Fire Safety Signs

What are the categories of fire signage?

There are several categories of fire safety signs, some of which will be essential for your business. However, depending on your industry and specific fire risks (determined through a fire risk assessment as required by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005), you may not need each category. For example, your business would only need a flammable liquid sign if it stores or uses flammable liquids. Below, we list the various categories of fire signage:

• Fire door signs: clearly indicate a fire door and provide mandatory actions to ensure its effectiveness.
• Fire exit signs: highlight the safest evacuation route and nearest emergency exit of a building.
• Fire action notice: contain essential information and what actions to take in the event of a fire. 
• Fire push/pull signs: offer simple instructions for how to operate emergency exit doors.
• Fire alarm signs: highlight the nearest fire alarm and provide information regarding its activation.
• Fire extinguisher signs: these fire fighting signs help to identify types of fire extinguishers, which classes of fire they can be used on, and how to safely operate them.
• Fire assembly signs: show where a building’s fire assembly point is located.
• Fire floor level identification signs: indicate the Floor Level within a multi-storey high rise building.
  
  

Where should fire safety signs be located?

The location of fire safety signs depends on the type of fire signage. For example, a fire extinguisher ID should be placed on the fire extinguisher, while a fire exit sign must be placed at eye level where possible to ensure it’s easy to spot. However, regardless of the type of fire sign, they must be maintained and be highly visible to ensure employees and visitors can see them. In the event of a fire, smoke and power outages can pose a real risk to signs’ visibility. This is why we offer a range of photoluminescent fire signs, which maintain visibility in poor conditions. To learn more about fire safety sign placement, read our detailed guide to fire safety signs.

Is fire signage required by law?

Yes. There are two pieces of legislation that relate to fire safety signs: the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 (HSR) and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005 (RRFSO). The HSR outlines the types of mandatory fire signs, their placement and the importance of maintenance, while the RRFSO highlights the need to appoint a ‘responsible person’ to oversee and take charge of fire safety within a commercial premises. Failing to comply with these regulations will not only endanger lives, but it could leave you subject to legal action if you were found to be negligent in the case of a fire.

Learn more about fire signage