Look around any commercial building and you’ll see fire safety signs. A compulsory part of UK fire legislation, they’re used to provide guidance relating to all fire safety equipment. From fire exits and fire extinguishers, to prohibition signs. But do you know what they all mean? And do you have all of the relevant fire safety signage for your business?
Understanding Why Fire Equipment Identification Signs Are Important
Why do businesses need fire safety signage?
The main purpose of fire safety signage legislation is to ensure that people know what to do in the event of a fire. This might mean how to sound the alarm, where to find the emergency exit, or understanding which fire extinguisher to use. They’re all important, and can all save lives.
What are the legal requirements relating to fire safety signs?
Fire safety signage regulations are covered by two separate pieces of legislation.
First, there’s the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. This states that all business owners, must place signage where ‘a significant risk to the health and safety of employees and others.’
And that is followed by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This states that fire safety signs must be properly located, clearly visible, and fully maintained.
What do you need to know about fire safety signs?
Fire safety signs come in four different colours:
- Red – This indicates danger and is usually used in relation to fire safety equipment. Such as fire extinguisher identification and the location of the fire alarms trigger points.
- Yellow – Used to denote hazard, so you will find them anywhere there are hazardous materials and other safety risks present.
- Green – Is the universal colour of safety. In fire protection, it is used to indicate things such as escape routes and fire exits.
- Blue and white – These signs are used to denote instructions. The most commonly used blue and white fire safety sign is ‘fire door keep shut’. But you will find them in other areas.
There are eight different categories of fire safety signs:
Escape route location – These tell building occupants where and how to exit the building in the event of a fire.
Fire alarm and firefighting equipment signs – Designed to highlight the location of fire safety equipment and how to use it. This can be particularly important when it comes to fire extinguishers because the use of the wrong extinguisher can be more dangerous than not using one at all. Using a foam or water fire extinguisher on an electrical fire, for example, could result in electrocution.
Fire action signs – These are information signs, generally used to instruct people on what to do when a fire breaks out. An example would be the instructions on the inside of hotel room doors instructing guests on how to find the nearest safe exit.
Emergency exit and emergency door release signs – Again, these are instructional signs, intended to ensure that emergency exits can be easily operated when needed.
Hazardous materials and atmospheres signs – These are the yellow signs mentioned above, intended for use with high-risk materials or environments.
Mandatory signs – Intended to help prevent the spread of fire, these are typically blue and white instructional signs.
Help prevent the spread of fire and provide occupants of the building with fire safety instructions, such as ‘Fire door keep shut’ and ‘Fire exit keep clear’.
Prohibition signs – To again provide preventative guidance to avoid risk, these signs include ‘no smoking’.
Safe condition signs – Always green, these signs are used to indicate first aid equipment and emergency instructions for people with special needs.
Which fire safety signs do you need for your business?
Because all businesses are different, there is no fixed list of the signage that each business requires. While almost all businesses need fire alarm and firefighting equipment signs, you may not have any use for hazard warning signs. Your fire risk assessment should help you to ascertain which signs are necessary for your business, and where to put them. If you are at all uncertain, it’s a good idea to engage a professional fire risk assessment provider.
As a business, you are legally responsible for ensuring that all relevant fire safety signage is in place and clearly visible on your premises. So, when was the last time that you reviewed your safety signs?
Nordwell Fire & Security has been supporting the businesses of Norfolk, Suffolk, and the southeast with fire safety services for more than 25 years. If your business needs fire safety advice, bespoke fire risk assessment services, or support with fire safety equipment, get in touch with our friendly team.
