The Complete Guide For UK Fire Door Signage

One of the most important features of fire safety in any building is the clear and correct fire door signage – having fire doors installed will not be effective if people are not aware of their presence, or how to access them in an emergency! They are often an overlooked area of fire safety – here is some information on the legal requirements, the different types of fire safety signs, and other important aspects for consideration when installing fire door signage:

Importance Of Fire Door Signage

Whilst not providing actual ‘physical’ defence against a fire outbreak, the importance of fire safety signage should not be underestimated – they play a vital role within the building safety by providing identification of fire doors that are essential in any evacuation of a building, and instruction on how to operate these fire doors and whether they should be kept shut or clear! This signage also conveys important information with regards to the overall safety of the building occupants, and photoluminescent signs can offer guidance to a safe egress from the building in the case of a fire emergency.

Legal Obligations

The nominated responsible person for a building’s safety has a legal obligation to ensure that all aspects of fire safety measures – including the fire signage – are in place and fit-for-purpose. There are serious potential consequences for those responsible if these regulations are not implemented and properly maintained.

Regulations

There are many key standards and regulations that provide the mandatory instructions and guidelines for compliance in fire safety – the main act being The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – this has been recently updated and amended in October 2022 following major incidents resulting in tragic loss of life. Also coming into force in January 2023 was the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 which, amongst other things, outlines the important roles of fire doors and relevant signage. The BS 5499 contains all the guidance for design, location, and use of fire safety signs, whilst earlier regulatory documents BS EN ISO 7010, and Health And Safety (Safety Signs And Signals) Regulations 1996, outline the standards for safety signage colour schemes and graphical safety signals to ensure consistency of the signage.

Identification Signs 

There are many different forms of fire door signage, the most common of which are Identification signs such as ‘Fire Door Keep Shut’ or ‘Keep Locked’ and Fire Door Identification Discs which are small discs that identify a door as fire door and display their protection timescale – for example FD30 for 30 minutes protection, or FD60 for 60 minutes protection, and so on. Other forms of fire door signage will offer instructions on how to open and operate the doors, indicate which are nominated emergency exits, and a range of fire safety signs informing people of the instructions in what to do, how to act, and give details of assembly points in the event of a fire emergency.

Fire Door Signage Placement

The locations and placement of the fire door signage is vitally important if they are to be effective – they MUST be strategically placed for easy visibility at all times. In establishing these locations, you should consider the height at which they sit – usually between 1.5 and 2 metres, that there is a clear, uninterrupted line of sight to the signs, that they are properly illuminated, and that the language and symbols displayed are universally and easily understood.

Colours And Shapes

There are set guidelines as to the format, colours, and shapes of fire safety signage – red and white on a white background indicates danger or prohibited actions. If this format is combined with a black symbol they indicate prohibited restrictions, whilst white text on a red background indicates fire equipment information. Fire signage that is blue and white will specify mandatory instructions and/or information, whilst green and white signage indicate safety conditions – for example, emergency exit information. If you see yellow and black signage – usually triangular in shape – then be aware that these are warning signs! Rectangular shaped signs are usually providing additional information.

Maintenance

As with all aspects of fire safety, regular checks and maintenance is essential – periodic routine checks should be performed regularly to ensure that the signage is visible, in good condition and positioned appropriately and effectively. Any damage or visible wear and tear to the signs should see them replaced immediately in order that they remain fully compliant and adhere to the safety guidelines. If the signage can be repaired, it should be done immediately, and the signs should always be both compliant and visible.

Enfield Doors

If you would like more information about UK fire door signage, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team will behappy to help with any enquiries that you might have.