to adjacent green luminance ratio | Not less than 4:1 | Not applicable (no white areas) |
| Variation in C0 luminance between any two sites | Not greater than 5:1 | Not greater than 5:1 |
| Background | Green safety colour with white pictogram | Opaque, a colour other than green (a dark colour is recommended) with green pictogram elements |
| Borders and white transilluminated text | Permitted within limits | Not permitted |
The upper limit of 25 cd/m² on the theatre face is deliberate. It keeps the sign from becoming a glare source in a darkened auditorium. It is also why the theatre face is unsuitable for bright spaces, where a sign at that luminance is washed out by ambient light.
What viewing distance classifications apply?
AS/NZS 2293.3 sets the maximum viewing distance from the height of the pictorial element. For elements up to 200 mm the standard tabulates the distance: an element of 100 mm to under 150 mm gives 16 m, 150 mm to under 200 mm gives 24 m, and 200 mm gives 32 m. Above 200 mm the distance is 160 times the element height, which is how 40 m class signs are derived. The distance is marked on the face of the sign as a number followed by "m", for example "24m". The classification applies regardless of housing colour, but each face variant must be individually verified.
Have the rules on black exit signs changed recently?
AS/NZS 2293.3 has not changed since Amendment 1 was published in 2021. The current requirements for black exit signs remain as described in this article.
AS/NZS 2293.1 is under revision. Standards Australia released a public comment draft in 2025. Any change to where theatre pictograms may be installed would appear in the revised Part 1 rather than in Part 3. Until a revised edition is published and referenced by the National Construction Code, the 2018 edition with Amendment 1 remains the applicable standard.
What should I tell a customer who wants black exit signs in a bright space?
Recommend the black housing with the green and white pictogram. It delivers the required appearance while remaining a standard luminance sign that is compliant in any normally lit environment. Advise against the theatre face for these locations, as the installation would not comply with AS/NZS 2293.1.
Does this apply in New Zealand as well?
Yes. AS/NZS 2293.1 and AS/NZS 2293.3 are joint Australian and New Zealand standards. The same distinction between product certification and installation location applies in both countries.
This article is a general guide only and does not replace the published standards. Always refer to the current editions of AS/NZS 2293.1 and AS/NZS 2293.3 and the National Construction Code when confirming compliance for a specific project.
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