14
15
Understanding
Signs & Viewing distance
Safety Signs
How to calculate the size of sign you need from BS 5499.3 Safety Sign Regs
Recommended
viewing distance
7m
9m
14m
21m
28m
57m
60mm
80mm
120mm
180mm
240mm
480mm
5mm
6.6mm
10mm
15mm
20mm
40mm
The Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996
Minimum height
of sign
Minimum height
of supplementry
text letters
Prohibition
Shape & Colour: Red circle with diagonal line
Meaning: You must not/Do not do/Stop
Do you know which way your exit arrows go?
• Black symbols are added inside the circle and these are recognised in all EC countries
• Supplementary text may be added if necessary to convey a clearer message
In accordance with BSS5499-4, the arrow serves to denote the direction of travel an escapeant should take in order
to reach a place of safety.
Safe Condition
Sign
Shape & Colour: Green rectangle or square
Meaning: The safe way/Where to go in an emergency
• White symbols are added inside the shape and these are recognised in all EC countries
• Supplementary text may be added if necessary to convey a clearer message
• “Text Only” signs no longer comply, they MUST contain a symbol
Meaning as viewed from in front of the sign
Examples of locations
1. Progress forward from here.
(Indicating direction of travel).
1. Suspended in corridor leading to door.
2. Progress forward and through from here; when sign is sited above
a door. (Indicating direction of travel).
3. Positioned above door.
3. Progress forward and up from here.
(Indicating direction of travel).
Mandatory
1. Progress down from here.
(Indicating change of level).
Shape & Colour: Solid blue circle
Meaning: You must do/Carry out the action given by the sign
2. Suspended in front of door.
4. Suspended in open areas.
5. Suspended at foot of stairs or ramp.
1. Suspended at head of stairs or ramp.
2. Suspended
at change of level.
• White symbols are added inside the circle and these are recognised in all EC countries
• Supplementary text may be added if necessary to convey a clearer message
Do you know what height to mount your safety signs?
Hazard Identification
Escape route signs should be sited conspicuously within normal field of vision.
Shape & Colour: Yellow triangle with black border
Meaning: Potential hazard within a designated area.
Caution/Risk of Danger/ Hazard ahead
The following principles, which will assist
the evacuee to predict the location of
successive signs, should be applied;
• Black symbols are added inside the triangle and these are recognised in all EC countries
• Supplementary text may be added if necessary to convey a clearer message
Danger
To indicate an immediately hazardous
situation, which if not avoided will result in
death or serious injury. To be limited to the
most extreme situations.
Warning
To indicate an immediately hazardous
situation, which if not avoided could result in
death or serious injury
Fire Signs
Shape & Colour: Red rectangle or square
Meaning: Locates fire equipment or personnel
• White text and symbols on a red background
• Complies to Health & Safety (Safety Sign and Signals) Regulations 1996
• Supplementary text may be added if necessary to convey a clearer message
Caution
To indicate an immediately hazardous situation,
which if not avoided, may result in minor or
moderate injury
a) Signs above doors or open spaces should
be mounted between 2m and 2.5m
from floor level, measured to the base
of the sign and be sited as close to the
centre line of the escape route sign as
practicable;
NOTE 1. This mounting height is
intended to ensure that signs can
be readily seen, e.g. over the heads
of people.
b) Signs sited on walls should be mounted
between 1.7m and 2.0m from floor level
measured to base of sign
NOTE 2. This mounting height is
intended to ensure the signs are within
the immediate field of vision.
c) Mounting heights greater
than 2.5m may be used,
e.g. in large open spaces
of for operational reasons,
but care should be taken
to ensure that such signs
are both conspicuous
and legible;
NOTE 3. Larger signs may
therefore be necessary.
d) Signs should be sited
at the same height
throughout the escape
route, so far as is
reasonably practicable.
2-2.5m
1.7-2.0m