What fire signs are legally required?

Under the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all workplaces and public buildings require: fire exit signs at every exit, directional signs on escape routes, fire action notices at every alarm point, fire door keep shut/keep locked signs, and fire extinguisher identification signs.

How far apart should fire exit signs be?

Fire exit directional signs should be visible from any point on the escape route. As a guide, signs should be placed at maximum 15m intervals along corridors and at every change of direction. The viewing distance depends on sign size: a 200mm high sign is visible at approximately 20m.

Do fire signs need to be photoluminescent?

BS 5266-1 recommends photoluminescent signs in areas where the emergency lighting could fail or as a supplement to emergency lighting. They are not mandatory but are best practice, especially in escape stairways and corridors. They glow for 2-4 hours after light exposure.

What colour should fire safety signs be?

Fire escape route signs use a green background with white pictogram (BS ISO 7010). Fire equipment signs (extinguishers) use a red background with white text. Fire door signs use blue (mandatory) or red (prohibition). Fire action notices are typically white with red border and black text.

How much do fire safety signs cost?

Standard rigid PVC fire signs cost £2-£8 each. Photoluminescent signs cost £5-£15 each. Aluminium signs cost £8-£20. Installation is typically £2-£5 per sign. A small office building might need 20-40 signs costing £150-£400 total.

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Fire Signage Calculator

Calculate the number and cost of fire safety signs including exit signs, directional arrows, fire action notices and extinguisher signs per BS 5499 and the Health and Safety (Safety Signs) Regulations.

Building Type

Number of Floors

Exits per Floor

Fire exits on each floor

Corridor Length

Average corridor length per floor

Sign MaterialPhotoluminescent recommended

Base Price per Sign

Base cost for standard PVC

How We Calculate This

This calculator estimates fire signage requirements based on building layout.

Sign types

Total = Exit signs + Directional + Fire action + Equipment + Door signs

Exit signs: one per exit per floor
Directional: every 15m along corridors
Fire action notices: at each alarm point
Extinguisher signs: 2 per floor minimum

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates. Verify with your supplier.