Exit Stage Left - Fire Safety Signs In The Workplace

While we Brits might complain and mutter about the EU and its seemingly endless directives, there can be no doubt that the standardization of European fire safety signs is an important achievement. As the British workplace becomes more multi-cultural, it is vital that all workers and visitors to your premises can easily identify and follow fire and safety signs.

The EC Safety Signs Directive (92/58/EEC) is enforced by The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, which covers the various methods of communication health and safety information, from fire safety signs to audible fire alarms. These Regulations mean that you, the employer, are responsible for identifying any risk that cannot be overcome by other means. In other words, if in doubt, point it out!

Safety signs come in various colours according to the risk they identify:

• Red Fire Safety signs show the location of fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers
  
• Blue Circle Mandatory signs show actions that MUST be done, such as a "Fire exit keep clear" sign
  
• Red Circles Prohibition signs show actions that must NOT be done, such as No Smoking signs
  
• Yellow Caution signs reveal potential dangers
  
  
• Green Safe Condition signs show either the location of safety equipment such as first aid kits, or the location of fire exits

Green fire exit signs have an established protocol;

• The pictogram plus the word EXIT indicates the conventional exit route from the building
  
• The pictogram plus the word FIRE EXIT indicates the specific fire exit route if the building is to be evacuated
  
• The pictogram plus the words 'EXIT for emergency use only' indicates a route through normally inaccessible public areas. Don't be tempted to use a normal fire exit sign alongside a "Private" or "Staff Only" sign - use this one instead

Directional Arrows And Fire Exits

This subject comes up time and time again with some confusion over what direction the arrow should be. The arrow's purpose is to show what direction the person needs to go to reach a fire exit door.

There is no hard-and-fast rules here, just plain old common sense. If you are to go through a door and travel straight ahead, some people use the "up" arrow and some use the "down" arrow. The up is more popular but they both point the right way.

If the door is the one that takes you into the open air, it is the actual fire exit door. This does not, therefore need an arrow and is called a final fire exit.

Since the EU tweaks, there are two versions of the green Fire Exit sign. In the British Standard 5499 version, the more popular by far, a man escapes through an open white door, whereas in the EU version, a white man runs towards an oblong white door. Not much of a difference, but it can be confusing when mixed so choose carefully.

Photoluminescent fire exit signs glow in the dark for several hours, marking out escape routes and fire safety equipment should the lights fail or the premises fill with smoke. They are also very tough and durable, and are a must-have for today's office, factory, hotel or commercial premises.

What Size Should A Sign Be?

The size of your fire safety signs is also crucial, and the Regulations are rather unhelpful on this point, only stating; "Signs should be sufficiently large and clear so that they can be easily seen and understood". As a general rule of thumb, photoluminescent signs can usually be seen more clearly, so can be a little smaller than their traditional counterparts. A photoluminescent sign measuring 340 x 120mm can be seen from 17 metres away, a 44 x 150mm sign from 22 metres away, and a 450 x 200mm sign from 30 metres away, assuming a clear line of sight, of course.

If you have disabled staff or visitors, fire signs at such a height may be unsuitable, and so you should consider providing Braille and tactile fire safety information signs, placed at wheelchair-friendly positions.