If there’s a fire in your building, people need to know exactly where to go and what to do — without stopping to think. That’s where fire safety signage comes in. The right signs, in the right places, help save lives in the event of a fire.
In this guide, we walk you through the different colours and categories of fire signage, along with fire signage meanings. We explain what the law says about fire safety signs and how to ensure your wider fire safety setup is fully compliant.
Categories of fire signage + their colours and meanings
In the UK, there are several standardised categories of fire signage. Each has a specific colour and meaning, so they can be recognised instantly — even in an emergency. Here’s a rundown of all the fire signage categories.
Prohibition signs
Colour: Red circle with a diagonal line and a white background
Meaning: These fire safety signs tell people what they are not allowed to do
Examples:
- No smoking
- Do not use lift in event of fire
- No naked flames
Prohibition signs are designed to reduce the risk of fire by preventing dangerous activities. In most cases, the main red circle contains a simple graphic with no words, so the meaning is clear at a glance. Prohibition signs are used in areas where there’s a high risk of fire or injury. You can find them where flammable liquids or gases are present.
Mandatory fire signs
Colour: Blue circle with a white image or text
Meaning: These signs tell people what they must do to ensure fire safety
Examples:
- Fire door keep shut
- Automatic fire door keep clear
- Fire escape keep clear
Mandatory fire signs are often attached to fire-rated doors or in areas where specific fire prevention measures have to be followed. They instruct people to keep fire escape routes clear and to keep fire doors shut. This helps to ensure that people can escape safely and that fire doors work correctly in the event of a fire.
Warning signs
Colour: Yellow triangle with a black border and an image or text
Meaning: These signs indicate a fire hazard that requires special attention and care
Examples:
- Risk of fire
- Flammable liquid
- Highly flammable gases
These signs are common in warehouses, factories, labs and anywhere else where hazardous substances are stored or used. They feature a triangular yellow sign that shows an image of a fire, plus a rectangular sign underneath that contains text and explains the hazard.
Fire exit and safe conditions signs
Colour: Green
Meaning: These signs guide people to safety in the event of a fire
Examples:
- Fire exit (and a directional arrow)
- Push bar to open
- Assembly point
These signs guide people to safety and help you adhere to fire exit regulations. They help people navigate the fire escape route and open fire doors — and they have to be clearly visible, even in low light or smoky conditions. Directional signs should be placed at each and every change in direction along an escape route and above fire exit doors.
Other fire safety signs
Beyond the standard fire signage categories, there are a couple of other types of fire safety signs you should be aware of.
Fire action signs
Fire action signs are multi-coloured. They have an exclamation mark and the words “Fire action” at the top. They then list what steps people need to follow in the event of a fire.
They contain instructions like:
- Sound the alarm
- Attack the fire if possible with appliances provided NOT RISKING PERSONAL INJURY
- Leave the building by the nearest available exit
- Report to assembly point
- Do not return to the building until authorised to do so
- Do not run
- Do not use lifts
Some fire action signs leave space for you to write extra information. You may be able to specify assembly points, escape routes and the staff member in charge of calling the fire brigade.
Different points on the fire action sign appear in different colours. Blue is used for mandatory actions, green is used for fire escape actions and red is used for prohibited actions.
Fire equipment signs
Fire equipment signs highlight the location of fire safety equipment. This includes fire alarms, hose reel locations and fire-fighting equipment, like fire extinguishers and fire blankets.
In the case of fire extinguishers, these signs tell people what type of extinguisher it is — water, foam spray, carbon dioxide or ABC powder — and what types of fire it can be used on.
Fire equipment signs contain a red square or rectangle with a white image. They may also contain instructions in green (indicating the approved uses of the fire extinguisher) and red (indicating the prohibited uses of the fire extinguisher).
Regulations on fire safety signage in the UK
Fire safety signs help prevent fires and ensure that fire doors function properly. They direct people to fire safety equipment and to safe fire escape routes.
They’re also essential under fire safety sign regulations in the UK. According to regulations, employers, landlords and building operators have to:
- Use standardised colours, shapes and symbols for all fire signage categories
- Keep escape routes and exits clearly marked
- Make signs visible and easy to understand
- Ensure signage is well-lit, using emergency lighting where necessary
- Keep signs properly maintained and ensure that signs are fixed securely in place
This list isn’t exhaustive. You can read more about safety signage regulations here: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996
Fire safety signage FAQs
What colour is a fire exit sign?
A fire exit sign in the UK is green with a white symbol or text. This indicates a safe route or exit.
What colour is a fire alarm sign?
A fire alarm sign in the UK is red with white text or a white image. This shows the location of an alarm call point.
What does the fire extinguisher sign indicate?
A fire extinguisher sign — which typically features a red square with a white fire extinguisher symbol — indicates the location of a fire extinguisher. It may also contain information on which types of fire the extinguisher can and cannot be used on.
Do fire exit signs need to be illuminated?
Fire exit signs must be visible in all conditions, including power cuts — which means they should be lit by emergency lighting if necessary.
Do I need fire safety signs in multiple languages?
If you have staff or visitors who don’t read English, you may need to use multilingual signs or pictogram-based signs to ensure understanding.
Ensure your business has the right fire safety signage with FDS
At Fire Door Systems (FDS), we help commercial and industrial businesses stay compliant and fire safe.
As part of our fire safety compliance service, we carry out an audit of your fire safety signage. We check that you have all the signs you legally need — and that signs are up-to-date and in the right locations.
We also assess:
- Emergency evacuation procedures — to make sure people can get out of your building quickly and safely
- Alarm system efficiency — to confirm that fire alarms alert occupants effectively
- Emergency lighting — to check that escape routes are lit, even if power fails
- Occupancy calculation — to ensure you have the right size and number of fire exits for your building’s capacity
- Ratings and specifications — to check your doors, curtains and safety systems meet the right standards.
On top of fire safety assessments, FDS manufactures, supplies and installs fire-rated doors, fire exit doors and fire curtains. So we have everything you need to meet your fire safety obligations — and keep your people and business premises safe.
If you’re not 100% sure that your fire safety signage meets regulations — or you want the peace of mind that everything from your fire doors to your escape routes is compliant — give our team a call today.
We can schedule a fire safety survey or talk you through our fire door options.
