Fire-safety and fire-evacuation signs should never be underestimated, playing a crucial role in helping people escape premises during an emergency. Not only are these signs vital to ensure safe environments and direct appropriate action in the face of danger, they’re also compulsory and required to comply with fire-safety regulations.
Both a trusted UK fire trade supplier and source of information, CheckFire is often asked about the safest course of action to take in both preventing and responding to fires. Among our fire-safety supplies, there is no product that quite literally communicates this like fire safety and evacuation signs. Here, we explore why fire safety and evacuation signage is mandatory, which legislation applies, and the types of signs required in various premises and contexts.
Why are fire-safety and fire-evacuation signs important?
Displayed in residential, commercial, industrial and public premises, fire-safety signs clearly explain the location of emergency exits in a fire, as well as information and guidance throughout the fire exit route. Alongside evacuation signs, fire-safety signs provide instructions on how to use fire-safety equipment in an emergency. Failure to comply with fire-safety signage regulations can put people and property at risk and can result in criminal prosecution.
What are the fire-safety signage regulations?
In the UK, it’s mandatory to install visible and easy-to-find fire-safety and fire-evacuation signs under two main regulations:
The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations (1996)
What it stipulates: Employers, landlords and building owners must provide adequate, durable and specific safety signage wherever there is a fire risk that has not been avoided or controlled by other means, unless the risk is not significant, or the use of a sign would not reduce it.
There are specific, stringent requirements for the colour, shape and size of each sign. All fire safety signs must include a symbol or pictogram that clearly communicates its meaning. Text can be included to aid understanding, but only in addition to a symbol.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2005)
What it stipulates: It is the duty of the appointed ‘responsible person’ to ensure everyone in a building or on a site is aware of evacuation routes, fire exits and fire-safety equipment. Clear and highly visible fire-safety signage must be well maintained by the responsible person – that is, anyone accountable for fire-safety compliance in a premises. Any faded or defective signs must be replaced, and signs must be explained to building users to ensure they understand the meaning and actions to be taken in correspondence with them.
Which fire-safety signs are needed?
All premises differ, so fire-safety signage required will depend on the layout of a building, the nature of its use, and the fire-safety equipment needed. To ensure full compliance, a fire risk assessment must be conducted to highlight fire hazards present. This will aid in identifying the appropriate fire-safety sign colours and symbols needed to guide people to safety in an emergency. British and International standards categorise fire-safety signs into several groups, each covering an essential aspect of fire safety. These can be broken down into their corresponding colours:
Red: fire equipment and prohibited actions
Red signs clearly mark and distinguish the location of fire-safety equipment and how to use it, such as fire alarms and firefighting equipment. For example, our fire extinguisher ID signs identify different types of fire extinguishers and the classes of fire a unit can or cannot be used on. Red circular signs are also used to highlight prohibited actions that should not be performed in the area as they may increase the risk of fire, such as a ‘No Smoking’ sign in a petrol forecourt.
Yellow: warnings
Warnings are indicated with yellow, triangular signs. For example, if hazardous materials and atmospheres are present, such as flammable materials, liquids, gases, or electrical equipment, a yellow sign is required to warn people to be careful or take precautions in these high-risk areas.
Green: safe conditions and evacuation
Indicating safety, green rectangular signs are used for emergency escapes, fire exits, emergency doors, fire assembly points and first aid. It is essential for businesses to identify the direction of travel to escape or exit a building, while highlighting doorways and openings that lead to a place of safety, as well as how to use them.
Blue and white: mandatory actions
Converse to prohibition signs, mandatory signs indicate a specific required behaviour or action that should be performed to help prevent the spread of fire and provide occupants of the building with fire-safety instructions. For example, buildings with fire doors may need various signs to ensure doors are kept closed, used properly and fit for purpose in the event of a fire, reducing the spread of fire and smoke during an emergency.
Fire-safety sign maintenance
The responsible person is required to ensure fire-safety signs are maintained and fully visible at all times – for example, by fitting photoluminescent signs to ensure they’re seen in even the lowest visible conditions, particularly cases where electricity is lost. Additionally, installing fire extinguisher stands with designated spaces for fire-safety signs can help prevent signs from wear and tear, while presenting fire-extinguisher IDs clearly and in the precise location of the fire point itself.
Knowing which fire-safety and fire-evacuation signage is needed can be confusing if you’re not well versed in the category, placement and purpose of each. Fire-extinguisher suppliers play an important role in helping stockists keep premises sufficiently protected from fire risk and prepared in the event of an emergency. A supplier can also help stockists stay on top of legislation, providing access to fully compliant fire-safety signage and equipment, while sharing advice and expertise based on decades of fire-trade knowledge.
For more information, go to www.checkfire.co.uk
About the Author
Toria Jones
With over 10 years of experience in the marketing industry, Toria Jones is head of marketing at national trade-only fire safety supplier, CheckFire Ltd. Starting her career as a marketing executive at a fitness studio, Toria worked her way up to UK brand manager at international children’s toy manufacturer Little Tikes in 2016, before joining CheckFire in her current position. Toria boasts a wealth of expertise in her field and is responsible for developing, supporting and activating key marketing initiatives that are focused on driving consumer demand for CheckFire and its portfolio of brands. Connect with Toria onLinkedIn.
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