Glow Tape for Blackouts, Steps and Egress

What it actually does

Photoluminescent, not powered and not radioactive.

Pro Glow is a flexible vinyl film with a non-radioactive chemical light source built into it. It absorbs energy from any light — house lights, work lights, daylight — and releases it slowly as visible glow once the room goes dark. There is no battery, no wiring and nothing to fail. It recharges every time the lights come on, indefinitely.

That makes it the standard for marking step edges, stage edges, egress routes (the marked path to the exit), exit door frames and equipment that has to be found in a blackout.

Charging it properly

The single thing most people get wrong.

Charge it before the room goes dark. Tape applied in a dim venue and never exposed to full light will barely glow. Bring the house lights up for a while before the blackout.
Brightness fades on a curve, not a cliff. Published luminance is 68.2 mcd/m² at 10 minutes and 8.76 mcd/m² at 60 minutes — bright immediately after the lights drop, and dimmer but still readable as eyes adapt.
It lasts up to ten hours per charge, which covers any performance, but plan a recharge between long sessions in a permanently dark space.
Do not paint or cover it. It needs to receive light to give light back.

Published technical data

Pro Glow.

Pro Glow — Glow in the Dark Tape (Vinyl)

Backing	Vinyl film
Thickness	15 mils
Light source	Non-radioactive
Luminous compliance	PSPA Class B
Glow duration	Up to 10 hours per charge
Luminance	68.2 mcd/m² at 10 min; 8.76 at 60 min
Peel adhesion (steel)	96 oz/in at 15 min dwell; 104 at 24 h
Service temperature	−29°C to 104°C (−20°F to 220°F)

Measured to DIN 67510 / ASTM 2072. Solvent resistant to water, salt water, bleach, mineral spirits and IPA.

Where it earns its place

Step nosings and stair edges backstage
The edge of the stage itself, and any rostrum or truck edge
Egress routes and exit door frames
Cable crossings that stay in place through a blackout
Fire extinguishers, panels and cases that must be found without light

It can be printed and die-cut to custom shapes if you need arrows or lettering.

Figures are Pro Tapes published technical data sheet values for products Artstag supplies. Typical values — not for use in writing specifications.

Two glow products

Vinyl tape or glow gaffer — which to reach for.

Pro Glow Gaff — Glow in the Dark Gaffer Tape

Backing	Impregnated cotton cloth
Adhesive	Rubber
Tensile strength	48 lbs/in
Thickness	12.5 mils
Adhesion to steel	80 oz/in
Application temp.	7°C–93°C (45°F–200°F)
Other	PVC free · Printable · Die-cuttable

The cloth alternative: same adhesive system as standard Pro Gaff, so it tears by hand and removes cleanly.

Choosing between them

Pro Glow (vinyl) — the brighter, longer-glowing option. PSPA Class B, up to ten hours per charge, with published luminance figures. Use it where the glow itself is doing safety-critical work: step nosings, stage edges, egress routes.
Pro Glow Gaff (cloth) — a gaffer tape that happens to glow. Hand tearable, highly conformable, and it removes as cleanly as ordinary Pro Gaff. Use it where you need gaffer behaviour and visibility in the dark: marking stairs and access handles, trip hazards, tools, cases and equipment.
Surface matters. Vinyl film sits flat on smooth surfaces; the cloth conforms to irregular ones — truss, handles, textured edges.
Both charge the same way — expose to light before the room goes dark.

Figures are Pro Tapes published technical data sheet values for products Artstag supplies. Typical values — not for use in writing specifications.

Common questions

Frequently asked.

Does glow-in-the-dark tape need power or batteries?

No. Pro Glow is photoluminescent — it absorbs energy from any ambient light and releases it as visible glow in darkness. It recharges every time the lights are on, indefinitely, and contains no radioactive material.

How long does glow tape stay visible?

Up to ten hours per charge. Brightness falls on a curve rather than switching off: published values are 68.2 mcd/m² ten minutes after the lights go out and 8.76 mcd/m² after an hour, measured to DIN 67510 / ASTM 2072.

Why is my glow tape dim?

Almost always insufficient charging. Tape applied and used in a permanently dim space never absorbs enough light. Expose it to normal lighting before the blackout, and make sure nothing is covering it.

Where should glow tape be used in a venue?

Step and stair edges, the stage edge, rostrum and truck edges, egress routes, exit door frames, taped cable crossings, and any equipment that has to be located in darkness — extinguishers, panels and cases.

What is the difference between Pro Glow and Pro Glow Gaff?

Pro Glow is a photoluminescent vinyl film — brighter and longer glowing, PSPA Class B, up to ten hours per charge, with published luminance figures. Pro Glow Gaff is a glow-in-the-dark gaffer tape on impregnated cotton cloth with the standard Pro Gaff rubber adhesive, so it is hand tearable, highly conformable and removes cleanly. Choose the vinyl where the glow is doing safety-critical work such as step and stage edges, and the gaffer where you need tape behaviour plus visibility in the dark, such as marking handles, tools, cases and trip hazards.

Glow tape for blackouts and egress marking.