Have Questions?
We Have Answers.
Get quick solutions to your common fire safety sign-buying questions
How do fire safety signs help during an emergency?
Fire safety signs play a crucial role in enhancing safety and preparedness during emergencies by providing clear, visual guidance that is easy to understand, even under high-stress conditions. Here's how they contribute:
Locate the Nearest Fire Exits:
- Fire exit signs ensure that everyone in the building can quickly and easily find their way to the nearest safe exit, even in unfamiliar environments or during low-visibility conditions like smoke-filled rooms.
- Photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) fire exit signs are especially useful in power outages, as they remain visible without external lighting.
Identify Firefighting Equipment:
- Fire extinguisher and hose reel signs highlight the location and type of firefighting equipment available.
- These signs also include instructions, such as which type of extinguisher to use for specific fires (e.g., CO2 for electrical fires), reducing the risk of misuse and increasing effectiveness during an emergency.
Follow Designated Evacuation Routes:
- Directional arrows and evacuation route signs guide individuals safely out of the building, avoiding hazards and bottlenecks.
- Proper placement of these signs, such as at staircases, corridors, and junctions, ensures a smooth and orderly evacuation process.
Gather at Safe Assembly Points:
- Assembly point signs designate a clear, safe location for people to gather once evacuated. This helps emergency personnel account for everyone and identify anyone who may still be inside.
- These signs are typically located in open, accessible areas away from the building to avoid additional risks, such as falling debris.
Reduce Uncertainty and Panic:
- In emergency situations, people may feel confused, anxious, or disoriented. Fire safety signs provide clear instructions, minimising hesitation and guiding individuals to safety.
- Their standardised symbols and colours, compliant with British and international regulations (such as BS EN ISO 7010), ensure consistency and immediate recognition, even for those who may not speak English as their first language.
Improve Emergency Response Efficiency:
- Fire safety signs also assist first responders by clearly marking key areas such as fire equipment storage, emergency exits, and hazardous zones.
- This reduces the time spent searching for critical tools or access points, enabling quicker and more effective action to contain the fire and protect lives.
By serving as a visual anchor in chaotic situations, fire safety signs are an indispensable part of any workplace’s emergency preparedness strategy. Regularly maintaining and updating these signs ensures they remain effective and compliant with legal requirements, safeguarding both employees and visitors.
Why does a business need to display fire safety signs?
Fire safety signs are a legal requirement for businesses under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in the UK. They provide clear instructions to employees, visitors, and the public during emergencies, helping to minimise confusion and ensure a safe and orderly evacuation. These signs identify fire exits, firefighting equipment, and evacuation routes, reducing the risk of injury or loss of life.
Fire safety signs are required in all UK workplaces where risks cannot be completely eliminated. The Health & Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 mandate the use of safety signage where necessary to warn, inform, or guide occupants to safety during emergencies.
What are the main types of fire safety signs a business should display?
The main types of fire safety signs include:
- Fire Exit Signs: Indicate the direction to the nearest fire exit.
- Fire Action Notices: Provide step-by-step instructions on what to do in the event of a fire.
- Fire Extinguisher Signs: Highlight the location of firefighting equipment and specify the type of extinguisher.
- Assembly Point Signs: Show designated safe areas for evacuation during an emergency.
- No Smoking Signs: Prevent potential fire hazards by prohibiting smoking in specific areas.
Where should fire safety signs be placed in a workplace?
Fire safety signs should be positioned in clearly visible and accessible locations, such as:
- Above doorways leading to fire exits.
- Along evacuation routes to guide people to safety.
- Next to fire extinguishers to indicate their location and usage.
- At assembly points to mark safe gathering areas.
Proper placement ensures that everyone can easily see and follow the signs, even in low-visibility conditions.
Fire Signs
Why do I need Fire Safety Signage?
A Fire sign is important because it can help to prevent accidents and injuries by warning people of potential fire hazards and directing them to safety in the event of a fire. Here are some of the reasons why you need fire safety signage:
- To warn people of fire hazards: Fire safety signs can help to warn people of potential fire hazards, such as flammable materials, electrical hazards, and blocked fire exits. This can help to prevent people from starting fires or being injured in fires.
- To direct people to safety: Fire safety signs can also help to direct people to safety in the event of a fire. This includes signs that indicate the location of fire exits, fire extinguishers, and fire alarms.
- To comply with regulations: In many countries, there are laws that require businesses to display fire safety signage. By displaying fire safety signage, you can help to ensure that you are complying with the law and protecting your employees and customers.
- To create a fire-safe culture: Fire safety signage can help to create a fire-safe culture in your workplace. This means that everyone is aware of the fire safety hazards and knows how to stay safe in the event of a fire.
When choosing fire safety signage, it is important to use the correct type of signs and to display them in the correct location. You should also make sure that the signs are clear and easy to understand.
Here are some tips for choosing and displaying fire safety signage:
- Use the international fire safety pictograms. These pictograms are universally recognised and can be understood by people of all languages.
- Use large, clear fonts. The signs should be easy to read from a distance.
- Use bright colors. The signs should be easy to see against the background.
- Display the signs in a prominent location. The signs should be placed where they are easy to see and access.
- Keep the signs clean and free of obstructions. The signs should be easy to read and understand.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your fire safety signage is effective and helps to keep your employees and customers safe.
What types of Fire Safety Signs do I need?
There are also a number of other specific types of fire safety signs, such as:
- Fire alarm signs: These signs indicate the location of fire alarms.
- Fire extinguisher signs: These signs indicate the location of fire extinguishers.
- Fire exit route signs: These signs indicate the direction of fire exits.
- Fire assembly point signs: These signs indicate the location of fire assembly points.
- Fire evacuation plan signs: These signs display a fire evacuation plan.
The specific types of fire safety signs that are required will vary depending on the country or region. It is important to consult with the relevant authorities to determine the specific requirements.
It is also important to make sure that the fire safety signs are clear and easy to understand. The signs should be written in a language that is understood by the people who will be seeing them. The signs should also be large enough to be easily read.
The size of a fire exit sign will depend on the size of the room or area where it is being displayed. However, the following are some general guidelines:
- For rooms with a smaller distance than 14 metres: 300mm x 100mm sized fire exit signs are recommended.
- For rooms with a distance between 14m and 22m: 400mm x 150mm sized fire exit signs are recommended.
- For rooms with a distance over 31m: 600mm x 200mm sized fire exit signs are recommended.
If the viewing distance is over 47m, you will need bigger fire exit signs, which are usually 900mm x 300mm.
It is also important to consider the height of the sign. The sign should be placed at a height where it is easily visible to people. A good rule of thumb is to place the sign at eye level, or about 1.8m from the floor.
All our Fire Safety Signs comply with British Standard BS5499.
24 products
