Fire Safety Signs: A Guide for UK Workplaces

Fire safety signs play an important role in helping people understand what to do in the event of a fire. They can identify escape routes and emergency exits, show the location of firefighting equipment, provide important fire safety instructions and warn people about fire-related hazards.

Clear and correctly positioned signage is particularly important for visitors, contractors and members of the public who may be unfamiliar with a building. Even employees who know the premises may rely on clear visual information during an emergency.

In this guide, we explain the main types of fire safety signs, what their colours and symbols mean, where signs should be positioned and some of the key regulations and standards relating to fire safety signage.

What Are the Regulations for Fire Safety Signs?

The fire safety signs required in a workplace will depend on the premises, its layout, the people using it and the findings of the fire risk assessment.

Two important pieces of legislation relating to workplace safety signs and fire safety are:

• The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 – these regulations cover the use of safety signs and signals in workplaces, including their design, visibility and purpose.
• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – this applies to most non-domestic premises in England and Wales and places fire safety responsibilities on the responsible person.

Different fire safety legislation applies in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so organisations operating throughout the UK should ensure that the requirements applicable to their premises are considered.

The number and type of signs needed will vary. A small building with simple and obvious escape routes may have different requirements from a large warehouse, hospital, factory, school or multi-storey office.

A fire risk assessment should help determine which signs and notices are necessary.

Who Is Responsible for Fire Safety Signage?

Under fire safety legislation, the responsible person must take appropriate steps to manage fire safety within the premises.

An important part of this responsibility is ensuring that a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out.

The assessment should consider potential fire hazards, people who may be at risk and the measures necessary to reduce those risks.

Depending on the findings, fire safety measures may include:

• Fire detection and alarm systems
• Fire extinguishers and other firefighting equipment
• Emergency escape lighting
• Clearly identified escape routes and exits
• Fire doors
• Fire action notices
• Appropriate fire safety signs

Signs and notices should be kept visible, legible and in good condition so that the information they provide remains clear.

Do Fire Safety Signs Need Symbols?

Safety signs should communicate their message quickly and clearly.

Where a safety sign is required under the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations, appropriate pictograms or symbols are used to communicate the safety message.

Text can be added where necessary to make the meaning clearer, but safety signage should not rely on text alone where a pictogram is required.

Using recognised symbols is particularly important because people may need to understand a sign quickly during an emergency and may not necessarily be familiar with the premises.

What Is BS EN ISO 7010?

BS EN ISO 7010 is an important standard relating to safety signs. It establishes standardised safety symbols and sign designs intended to provide consistent and easily recognisable safety information.

ISO 7010 symbols are widely used for workplace safety signs, including signs relating to emergency escape routes, fire equipment, warnings, mandatory actions and prohibited activities.

Using recognised safety symbols helps make signage more consistent and easier to understand.

What Are the Main Types of Fire Safety Signs?

Fire safety signage can generally be divided into several main categories:

• Fire action notices – explain what people should do if a fire occurs.
• Fire equipment signs – identify firefighting equipment and its location.
• Fire exit and escape route signs – direct people towards emergency exits and places of safety.
• Fire door signs – provide instructions necessary for the effective operation of fire doors.
• Warning signs – identify fire-related hazards.
• Prohibition signs – identify activities that are not permitted.

Each type of sign has a different purpose and uses recognised colours, symbols and wording to help communicate information quickly.

Fire Action Notice Signs

Fire action notices provide instructions explaining what occupants should do if they discover a fire or hear the fire alarm.

Depending on the premises and its emergency procedures, a fire action notice may instruct people to:

• Raise the alarm if a fire is discovered.
• Leave the building using the nearest available escape route.
• Proceed to the designated assembly point.
• Not stop to collect personal belongings.
• Not use lifts unless they are specifically designed and designated for evacuation.
• Not re-enter the building until authorised to do so.

The exact wording should reflect the emergency procedures for the particular premises.

Fire action notices are commonly positioned near fire alarm call points and in prominent areas where occupants are likely to see them.

Fire Equipment Signs

Firefighting equipment should be easy to locate and identify.

Fire equipment signs can be used to identify equipment such as:

• Fire extinguishers
• Fire alarm call points
• Fire hose reels
• Fire blankets
• Other firefighting equipment

Signs are particularly important where equipment may not be immediately visible, for example where a fire extinguisher is located in a recess or cabinet.

Fire Extinguisher Identification Signs

Fire extinguisher identification signs help identify the type of extinguisher provided and the types of fire for which it is intended.

Different extinguishing media are designed for different risks, so clearly identifying the extinguisher and its intended use can provide useful safety information.

Classes of Fire

Fires are classified according to the type of material or fuel involved:

• Class A – fires involving solid combustible materials such as wood, paper and textiles.
• Class B – fires involving flammable liquids.
• Class C – fires involving flammable gases.
• Class D – fires involving combustible metals.
• Class F – fires involving cooking oils and fats.

Fires involving live electrical equipment require an extinguishing medium suitable for the electrical risk, although electrical fires are not themselves a separate UK fire classification.

Common Types of Fire Extinguisher

Common extinguisher types include:

• Water fire extinguishers
• Foam fire extinguishers
• Dry powder fire extinguishers
• CO2 fire extinguishers
• Wet chemical fire extinguishers
• Water mist fire extinguishers

The correct extinguisher provision should be determined according to the fire risks present and appropriate fire safety guidance.

Fire Exit and Escape Route Signs

Fire exit and escape route signs help occupants identify the route towards a place of safety.

They normally feature a green background with a white escape symbol and directional arrow where required.

Depending on the layout of the premises, directional signs may indicate travel:

• Left
• Right
• Straight ahead
• Upwards
• Downwards
• Diagonally left or right

The direction shown must accurately reflect the escape route.

Where an escape route is not immediately obvious, a series of signs may be needed to provide clear and continuous guidance towards the appropriate exit.

A person following an escape route should, where necessary, be able to see the next relevant escape sign.

Where Should Fire Exit Signs Be Positioned?

Correct positioning is just as important as selecting the correct sign.

Escape signs should be clearly visible and positioned so that people can understand the direction they need to travel.

Important considerations include:

• Signs should not be obscured by advertising, displays, equipment or other signs.
• Where necessary, directional arrows should be used with the appropriate escape symbol.
• If the route to the nearest appropriate exit is not obvious, additional directional signs may be required.
• Signs should be positioned so that the next relevant escape route sign can be seen as people move through the building.
• Signs above doors should normally be fixed above the doorway rather than directly to the door, where opening the door could obscure the sign.
• Government fire safety guidance for offices and shops recommends signs above doors are generally positioned between 2.0m and 2.5m above floor level.
• Wall-mounted escape signs are generally positioned between 1.7m and 2.0m above floor level.
• In large open spaces, signs may need to be positioned higher and may need to be larger to remain clearly visible.

The appropriate position and size will ultimately depend on the building, viewing distance, lighting and findings of the fire risk assessment.

Photoluminescent Fire Exit Signs

Photoluminescent fire safety signs absorb light and release it gradually when lighting conditions become darker.

This can help make important safety information more visible in reduced lighting conditions.

Photoluminescent signs are commonly available for applications including:

• Fire exits
• Escape routes
• Fire doors
• Fire extinguishers
• Fire alarms
• Fire action instructions

However, photoluminescent signs should not be regarded as a substitute for emergency escape lighting where emergency lighting is required.

They should form part of the overall fire safety arrangements determined by the fire risk assessment and should be appropriately illuminated during normal conditions so that the photoluminescent material can charge.

Fire Door Signs

Fire doors form an important part of a building's passive fire protection arrangements. When correctly specified, installed and maintained, they can help restrict the spread of fire and smoke.

Fire door signs provide instructions intended to ensure that fire doors continue to perform their intended function.

Common examples include:

• Fire Door Keep Shut
• Fire Door Keep Locked
• Automatic Fire Door Keep Clear
• Fire Escape Keep Clear

The correct instruction depends on the type and purpose of the door.

For example, a self-closing fire door will normally require a different instruction from a fire-resisting cupboard door that is intended to remain locked.

Warning and Prohibition Signs

Warning and prohibition signs perform different functions but can both form part of a building's fire safety arrangements.

Warning Signs

Warning signs alert people to a hazard or danger.

They normally feature a triangular shape with a yellow background, black border and black symbol.

Fire-related examples can include:

• Warning – Flammable Material
• Warning – Flammable Gas
• Warning – Explosive Atmosphere
• Warning – Oxidising Material

Prohibition Signs

Prohibition signs indicate that a particular action or behaviour is not permitted.

They generally feature a circular design with a red border and diagonal line.

Fire-related examples include:

• No Smoking
• No Naked Flames
• Do Not Extinguish with Water

An area may require both warning and prohibition signage. For example, an area containing flammable materials might need a warning sign identifying the hazard as well as a prohibition sign preventing smoking or naked flames.

What Do Fire Safety Sign Colours Mean?

Safety sign colours help people quickly identify the type of information being communicated.

Green Safety Signs

Green indicates a safe condition and is commonly associated with emergency escape and first aid information.

Fire-related examples include:

• Fire Exit
• Emergency Exit
• Directional escape route signs
• Assembly Point

Blue Safety Signs

Blue signs indicate mandatory actions or instructions.

Fire safety examples can include instructions associated with fire doors, such as:

• Fire Door Keep Shut
• Fire Door Keep Locked
• Keep Clear

Red Safety Signs

Red is used for fire equipment signs and prohibition signs, although the design of the two types is different.

Red rectangular or square signs can identify firefighting equipment such as:

• Fire extinguishers
• Fire hose reels
• Fire alarm call points
• Fire blankets

Red circular signs with a diagonal line indicate prohibited activities, such as No Smoking or No Naked Flames.

Yellow Safety Signs

Yellow or amber signs provide warnings of hazards.

They generally feature a triangular shape with a black symbol and border.

Examples include warnings for:

• Flammable materials
• Flammable gases
• Explosive atmospheres
• Oxidising materials

Why Is Fire Safety Signage Important?

During a fire, people may have limited time to make decisions.

Clear, consistent signage can reduce uncertainty and help occupants understand where to go and what action to take.

Appropriate fire safety signage can help:

• Direct occupants towards escape routes.
• Identify emergency exits.
• Locate firefighting equipment.
• Identify fire doors and the actions necessary to keep them effective.
• Warn people about fire and explosion hazards.
• Communicate prohibited activities.
• Provide emergency instructions.
• Support the measures identified by the premises' fire risk assessment.

Choosing the Right Fire Safety Signs

There is no single set of fire safety signs suitable for every building.

The signage required will depend on factors including:

• The layout of the premises
• Escape routes and emergency exits
• The people using the building
• Fire hazards present
• Firefighting equipment provided
• Emergency procedures
• Lighting and viewing conditions
• The findings of the fire risk assessment

Fire safety signage should also be reviewed whenever there are significant changes to the building, its layout, escape routes, fire equipment or working practices.

Fire Safety Signs from Rainbow Safety

Rainbow Safety supplies a comprehensive range of fire safety signage for workplaces and commercial premises.

Our range includes:

• Fire exit and escape route signs
• Photoluminescent fire exit signs
• Fire door signs
• Fire action notices
• Fire extinguisher identification signs
• Fire alarm and fire equipment signs
• Assembly point signs
• Warning and prohibition signs

We can also manufacture custom fire safety signs where a standard design does not meet your requirements, including different sizes, materials and wording.

Whether you need individual replacement signs or signage for an entire premises, our range makes it easier to find the appropriate signs for your requirements.

Important Information

This guide is provided for general information only. Rainbow Safety supplies safety signage but does not provide safety, fire safety, fire risk assessment, legal or compliance advice. Nothing in this guide should be relied upon as professional advice or as confirmation that particular signage is suitable or sufficient for a specific workplace, premises or situation.

Safety signage requirements will vary depending on the workplace, premises, activities, hazards and the findings of any relevant risk assessment. The responsible person, employer or dutyholder should ensure that appropriate risk assessments are carried out and should seek advice from a competent safety professional where necessary.

Applicable legislation, standards and official guidance should always be checked when determining the safety measures and signage required for a particular workplace or premises.