Fire Safety Signs

Fire escape signs are provided to guide you from wherever you are in a building, via a place of relative safety (the escape route) to the place of ultimate safety (the assembly area).

Fire exit signs regulations stipulate that it is the duty of the employer to ensure that there are adequate health and safety signs provided wherever there is a risk to an employee’s health and safety. A fire risk assessment will identify and show the need for fire exit signs in your building.

The following fire exit signs information can give you some idea of the regulations involved to help in the purchase and placement of your signs.

According to the UK Building Regulation requirements, there should be an exit sign placed on every doorway, escape window or another route which provides an exit and means of escape from a fire or other emergency situation. The signs should conform to the British Standards, which will meet the Building Regulations. They will also meet the requirements of the Health and Safety, Safety Signs & Signals Regulations.

Fire exit signs must be in place wherever there is a perceived risk to the health and safety of employees, customers or the general public. If there is no significant risk (according to your fire risk assessment) then a fire exit sign is not required but, in a complex building with a choice of exits and a complicated layout you must make sure, that all exit routes are signed using the appropriate design, size and location of the sign. You should also use directional arrows if necessary – whenever there is a risk that individuals will not be able to locate a safe place or exit if there was a fire.