With fire posing deadly risks and devastating consequences, it is essential that fire safety is top of your agenda when considering health & safety signage for your business. Ensuring that you are prepared for the eventuality of a fire help can you avoid employee and visitor injury, protect against costly damages and recently increased health & safety breach fines.

Where do I start…?

If you’re responsible for the fire safety in your workplace, then the first step is to conduct a fire risk assessment of the premises. This will allow you to:

  • Identify risks and hazards
  • Control for identified risks by implementing appropriate fire safety measures
  • Make plans for an emergency
  • Inform staff of fire safety procedures
  • The Health and Safety (Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 act states that safety signage should be used where there is a significant risk to health and safety where other methods cannot control the risk. Signs must conform to BS ISO 7010 standard to ensure consistency.Work environments come in all shapes and sizes so fire safety requirements will differ, however we have put together a recommendation of some of the essential fire safety signs you should be displaying around your business:

What are the 5 different categories of fire signage?

Fire Exit Signage

Fire Exit Sign

If your building has a simple layout and it is clear and obvious where the exit is e.g a door at the front of a small shop – then fire exit signage is not a requirement.

However for bigger or more complex buildings signage is essential. You should first determine your primary exit route.

This should be the shortest and quickest route out of a building from any given location – for these routes use the Exit signage.

You also need to plan a secondary escape route in case a fire makes the primary route impassable. For this route and for all other routes out of a building use the Fire Exit Signage:

  • If in any doubt about which signs to use – use the Fire Exit Signage throughout the entire building
  • From any position within a building an escape sign should be visible
  • Once you have passed the first sign the next sign on the route should be clearly visible
  • You will need further signage at every change of direction
  • Final exit signs must be above all final exit doors
  • Signs must not be conflicting – e.g. two arrow up back to back sign could cause confusion or people from opposite directions running in to each other

Your fire exit signage is part of the safe condition category, these signs are identified by white text on a green background and gives information on escape routes or first aid. For more information about which direction you require and viewing distances check out our easy to follow blog on understanding fire signage here.

Fire Door Signage

Fire door keep shut

Fire doors are crucial in slowing the spread of fire. When closed, they act as a barrier to help prevent the fire from spreading and when open they allow as a means of escape.

All fire doors should be marked with the appropriate sign dependent on the type of exit. The following signage is mandatory (white text on blue background) which indicates a course of action must be taken. Where appropriate the sign should be displayed on both sides of the door.

  • Fire Door Keep Shut – use for fire doors that need to be closed when not in use
  • Fire Door Keep Locked Shut – use for fire doors that must be kept locked when not in use
  • Automatic Fire Door Keep Clear – use for doors that are held open by an automatic mechanism

Fire Action Notice

The purpose of a fire action notice is to inform employees or visitors of what action to take in the event of a fire. These signs can come with spaces to fill in details and gives information such as:

Fire Action Notice

  • Phone number to call the fire brigade
  • Address of building
  • How to exit the building
  • Assembly point information
  • Specific instructions regarding the building

There are a range of different fire action notices – such as notices for buildings with lifts, for residential care homes, for people with mobility issues etc. Ensure you choose the correct sign for your business and the people who use it/have access to. It is a good idea to position your fir action notice next to your fire alarm call point. This means that whoever is activating the alarm has details on what to do and where to go on sounding the alarm.

Fire Assembly point

Fire Assembly Point

Your emergency exit routes need to lead as directly as possible to a safe area. This should be far enough away from the building so that emergency services are able to avoid interference and so potential debris from the fire is avoided.

When determining your fire assembly point you must also ensure this is suitable for vulnerable people when exiting a building such as elderly people or people with mobility issues.

Fire Safety Equipment:

It is crucial that staff and visitors are aware of the location of fire safety equipment and how to use it in the event of a fire. Current legislation states that all fire safety equipment which requires manual handing must be easy to locate and have clear signage. Fire safety equipment signs are red with white text to allow for easy identification

– Fire Extinguishers

It is recommended to display signage giving details on fire extinguishers types (water, Co2, Hydrospray, powder, wet chemical & AFF foam) so that people can quickly choose the chose the correct extinguisher in an emergency depending on the type of fire.

The majority of fires can be successfully tackled in the first few minutes with the correct extinguisher; therefore it is vital that staff are aware of the location and detail of extinguishers. Signage, with symbols to accompany instructions, should be displayed next to every extinguisher location.

Fire Extinguishers

– Fire Alarm Call PointFire alarm call point

It is mandatory to display a fire alarm call point sign next to all fire alarm points. A fire alarm call point enables people to quickly raise the alarm in the event of an emergency or fire.

UK fire alarm regulations (BS 5839) recommend fire alarm systems to be inspected at least every 6 months and tested weekly to help prevent false alarms and alert occupants in the event of a fire.

– Other fire safety equipment signage

If you have other fire safety equipment on your premises then you should also include signage to highlight the location. This includes but is not limited to:

Fire hose reel, fire blanket, dry riser & wet riser signs.

Fire hose reelFire Blanket Wet riserDry Riser

Glow with the flow…

All of our Fire safety signs are available in photoluminescent material. The glow admitted from the signs will help staff and visitors make their way out of a building or locate fire safety equipment if the lighting fails. There are multiple benefits of your photoluminescent signage, to read about these read our blog here.

Choosing your fire signage can be a daunting task. What exactly do you need? Where do you have to install them? Will you be compliant with BS EN ISO 7010? What happens if you get it wrong?

In the UK between 2010 and 2014, there were 97,500 fires in commercial premises, with 1,881 fatalities over the same period. It is essential to have clearly marked routes to exits and fire fighting equipment as this will help to limit the risk of loss of life.

Shop our Fire Signage Range now

Where do you place fire exit signs on the escape route?

The first step to determining your escape route is to find your primary escape route. This should be the shortest and quickest route out of the building from any given location. It is also essential to plan a secondary escape route, in the event of a fire makes the primary route impassable.

Determining the signage for your fire escape route is confusing, however, it can be simplified with a few simple guidelines;

  • Within your building, an escape sign should always be visible
  • Once past the first fire escape sign, the next escape sign along the route must be clearly seen
  • Further signage is required at every change of direction along the escape route
  • A fire exit sign must be above all final fire exit doors
  • Ensure there are no conflicting signs along the route e.g. 2 arrow up signs back to back.

Fire Exit signs and where to use them?

Fire exit signs with left and right arrows:

Fire exit signs with left and right arrows are self-explanatory. If you see an arrow pointing to the left, what that is essentially saying is that you should “Progress to the left”. If you see an arrow pointing to the right, it is telling you that you should “Progress to the right”.

Where some of the confusion starts to come in around fire safety signs, is with the up and the down arrow.

Fire exit signs with up arrows:

Fire exit sign with arrow up

Fire Exit Arrow Up is to be used when you have to continue along your route, towards another fire exit sign. It can also be used for final exits. The only exception to this is if there is a step-down or ramp immediately outside.

Fire exist signs with down arrows:

Fire exit sign with arrow down

Fire Exit Arrow Down signs are to be used when you have to continue along your route, towards another fire exit sign. If after an exit sign there is a staircase leading down immediately after your sign, then a down arrow is required.

Are fire exit signs displayed on each fire exit door?

According to the UK Building Regulation requirements, an exit sign should be placed on every doorway, escape window or other routes which provides an exit to a fire.

What size fire exit sign do I need?

One of the most important things to consider when ordering a fire exit sign is the size. The size that you need is based on the maximum distance that the size needs to be viewed from.

Below is a guide to the sizes that you will need based on the distance in meters.

  • Viewing distances for fire exit signs
  • 300mm x 100mm KD – Viewing distance up to 10 meters
  • 450mm x 150mm NF – Viewing distance up to 15 meters
  • 600mm x 200mm RG – Viewing distance up to 20 meters
  • 1200mm x 400mm – Viewing distance up to 40 meters
  • For illuminated signs the viewing distance doubles

When does photoluminescent help with fire signage?

Photoluminescent signs provide additional reliability. In the event of a power failure, they offer a constant source of illumination and invaluable guidance.

Fire safety sign regulations in the UK

All business premises need to have a minimum 2-3 fire safety signs. Training or having common sense is not acceptable for fire safety if an emergency were to occur. For example, if your premises frequently has visitors arrive, then it’s unlikely they’ll be sufficiently prepared if a fire breaks out, which is why visible signage is important for guiding people to safety.

If you’re responsible for commercial premises, you might already know that you need fire safety signs. But it can be tricky to work out which ones you need and where to put them.

There are two main pieces of fire safety legislation for fire safety signs:

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

and

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

The HSR describes the correct types, applications and maintenance of fire signage, and the RRFSO provides assessment guidance and precautions to deal with any risk.

The HSR states that the number of signs required and their positioning depends on the types of hazards or dangers on the premises.

The RRFSO instructs all businesses with premises to appoint a responsible person who can remain accountable for fire safety. One of the main duties is to undergo regular assessments to examine the business’s fire safety risks and hazards. Once these have been identified, the assessor must take action to ensure that risks are minimised, such as installing fire safety equipment, adding or replacing signage and even making changes to the layout of the premises to ensure it meets safety standards.

So what do you need? There are 4 main applications of fire safety signs in the UK:

    1. A ‘fire Action Notice’ explaining what to do in case of fire
    2. Safety signs marketing fire exit routes, doors, and assembly points
    3. Safety signs showing where fire-fighting equipment is located
    4. Warning and Prohibition signs such as ‘Danger’ or ‘No Smoking

What are the different types of fire safety procedure signs?

Type of sign

Meaning/Purpose

Requirements

Example

Fire Action Sign

A list of instructions to guide anyone inside a building if they discover a fire or need to evacuate the building.

All commercial premises must display a Fire Action Note. It’s recommended that you display this sign next to every fire alarm call point and at every final exit door.

fire-action

Fire Equipment Signs

Information with an extinguisher ID to show people what the fire extinguisher is suitable for. These include: Class A fires: carbonaceous materials, Class B fires: flammable liquids, Class C fires: burning metals, electrical fires, Class F fires: cooking oils and fats.

Premises that keep fire fighting equipment must have adequate fire equipment signs in place near the equipment. There should be a fire extinguisher ID to show people what the fire extinguisher is suitable for.

Fire Exit and Door Signs

These signs guide people on evacuating a building safely and show which safety measures to take.

Non-domestic properties and multi-occupancy residential buildings are required to have fire exit and door signs.

fire-exit

Warning and Prohibition Signs

Warning signs let people know there is a fire risk nearby, prohibition signs display preventative actions to maximise fire safety.

You need a fire warning sign when flammable substances are on the premises, such as gas or oil. Prohibition signs are required when actions could a fire, such as smoking.

Flammable Gas Hazard Sign

Making sure that you have these clearly marked out is key to making sure that your building is as safe as possible for everyone inside.

If you have a large complex project and require any additional information, our expert site survey team are happy to visit your premises to help.

Our sales team can be contacted on 01737 774072 for free advice, or alternatively, you can email.