What Are the Four Types of Fire Safety Signs?

Fire safety signs are something we all see, every day of our lives, without giving them much thought. From signs that feature green stickmen to lists of instructions, there are a wide range of fire safety signs that we use in the UK to help provide information and keep people safe.

For commercial premises, such as warehouses, these signs are actually a legal requirement as part of The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. But this also accounts for all safety signs, so what do they all mean and what are the four different categories of signs you can expect to see?

The four types of safety signs:

• Fire Safety Signs

• Emergency Exit Signs

• Road Traffic Regulations in the Workplace

• Prohibition Signage

In this article, we’ll be focusing on the first two categories for fire safety purposes. We’ll break down the specific types of signs you may need if you’re the owner or manager of an industrial or commercial premises.

Fire door and exit signs – Also accounting for escape route signs, these are typically green and white – meaning this is a safe route – to help show the designated path out of a building in an emergency. The signs should be placed along the route wherever there is a change in direction, with fire doors and fire exits also marked and indicated with the appropriate signs. Combined, these signs help to make for a swift and safe exit, helping to reduce panic and confusion.

Mandatory signs – Mandatory notices can help to keep everyone safe with instructions on specific actions and behaviours. This can include things such as ‘fire door keep shut’ or ‘safety helmets must be worn on site’. Mandatory signs are typically blue and white to denote that an action or instruction is required for safety purposes.

Fire action signs – Part of the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, fire action signs give the reader specific fire safety instructions. This can include what to do in the event of a fire, as well as what not to do, such as using lifts. These signs will typically be blue but can feature green and red to highlight other elements to consider.

Fire alarm and equipment signs – There hopefully won’t be too many occasions where occupants need to use fire alarm call points or fire safety equipment. But when they do, fire alarm and equipment signs are a good way of highlighting items and giving instructions for safe and appropriate use. This includes fire extinguisher signs that detail how and when to use them safely.

Warning signs – Warning signs are typically yellow, giving people a highly-visible warning about potential hazards in an area. They are often a legal requirement for many commercial and multi-residential buildings, denoting danger where electricity or flammable materials are involved.

Prohibition signs – Prohibition signs outline any behaviours that are not appropriate and which can contribute towards the risk of a fire. This is typically a red circle with a line through and can include things such as ‘no smoking’.

Assembly point signs – Fire assembly point signs are usually green to indicate safety and should easily highlight to people where they can safely evacuate to in the event of a fire. For larger buildings and complexes, there may be multiple assembly points, requiring multiple signs.

First aid signs – First aid signs are extremely important to show any occupants in the building where your first aid kit is in an emergency. They are green to indicate safety, and should be easy to spot so that any injuries can be quickly treated.

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