Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.6(b)

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                         SEVERANCE PROTECTION AGREEMENT
                               FOR KEY MANAGEMENT

         THIS AMENDMENT made as of the 31st day of August, 2001, by and between
National Service Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
____________________ (the "Executive");

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Company entered into a Severance Protection Agreement for
Key Management with the Executive, dated ___________________ (the "Agreement"),
providing for the payment of certain compensation and benefits to the Executive
in the event his employment is terminated as a result of, or in connection with,
a Change in Control of the Company; and

         WHEREAS, effective as of August 31, 2001, the Company is restructuring
(the "Restructuring") its business operations and forming several new subsidiary
corporations (each such new entity will be considered a "Subsidiary" under the
Agreement); and

         WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to amend the Agreement to
reflect the fact that Executive may be primarily employed by, and/or primarily
perform services for one or more of the new Subsidiaries; and

         WHEREAS, the Executive will continue to perform valuable services that
inure to the financial benefit of the Company and its shareholders;

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties agree to amend the
Agreement as follows:

                                       1.

         In consideration of the Executive's performing valuable services for
the Subsidiary executing this Agreement, the Subsidiary does hereby guarantee
the payment and performance by the Company of all of the Company's obligations
and responsibilities under the Agreement.

                                       2.

         The Executive hereby agrees that under the Agreement the Restructuring
(i) shall not be deemed to constitute a Change in Control, and (ii) shall not
result in a termination of the Executive's employment.

                                       3.

         The Appendix to the Agreement shall be replaced by the Appendix
attached hereto.

<PAGE>

                                       4.

         Except as hereby modified, the terms and conditions of the Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect. This Amendment shall be effective as of
August 31, 2001.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the
day and year first above written.

                                       EXECUTIVE:

                                       -----------------------------------

                                       NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------

         The undersigned Subsidiary does hereby agree to the terms and
conditions of the Agreement and to pay and perform all of the obligations
described in Paragraph 1 of this Amendment.

         This 31st day of August, 2001.

                                       SUBSIDIARY:

                                       -----------------------------------

                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 2
                                     TO THE
                        NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC.
                             EXECUTIVE SAVINGS PLAN

         THIS AMENDMENT made as of the 31st day of August, 2001, by National
Service Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("NSI");

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, NSI has previously established the National Service
Industries, Inc. Executive Savings Plan (the "Plan") for the benefit of its
eligible employees and their beneficiaries; and

         WHEREAS, effective as of August 31, 2001, NSI will restructure its
business operations and form several new subsidiary corporations; and

         WHEREAS, NSI desires to amend the Plan in connection with the
restructuring; and

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the power of amendment contained in the Plan, the
Plan is hereby amended as follows:

                                       1.

         The Plan is hereby amended by incorporating the following as the new
Schedule 1:

                                   "Schedule 1
                               Adopting Employers

         National Service Industries, Inc. (CA) f/k/a NSI Enterprises, Inc.
         L&C Spinco, Inc.
         The Zep Group, Inc.
         L&C Lighting Group, Inc."

                                       2.

         This Amendment shall be effective August 31, 2001.

                                       3.

         Except as provided herein, the provisions of the Plan shall remain in
full force and effect.

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NSI has caused this Amendment No. 2 to be executed
by its duly authorized corporate officers as of the date and year first written
above.

ATTEST:                             NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC.

By: /s/ Carol E. Morgan             By: /s/ Kenyon W. Murphy
   --------------------------          ----------------------------------<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 4.1

   NUMBER                                                             SHARES

AB                               [PICTURE]

COMMON STOCK                                                       COMMON STOCK

              INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

                              ACUITY BRANDS, INC.

THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN
NEW YORK, NEW YORK OR MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA                  CUSIP 00508Y 10 2

This Certifies that
                                                                SEE REVERSE FOR
                                                            CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

is the owner of

 FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE PAR VALUE OF ONE CENT ($.01) EACH,
                            OF THE COMMON STOCK OF

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED
         WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, N.A.
                                                                 TRANSFER AGENT
                                                                  AND REGISTRAR
BY

                                                           AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

Acuity Brands, Inc. (herein called "the Corporation") transferable on the books
of the Corporation in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of
this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares represented
hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the process of the
Certificate of Incorporation as amended of the Corporation, a copy of which
Certificate of Incorporation is on file with the Transfer Agent, all of which
the holder by the acceptance hereof expressly assents and is bound. This
Certificate is not valid until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and
registered by the Registrar. Witness the seal of the Corporation and the
signatures of its duly authorized officers.

Dated

                                     [SEAL]

/s/ Helen D. Haines                    /s/   James S. Balloun
    --------------------------             --------------------------
            SECRETARY                        CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

                          AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY
<PAGE>

Until the Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement referred to
below), this certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in a Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated
as of November 12, 2001 (as such may be amended from time to time, the "Rights
Agreement"), between Acuity Brands, Inc. (the "Company") and Wells Fargo Bank
Minnesota, N.A. as Rights Agent, the terms of which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive
offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights may be redeemed, may become exercisable for securities or
assets of the Company or securities of another entity, may be exchanged for
shares of Common Stock or other securities or assets of the Company, may expire,
may become null and void (if they are "Beneficially Owned" by an "Acquiring
Person" or an "Affiliate" or "Associate" thereof, as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement, or by any transferee of any of the foregoing) or may be
evidenced by separate certificates and may no longer be evidenced by this
certificate. The Company will mail or arrange for the mailing of a copy of the
Rights Agreement to the holder of this certificate without charge after the
receipt of a written request therefor.

                              ACUITY BRANDS, INC.

A FULL STATEMENT OF THE DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES, LIMITATIONS, VOTING RIGHTS
AND RELATIVE RIGHTS OF THE SHARES OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK MAY BE OBTAINED BY ANY
STOCKHOLDER, WITHOUT CHARGE, FROM THE TRANSFER AGENT, OR THE OFFICE OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION.

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:

<Table>
  <S>                                                 <C>
  TEN CON -- as tenants in common                     UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -- __________ Custodian __________
  TEN ENT -- as tenant by the entireties                                     (Cust)              (Minor)
  JT TEN  -- as joint tenants with right of                                under Uniform Gifts to Minors
             survivorship and not as tenants
             in common                                                     ACT ___________________________
                                                                                        (State)
</Table>

    Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

For value received _______________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer into

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
   IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
---------------------------------------

---------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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____________________________________________________ Shares of the capital stock

represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and
appoint

_____________________________________________________________ Attorney, to

transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Corporation with full
power of substitution in the premises.

Dated

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NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS
WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR WITHOUT
ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION
WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM
PURSUANT TO RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED BY:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<Table>
<S>                                                   <C>
-------------------------------------------------     -------------------------------------------------
           AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY                 PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: LISA MARTIN: 215-764-??26
          55TH STREET AT SANSOM STREET                            PROOF OF OCTOBER 25, 2001
             PHILADELPHIA, PA 15139                                  ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
                 (212) 784-5600                                         H 71319 back
-------------------------------------------------     -------------------------------------------------
         SALES ANDY HOBBS: 404-525-1455                         OPERATOR:                  eg
-------------------------------------------------     -------------------------------------------------
    /NET/BANKNOTE/HOME 23/MAC 6/ACUITYm71319                                 NEW
-------------------------------------------------     -------------------------------------------------
</Table>

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