Fire safety signs are rarely noticed as people walk past them but, in an emergency, they can make a big difference as when smoke or panic sets in, clear signs help people find exits quickly.
Why fire signs matter
People don’t always know the layout of the building that they are in as visitors to an office, or customers in a shop, might be there for the first time and that’s where signage helps.
Recent research shows that only 38% of people see conventional static emergency signage in presumed emergency situations in an unfamiliar built environment.
It’s important to reduce hesitation in a fire as even a few seconds of uncertainty can slow evacuation and so having good signs is needed to keep people moving in the right way. A fire risk assessment Gloucester can help decide if signage is placed as effectively as possible.
Common types of fire safety signage
Escape route signs point people towards exits and fire action notices explain what to do if an alarm goes off. Equipment signs show where extinguishers or alarms are located. Often, the signs need to be visible in low light, which is why photoluminescent materials are often used.
More information can be found through specialists such as https://apmfireandsecurity.com/fire-risk-assessment/gloucester/.
Keeping signage effective
Signs can fade over time if they’re exposed to light, or get blocked without anyone noticing and that’s why regular checks matter. These things often get picked up during a fire risk assessment in Gloucester, where small issues are flagged before they become bigger problems.
