Fire Exit Signs
Employers have a duty of care for their staff to ensure that their property is compliant with all the safety measures, this includes Fire Exit Signs. We have a large range of Fire Exit Signs, ideal for a range of different properties and businesses. Fire Exit Signs are vital in the event of a fire or other emergency.
Fire Exit Signs Buying Guide
During a fire emergency, whether it’s identifying fire equipment, or informing people of your escape routes, Fire Safety signs are vital in preventing severe injury or death.
Fire Exit signs are a necessary safety sign to include in every public access or rented property to ensure all residents, staff, and visitors know the quickest route to an emergency exit in the event of a fire.
This comprehensive buying guide will help you understand the regulations for buying and placing Fire Exit signs in your establishment.
What legislation do I need to know about?
According to UK Building Regulation standards, Fire exit signs should be installed at every exit point, including doors, escape windows, and alternative escape routes. These signs need to adhere to BS 5499 standards to comply with the Building Regulations and meet requirements laid out in the Health and Safety 1996 – Safety Signs & Signals Regulations.
When it comes to safety signs in particular, all safety signs must comply with regulations and standards listed under BS EN ISO 7010.
ISO 7010 regulations covers the graphical symbols used on safety signs, to ensure consistent symbol usage in the majority of Europe so regardless of language, the intent of a safety sign is understood.
Failing to adhere to the regulations for Fire Exit Signs can jeopardize the safety of your employees and property, and can result in unlimited fines or even imprisonment depending on the severity of the legislative breach.
To ensure compliance with fire safety regulations, it's crucial to adhere to several specific steps, including:
- Undertaking regular fire risk evaluations/assessments to identify and address potential dangers and hazards
- Recognising important/vulnerable persons and assessing who is at the greatest risk
- Minimising fire hazards as much as possible and providing standard fire precautions
- Ensuring fire safety equipment is operational, well-maintained, and that suitable training has been provided on use and purpose
- Formulating a fire emergency plan and informing everyone of their roles and responsibilities
- Recording and filing all findings and regularly reviewing fire risks and hazards
Do I need fire exit signs?
Fire exit signs are required in all non-domestic properties and multi-occupancy residential buildings, with the only exception being private domestic properties.
When installing Fire Exit signs around your building or site, you must take into account the viewing distances when selecting the size of your sign, and carefully consider the material choice and whether it's suitable for your sites needs.
Fire exit signs play a crucial role in providing clear guidance for safe building evacuation and imparting essential fire safety instructions. For instance, a fire exit sign typically features a green running man symbol and may include a directive to keep the area clear to minimize obstructions during emergencies.
What other requirements are there?
Fire Exit Signs must always be legible in all lighting conditions, so that in the event of a fire the sign is visible through smoke or in darkness should mains electricity get disrupted.
If your premises requires emergency lighting, then Fire Exit signs must also be illuminated in some way. This can be achieved through:
- External lamps: Ensuring the sign is well-lit
- Internal lamps: Using self-contained illuminated Fire Exit signs – most also include a back-up battery, but require wiring into mains electricity
- Self-illuminating signs: These do not require any external power source for illumination and utilise a photoluminescent/glow in the dark material that charges during the day via natural or artificial light, and has no reliance on electricity
Remember, neglecting to comply with Fire Exit Sign regulations can compromise the safety of your staff and property, and failing to meet health and safety regulations can give severe penalties, from fines to prison time depending on the severity of the infraction. Proper implementation of these signs is a straightforward process that plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of your site and can help save lives.
