Fire Signs & Notices Introduction

Fire signs and notices play a critical role in helping people identify escape routes, locate fire safety equipment, and understand what to do in the event of a fire. They are a key part of fire safety management across a wide range of premises, from small workplaces to complex public buildings.

Under UK fire safety law, fire signs and notices must be provided where necessary to ensure the safety of employees, residents, visitors, and members of the public. They must be suitable for the premises, clearly visible, and properly maintained.

This guide provides an overview of fire signs and notices, their purpose, and how they should be used to support safe evacuation and compliance.

Where Fire Signs and Notices Are Required

Fire signs and notices form part of the fire safety measures required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which places a legal duty on the Responsible Person to take general fire precautions to ensure the safety of relevant persons.

In residential buildings, the Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that fire safety duties extend to the structure of the building, external walls, and flat entrance doors opening onto common parts, reinforcing the importance of clear and effective fire safety signage in shared areas.

Fire signs and notices may be required in almost all non-domestic premises and in the common parts of residential buildings, including:

• Offices and workplaces
• Shops, shopping centres, and retail units
• Public buildings and places of assembly
• Schools, colleges, and universities
• Healthcare premises and care environments
• Leisure venues and community buildings
• Common areas of blocks of flats and mixed-use buildings

The need for signage depends on the layout, complexity, occupancy, and fire risk of the premises. In very simple premises, signage requirements may be minimal. In larger or more complex buildings, a comprehensive signage scheme is often necessary.

UK government guidance explains that fire safety signs should be provided where they are necessary to make fire safety arrangements clear, particularly where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means or where occupants may be unfamiliar with the building.

The need, type, positioning, and illumination of fire signs and notices should always be determined through a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, rather than applied generically.

Escape Route and Exit Signs

In simple premises, it may be sufficient to provide a small number of signs indicating alternative exits. In more complex buildings, a series of escape route signs may be required to direct people safely along the means of escape to a final exit.

People will often attempt to leave a building using the route they entered by. For this reason, it is essential that all available exits are clearly signed, so occupants are aware of alternative escape routes in an emergency.

Properly positioned exit signs help to:

• Reduce confusion during evacuation
• Encourage use of all available exits
• Provide reassurance to occupants
• Support safe and orderly evacuation

Internally illuminated exit signs are particularly important in areas where normal lighting may be dimmed or extinguished, such as lecture theatres, halls, or entertainment venues.

Supporting People With Visual or Mobility Impairments

Fire signs and notices should take account of the needs of all occupants, including those with visual or mobility impairments.

People with reduced vision may still be able to recognise contrasting colours or changes in light levels. Simple measures such as contrasting wall finishes, highlighted door frames, or stair nosings can assist orientation.

People with little or no sight may benefit from:

• Continuous handrails along escape routes
• Tactile indicators
• Audible fire alarm systems and sound localisation

Fire safety signage should form part of a wider inclusive approach to evacuation and fire safety planning.

Positioning of Escape Route Signs

Poorly positioned signs can be ineffective, even if the correct signs are provided.

When positioning escape route signs:

• Signs should be provided wherever the escape route is not immediately obvious
• Signs should be mounted above doors, not on doors, so they remain visible when doors are open
• Occupants should always be able to see the next sign along the escape route
• Directional arrows must be used where required and must not be used on their own
• Promotional or decorative signage should not obscure or distract from fire safety signs

Recommended Mounting Heights

• Above doors: typically 2.0–2.5 metres above floor level
• Wall-mounted signs: typically 1.7–2.0 metres above floor level
• Hanging signs in large open spaces may be higher, provided they remain clearly visible

Consistency of height and layout throughout the escape route helps improve recognition and understanding.

Fire Sign Design and Standards

Fire safety signs must comply with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations and use recognised pictograms.

Key principles include:

• Signs must be pictographic; text may be added but should not be used alone
• A consistent design scheme should be used throughout the premises
• Signs must be legible at the distance from which they are intended to be viewed
• Oversized signs should not be relied upon to compensate for poor placement

In multi-occupied buildings, cooperation between Responsible Persons is important to ensure signage follows a consistent and coherent scheme.

In practice, fire safety signs in the UK commonly follow the BS EN ISO 7010 standard, which provides consistent, internationally recognised pictograms designed to improve understanding regardless of language.

Other Fire Safety Notices

In addition to escape route signage, other fire safety notices may be required, including:

• Fire Action Notices explaining what to do in the event of a fire
• Fire Door Notices, such as:
  • “Fire Door – Keep Shut”
  • “Fire Door – Keep Locked”
• Fire equipment location signs where equipment is not immediately visible
• “Push Bar to Open” notices on panic exit doors
• “Fire Escape – Keep Clear” notices on external escape doors

These notices support correct behaviour and reduce the risk of fire safety measures being compromised.

Staff Fire Safety Notices and Instructions

In small or simple premises, verbal instruction and training may be sufficient. In larger, multi-occupied, or high-turnover premises, written fire safety instructions are usually necessary.

Fire instruction notices should be positioned where staff regularly gather, such as:

• Staff rooms and canteens
• Changing rooms
• Near fire alarm call points
• Near escape routes

In premises open to the public, consideration should be given to whether notices should be visible to occupants or restricted to staff areas.

Where occupants or staff may not have English as a first language, instructions should be provided in a way that ensures clear and consistent understanding.

Illumination of Fire Signs and Notices

All fire signs and notices must be adequately illuminated so they are visible and legible at all relevant times.

Illumination may be provided by:

• Internal illumination within the sign
• External lighting
• Emergency escape lighting

Exit and directional signs serving areas open to the public should be visible under both normal and emergency lighting conditions.

Photo-luminescent signs may be used as a supplementary measure but must not be relied upon as a substitute for emergency escape lighting where such lighting is required.

Fire signs and notices must be adequately illuminated to remain visible during an emergency. Health and Safety Executive guidance confirms that emergency escape lighting is required where failure of normal lighting would present a risk to people evacuating the premises.

Conclusion

Fire signs and notices are a fundamental part of fire safety and emergency evacuation. When properly selected, positioned, illuminated, and maintained, they help people move safely and confidently to a place of safety in an emergency.

Fire signs and notices should always be considered as part of a wider fire safety strategy, informed by a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.

Signage must always be appropriate to the premises, consistent with fire risk assessment findings, and reviewed as part of ongoing fire safety management.

If you are unsure whether your fire signs and notices are adequate, compliant, or correctly positioned, Fire Risk Assessment Network can provide professional advice and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are fire signs and notices a legal requirement?

Fire signs and notices are required where necessary to protect people and support safe evacuation. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person must provide appropriate fire safety measures, which may include signs and notices where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means.

What types of premises need fire signs and notices?

Fire signs and notices may be required in most non-domestic premises and in the common parts of residential buildings, including offices, shops, public buildings, schools, healthcare premises, and blocks of flats. The need depends on the size, layout, occupancy, and complexity of the building.

Are fire exit signs always required?

Fire exit signs are required where escape routes are not immediately obvious. In simple premises with clear, direct exits, signage may be minimal. In larger or more complex buildings, a series of escape route and exit signs is usually necessary to guide occupants safely.

What standards must fire safety signs meet?

Fire safety signs must comply with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations and use recognised pictograms. Signs may include supplementary text, but text-only signs are not acceptable for fire safety purposes.

Where should escape route signs be positioned?

Escape route signs should be positioned so that people can always see the next sign along the escape route. They should normally be mounted above doors or at a consistent height on walls, remain visible when doors are open, and not be obscured by other signage or decorations.

Do fire signs need to be illuminated?

Yes, fire signs and notices must be adequately illuminated so they are visible whenever the premises are occupied. This may involve internal illumination, external lighting, or emergency escape lighting. Photo-luminescent signs do not replace the need for emergency lighting.

Are fire action notices required?

Fire action notices are often required, particularly in premises where occupants or staff may not be familiar with emergency procedures. These notices explain what to do in the event of a fire and should be positioned in prominent and relevant locations.

Who is responsible for providing fire signs and notices?

The Responsible Person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is legally responsible. This may be the employer, building owner, landlord, managing agent, or organisation with control of the premises. Responsibility cannot be delegated away.

Can fire signs and notices replace a fire risk assessment?

No. Fire signs and notices are a control measure identified through the fire risk assessment process. They support evacuation and safety but do not replace the requirement for a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.