Mandatory signs

These are circular blue signs with a white pictogram that must be obeyed in accordance with the law. These safety signs give indications on actions that must be followed, such as wearing a hard hat in a workshop. These signs should be displayed near entry points to a site and near fire doors that must be kept shut.

Fire action notices indicate actions that must be carried out in the event of a fire by building occupants. These are typically displayed as white text on a blue background. These are typically not in a circular format, but the blue and white colours used reflect the mandatory nature of the signs. A general mandatory sign is a white exclamation mark on a blue circle, which is often used alongside a fire action notice.

Safe condition signs  

These are displayed in the form of green rectangular signs with a white pictogram and text centrally positioned, indicating fire exits, escape routes, an emergency exits, first aid kits and equipment. Such signs should comply with fire risk assessment and in some cases the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974.

Fire fighting signs

These red signs indicate where fire safety equipment such as extinguishers can be located. They can also indicate fire alarm activation points. The signs take the form of a red rectangle with white writing and a pictogram.

Warning signs

These take the form of triangular yellow signs, which warn those in the building of potential nearby dangers, such as a combustible liquid or a workshop where radioactive materials are used. These signs are required by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and in specific cases by the Dangerous Substances (Notification and Marking of Sites) Regulations 1990.

Prohibition signs

These signs take the form of a circular red shape with crossbars running through them, prohibiting actions that could be dangerous. For example, a sign may indicate when smoking is not permitted due to a fire risk. These signs should also be a part of employee training to reduce the potential risk of a fire.

Supplementary signs

These are typically directional arrow signs in green, red and yellow colours, pointing out safety exits or fire safety equipment.

We are proud to be an authorised distributor of Jalite signs and provide safety signs for the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas.

Fire exit signs are a crucial part of general fire safety within any premises, helping to ensure that all staff and visitors are able to be quickly and effectively directed to safety in the event of an emergency.

Regulations associated with fire exit signs state that it is an employer’s duty to make sure that there are adequate signs displayed where there could be a potential risk to an employee’s health and safety. There are several regulations in line with legislation that you must follow to display fire exit signs correctly.

Fire exit signs and the law

UK Building Regulation requirements state that fire exit signs should be placed on every fire escape door, escape window or other escape route from a fire. All fire exit signs should conform to BS 5499 Pt 4:2000 and Health & Safety 1996 Safety Signs & Signals Regulations. Wherever there is a potential fire risk to the health and safety of employees and staff, customers or general visitors within your building, fire exit signs must be displayed. If you have a fire risk assessment and it declares there is no significant risk, a fire exit sign may not be required. However, in most cases within a large building with a complex layout, all fire exit routes must be clearly signposted and marked, so that all people within the building can easily locate a safe exit if a fire were to happen.

The Building Regulations Act 1991 states that every exit or doorway that provides a means of escape in the event of a fire should display a fire exit sign that conforms to British Standard 5499 and the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals Regulations) Act 1996.

Why use fire exit signs?

If you own a commercial building, safety and fire exit signs are vital to ensure the safety of your customers, visitors, clients and employees. Your signs should also conform to legislation which states that all safety signs require illumination and must remain illuminated in the event of a power cut. This requirement can be met by using JALITE AAA photoluminescent signs. It is very important that signs meet this requirement to ensure the safety of people within the building.

Fire exit signs must be clearly visible at all times, in the event of either a power failure or a room that has filled with smoke, decreasing visibility. If your building requires emergency lighting, your fire exit signs should be illuminated, too. You can do this in the following ways:

• External lamps
• Internal lamps
• Self Illuminating fire exit signs

We are proud to be an authorised distributor of Jalite signs and provide safety Fire Exit Signs for the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas.

Read more about our Fire Safety Signage