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UK fire safety signs follow two main standards — the British Standard BS 5499 and the harmonised international standard BS EN ISO 7010. Both are accepted in UK workplaces, and most modern signage is designed to comply with both at once. The legal requirement, under the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, is for adequate signage based on the workplace's fire risk assessment — the standards exist to define what "adequate" looks like in practice.
This page covers the legal framework, the five categories of fire safety sign and what each looks like, where signs need to be placed, and the specific signage workplaces use to identify their fire marshals. We've also included some free printable templates at the end.
The legal framework
Two pieces of UK legislation govern fire safety signage in workplaces:
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The central piece of UK fire safety legislation. It requires the responsible person — usually the employer — to carry out a fire risk assessment and put in place "suitable and sufficient" precautions. Adequate signage is part of those precautions, though the Order itself doesn't specify the technical requirements.
The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. These regulations implement the EU Safety Signs Directive 92/58/EEC and set out the broader framework for safety signage, including fire safety signs. The Regulations require signs that comply with recognised standards — which is where BS 5499 and BS EN ISO 7010 come in.
Neither piece of legislation prescribes specific signs by name. They define the what (adequate, recognisable, visible) and leave the how to the standards.
BS 5499 vs BS EN ISO 7010 — what's the difference?
This is one of the genuinely confusing questions in UK fire safety, so it's worth unpacking properly.
BS 5499 is the British Standard for safety signs, published by the British Standards Institution (BSI). It's a multi-part document covering geometric shapes, colours, layout, escape route signing, and graphical symbols. The current parts in active use include BS 5499-1 (geometric shapes and colours), BS 5499-4 (code of practice for escape route signing), and BS 5499-5 (signs with specific safety meanings).
BS EN ISO 7010 is the harmonised international standard for graphical symbols on safety signs. The "EN" indicates it's been adopted as a European standard; "ISO" indicates it's also an international standard. The key feature is that the symbols themselves are standardised globally — a fire exit pictogram in the UK looks the same as a fire exit pictogram in Germany, Japan or Australia.
For years there was a legitimate conflict between the two — the older "Euro" exit sign promoted under the EU Safety Signs Directive used a slightly different pictogram from the BS 5499 fire exit sign, which caused a long-running compatibility issue in UK workplaces. That conflict has now largely been resolved: BS EN ISO 7010 is the dominant standard for new signage, while BS 5499 remains valid for installations that pre-date it.
In practice:
- For new signage, work to BS EN ISO 7010. The harmonised pictograms are the future-proof choice.
- For existing signage that's still in good condition, you don't need to replace BS 5499 signs just because newer standards exist. Both are accepted.
- Don't mix systems within one building. Two different versions of "fire exit" pointing in opposite directions on adjacent walls is exactly the confusion the standards are meant to prevent.
If you're commissioning new signage, ask the supplier explicitly which standard they work to. Most reputable suppliers comply with both at once.
The five categories of fire safety sign
Under both BS 5499 and BS EN ISO 7010, safety signs fall into five categories, each with a defined shape and colour combination. Understanding the categories helps make sense of why signs look the way they do — and helps spot signs that don't comply.
Prohibition signs (red circle, diagonal bar)
These tell you what not to do. The shape is a red circle with a diagonal bar across it, on a white background, with the prohibited action shown in black underneath the bar.
Common examples in fire safety contexts:
- No smoking
- No open flames
- Do not block fire exit
- Do not use lift in case of fire
Warning signs (yellow triangle)
These warn of a hazard or danger. The shape is a yellow triangle with a black border, with the hazard symbol shown in black inside.
Common examples:
- Caution: flammable materials
- Caution: hot surface
- Risk of fire
- Risk of explosion
Mandatory signs (blue circle)
These tell you what you must do. The shape is a solid blue circle with the required action shown in white.
Common examples in fire safety:
- Fire door — keep shut
- Fire door — keep closed
- Fire door — keep locked
- Wear protective equipment
Safe condition signs (green rectangle)
These show safe conditions, escape routes and emergency equipment. The shape is a green rectangle with the symbol or text in white.
Common examples:
- Fire exit (with the "running man" pictogram and an arrow)
- Assembly point
- Refuge point
- Emergency phone
- First aid
Fire equipment / fire safety signs (red rectangle)
These show the location of firefighting equipment and fire safety devices. The shape is a red rectangle with the symbol in white.
Common examples:
- Fire extinguisher location
- Fire alarm call point
- Fire hose reel
- Fire blanket
Specific signs every workplace needs
A typical UK workplace will have several of each category. The most important ones, in roughly the order of priority during an evacuation:
Fire action notices. Posted at every fire alarm call point, these tell occupants what to do on hearing the alarm or discovering a fire. They cover three things: how to raise the alarm, what to do on hearing the alarm (evacuate immediately, don't use lifts, go to the assembly point), and the location of the assembly point. Standard wording is widely used; you can buy ready-made signs or print your own.
Fire exit signs. Green rectangles with the "running man" pictogram and a directional arrow. Placed at every change of direction along the escape route, at every change of level (top of stairs, bottom of stairs), and at every decision point (junction, corner, doorway). The final sign, immediately above the actual exit door, doesn't include an arrow — it just says "Fire Exit" or "Fire Exit — Keep Clear" to mark the destination.
Assembly point signs. Green rectangles, placed at the assembly location outside the building. Should be visible from the building exits so evacuees can spot them on the way out.
Refuge point signs. Green rectangles indicating where someone unable to take stairs should wait for the fire and rescue service. Placed at the refuge area itself, plus often a directional sign showing how to reach it.
Fire alarm call point signs. Red rectangles indicating where to break the glass and raise the alarm. Standard symbol with optional text.
Fire extinguisher ID signs. Red rectangles placed above or beside extinguishers, showing what type of extinguisher it is and what it's safe to use on.
Fire door signage. Blue mandatory circles ("fire door keep shut" or "fire door keep closed") on every fire door, both sides where applicable.
"Your fire marshals are…" identification poster. A workplace-specific notice listing the current fire marshals or fire wardens — names, locations within the building, and contact details where appropriate. This isn't required by law but it's standard practice in well-organised workplaces. Helps new starters and visitors know who to listen to.
Sign placement and visibility
Adequate signage is signage people can actually see when they need it. The detail matters more than people realise.
Position at decision points. Fire exit signs should be at every point where someone might have to choose which way to go — corners, junctions, top and bottom of stairs, lobbies. Don't assume people remember the route from a single sign at the entrance.
Consistent height. Signs should be at a consistent height across the building, typically between 1.7 and 2.0 metres. People scan at eye level when they're stressed.
Adequate illumination. BS 5499 requires fire safety signs to be illuminated when in use. This can be either externally illuminated (lit by ambient lighting that stays on during a fire — typically powered emergency lighting) or made of photoluminescent material (signs that glow in the dark after charging from ambient light, used in escape routes). Pure non-illuminated signs aren't compliant for emergency use.
Visibility from distance. Sign size should match the viewing distance. As a rough guide, an externally illuminated sign at 100 lux gives an observation distance of around 17 metres for a sign of standard height. Larger spaces — warehouses, big halls — need correspondingly larger signs.
Consistent symbols. Don't mix BS 5499 and BS EN ISO 7010 versions of the same sign within one building. Pick a system and use it.
No obstruction. Signs blocked by ducting, plant growth, banners, posters or stacked goods aren't doing their job. Routine fire safety checks should include a sweep for signs that have become obscured.
Free printable templates
We've provided some basic printable templates for common workplace needs. These are designed to BS EN ISO 7010 conventions and can be printed on standard A4 or A3 paper.
- "Your fire marshals are…" identification poster — fillable PDF with space for marshal names, locations and contact details. Update whenever your marshal team changes.
- Fire action notice — standard format, ready to print and post by every alarm call point. Customise the workplace name and assembly point.
- Assembly point sign — basic green rectangle assembly point sign for outdoor printing or laminating.
Print them on the heaviest paper your printer handles, laminate where possible, and keep digital originals so updates are quick when staff change.
Common questions
What size should fire safety signs be?
There's no single answer — sign size depends on viewing distance. As a rule of thumb, allow about 25mm of sign height for every metre of viewing distance. Larger spaces need bigger signs.
Are signs with text only legal?
Pictogram-based signs (with or without supporting text) are the standard under BS EN ISO 7010 — they're recognisable across language barriers. Pure-text signs without pictograms aren't best practice and may not satisfy enforcement audits.
Can I print my own fire safety signs?
For ad-hoc identification (like the "Your fire marshals are…" poster), yes. For escape route signs, fire equipment signs, and fire action notices, you should buy or commission signs that comply with the relevant standard — printed paper signs aren't durable enough for permanent installation and often don't meet illumination requirements.
What about temporary signage during refurbishment?
Refurbishment that affects escape routes or equipment locations needs temporary signage in place from day one. Temporary signs should still meet the basic standards — they don't have to be permanent installations but they do have to be visible and clear. Plan the temporary signage as part of the refurbishment programme, not as an afterthought.
Does the colour code apply across all UK workplaces?
Yes. Red for prohibition and fire equipment, yellow for warning, blue for mandatory, green for safe condition. The colour code is the same in every UK workplace and is consistent with international standards.
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For the broader fire marshal role and how signage fits into routine duties, see the fire marshal responsibilities page and the fire marshal checklist — both cover signage checks as part of the regular workplace inspection.
If you're equipping a workplace from scratch, our Fire Warden Training course covers signage standards alongside the broader role. £18 per learner, RoSPA approved and CPD accredited, 60 to 90 minutes online, instant certificate on completion, with bulk discounts from 10 delegates upwards. Our wider fire safety advice — including signage tailored to your specific workplace — comes through the fire risk assessment process.
