Fire safety signs and symbols.

Fire safety signs are everywhere. Not only are they vital in making environments safe and directing appropriate action in the face of danger, they’re also compulsory and required to be compliant with fire safety regulations. But are you aware of the variety of fire safety sign meanings? Would you know what to do in the event of emergency?

Here, we pose some frequently asked questions with their answers, so you can check whether your knowledge of fire safety signs and meanings is up to scratch.

What are the legal duties and obligations surrounding fire safety signs?

It goes without saying that, as both a legal requirement for British Standards BS 5499 and a vital safety measure, fire safety signage should never be overlooked. In fact, the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 requires employers, landlords and building owners to provide specific safety signs wherever there is a risk or hazard 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 safety signs, such as the shape, colour and size. One of the main regulations is that all safety signs must include a symbol or pictogram that clearly defines its meaning. Text can be used to aid understanding, but text-only signs are not permitted.

When fire safety signs are used, the ‘responsible person’ – as defined in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – must ensure they are well maintained, with any faded or defective signs replaced. They should also explain the signs to people who work within the building, making sure they understand the meaning and actions to be taken in correspondence with them.