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This sheet aims to provide accurate guidance on how to ensure your
site meets the requirements of the Health and
Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 as they apply to
fire-safety signage.
All employers must ensure that their premises are signed (with the new
Running-Man style signs) in line with the Health
and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Compliance
with this legislation will also help to ensure compliance with the British
Standards BS 5306-3 and
BS 5499 part 1.
Directional signs (i.e. the Running-Man and arrow signs) are used to direct occupants to the quickest or safest way(s) to exit the building. In short, a directional sign should be placed so that it is visible whenever it is unclear as to which way to exit (e.g. corridor junctions, multi-doored rooms, stair junctions, etc.).
Emergency exits should be very clearly signed. In addition to being marked as a fire exit, each door should have the new style “push bar to open” sign (if applicable) and a “fire door keep clear” sign mounted adjacently on the outside. Fire doors should also be clearly signed with a “fire door keep shut” sign on both of
its sides.
All fire equipment should have signs above them to help locate in an emergency. Groups of fire equipment should be signed with a “fire point” sign.
Extinguishers should have sited above or beside them an extinguisher identification sign to explain what that particular extinguisher is used for. Such signage can also be applied to hose reels and fire blankets.
Click here for the full text of the legislation, available from the
Government’s Official UK legislation site.
Should you wish for any further information under this subject, please feel free to contact us. |
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