Fire Safety Signs | Are yours up to date?

Fire safety signs have been a requirement in the UK for many years with the purpose of warning occupants of hazards and indicating safe exit routes and actions. 

The purpose of all fire safety signs is to reinforce fire safety awareness and provide accurate information to all persons within their place of work.  Escape routes should have clear and adequate markings indicating any necessary change in direction or hazards along the route.  They are also required to provide information on the identification or location of fire fighting equipment, or simply to warn occupants of hazards in case of a fire.

In the early 1990s, the European Union recognised the need to adopt a consistent approach to safety signage across all its member states and therefore implemented the Safety Signs Directive. The UK enforced this directive through the Health & Safety (Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.

These Regulations apply to all signs commissioned after the 1st April 1996, and included a transitional period for older approved signs which lasted until 1998. All signs after that date must comply with these regulations and therefore be replaced or supplemented in order to conform.

The majority of buildings within the UK (except for private dwellings) are required to provide fire safety signs. The duties placed on employers to provide signage will have generally stemmed from the Fire Precautions Act 1971.  However, licensing and other regulations have required adequate signage for many years.

In this country and across Europe there have been many varying standards and regulations regarding the provision of signs. The new directive in the 90s required simple, yet visually descriptive pictograms or series of pictograms with specific colour coding, to enable speedy identification. 

This type of sign, a common sight throughout the United Kingdom, indicates that the majority of signs implemented by this directive will have been familiar.  Due to this fact, signs complying with BS 5499: Part 1, 1990 were deemed suitable to satisfy the requirements, so long as they continue to fulfil their purpose effectively.

 

The minimum requirement was that all signs contained an appropriate pictogram.  Signs solely using text were no longer permissible.  Similarly, directional arrows were no longer acceptable on their own.

The regulations not only stipulate that safety signs are installed and maintained, but also require the employer to provide satisfactory training as to the meaning, use, and location, of fire safety signs.

Although these regulations have now been in force for many years, our experience indicates that not all premises meet the requirements, particularly in unseen or infrequently used areas, back of house etc, which, arguably are the most important areas, due to unfamiliarity.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 introduced significant changes. As well as simplifying current legislation, it introduced the need for employers, building owners and occupiers to have a greater understanding of fire safety and nominate a "responsible person" to ensure compliance. 

“Section 13-1 Fire-fighting and fire detection requires that (b) any non-automatic fire-fighting equipment so provided is easily accessible, simple to use and indicated by signs. Section 14-2 Emergency routes and exits requires that (g) emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs.”

Instructions on the correct use of signage can be found in the following documents:

Safety Signs and Signals. The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on this regulations where issued by the Health and safety Executive.

BS 5499- 1 - 2002 Specification for geometric shapes, colours and layout;

BS 5499-5 - 2002 Signs with specific safety meanings; 

BS 5499-6 - 2002 Creation and design of graphical symbols for use in safety signs-Requirements

BS 5499-4-2000 Code of practice for escape route signing

BS 5499-10-2006 Code of practice for the use of safety signs including fire safety signs.

ISO 16069-2004 Safety Way Guidance systems (SWGS)

While it is important to adhere to legislation regarding issues of fire safety, it is essential to bear in mind that the effective evacuation of persons is at the heart of all improvements.

Fire safety signage plays an important role in an overall fire strategy for your premises and will have varying degrees of reliance. Signage should always be considered as part of the Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) due to its influence on numerous areas, including fire prevention, means of escape, means of warning, first aid fire fighting, Fire Service access and facilities to name a few.

If you are concerned that your signage may be out of date, this article may have assisted you, but if you would like further guidance, please contact Peter Gyere at Complete Fire Safety Management on 0208 668 8663.