So roaches can find their way out? These were found in a motel. My guess is they didn't want to run wire so found an available outlet and tapped into that to power the exit sign. I suppose this would be somewhat useful if there was a fire and you are crawling along the floor.
I've seen low-mounted EXIT signs. It's actually better to have them mounted low so like you said, they can be seen in a fire. If an exit sign is high up, odds are it's not going to be seen through the thick smoke.
Smoke doesn't rise, but the higher the exit sign is, the further it is from your view and the harder it will be to see through the smoke. If the sign is lower to the ground, you will be more likely to see it since it will be closer to your face. If the fire alarm system has done its job, you will be out of the building before the room is completely filled with smoke though. Once the room fills with smoke it's going to be hard to breath and you're not going to get very far anyway.
Our old church had low-mounted EXIT signs like these in the sanctuary I think, which was odd since with a higher ceiling smoke would rise higher yet in a fire, but I can see the idea with fire codes that in a smoke-filled room occupants would be staying low trying to crawl out to escape smoke and intense heat.
I've seen them at a few motels in MI, they used ones that were recessed in the wall. I've also seen EXIT signs recessed in the floor itself although that was in Tokyo. Oddly enough I don't think I've ever seen one in Ontario.
I can actually see the logic behind the recessed in the floor concept, it's analogous to speed limits and traffic director symbols being painted on a road's paved surface in addition to other signs.
I've seen places (normally industrial buildings) that have glow-in-the-dark lines painted on the floor that you follow to a fire exit in an emergency. Just like lines on the freeway shoulders but glow in the dark and more of a neon green color.
They also exist on airplane aisles for the same reason; in a darkened cabin (no power after fire/crash/etc), especially in heavy smoke, it's easier to find the way to an exit. Never seen them in a building before though.
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