Note for Guidance

The Fire Safety Advice Centre

Graphical Symbols and Abbreviations for Fire Protection Drawings

Architects have their own abbreviations, symbols and drawing conventions to enable all persons in their profession to understand drawings produced for their use. Drawing Conventions are subject to BS 1192 : 2007 Collaborative production of architectural, engineering and construction information. Clicking on the above link will provide you with some information on this standard.

I am not sure if British Standards Institute has produced Standards to cover all the professions however there is a British Standard to cover Fire Engineering. The current standard is BS 1635:1990 "Recommendations for graphic symbols and abbreviations for fire protection drawings" and clicking on this link will provide you with some information on this standard.

However many fire engineers do not use the current standard and the symbols below are used. Many of the following symbols are used by the British Fire Service and most probably based on BS 1635:1970

When marking up a drawing you could use any symbols of your own choice providing you create a legend showing what each symbol represents. Depending on the reason for the drawing, Means of Escape for instance you may use the symbol to show an area to be covered , in accordance with the current British Standard, not the exact location and the symbols below would be acceptable. Other times an emergency lighting engineer for instance would require to show the exact location of a luminaire to enable the electrician to fit it, in accordance with the current British Standard. In this situation BS 1635 : 1990 would be more useful for the purpose.

KEY TO PLAN SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service - Fire Certificate Abbreviations and Symbols. A small number indicated with a " * " are in accordance the current British Standard.

Symbol or Abbreviation	Item		Description
	Doors - Fire Resisting		Having regard to the relevant British Standard the need to provide 30 minutes fire resistance standard is provided by the doors so indicated. Associated fan lights and transom lights over these doors are of fire resisting glazing and fixed shut
	Doors - Fire Resisting		Where the degree of fire resistance is accepted as exceeding 30 minutes, that period is as shown in minutes. Associated fan lights and transom lights over these doors are of fire resisting glazing and fixed shut
SC	Doors - Self Closing Devices	*	Doors so indicated are fitted with devices, other than rising but hinges, which will maintain the door(s) effectively self closing.
SCA	Doors - Automatic Releases	*	Doors so indicated are provided with automatic releases which are designed to hold a fire resisting door or leaf of a fire resisting door in the fully open position and to permit the door or leaf to close automatically upon the actuation of the fire alarm system.
SD	Doors - Security		Doors so indicated, which may be secured when certain parts of the premises are not in use, are provided with special fastenings.
FFF	Doors - Free From Fastenings	*	Doors so indicated are free from all forms of fastenings other than the ball or roller catches.
	Fire Resisting Construction		Having regard to the relevant British Standard and the need to provide 30 minutes fire resistance the standard provided by the construction is so indicated.
FRG	Fire Resisting Glazing	*	Glazing so indicated is accepted as being constructed so as to comply with the relevant British Standard, as having a fire resistance of 30 minutes and is fixed shut.
FRG 60	Fire Resisting Glazing		Where the period of fire resistance is accepted as exceeding 30 minutes the period is as shown in minutes.
FRG/H	Fire Resisting Glazing Height above the floor level		Glazing so indicated is not lower than 1.06m from floor level.
	Fire Extinguishers - Hose Reel		Hose Reel(s) so indicated, the length of which is shown in metres and conforms to the relevant British Standard.
	Fire Extinguishers - Water		Portable “WATER TYPE” fire extinguisher the capacity of which is shown in litres and to the relevant British Standard.
	Fire Extinguishers - Foam		Portable “FOAM TYPE” fire extinguisher the capacity of which is shown in litres and to the relevant British Standard.
	Fire Extinguishers - Dry Powder		Portable “DRY POWDER TYPE” fire extinguisher the capacity of which is shown in Kgs and to the relevant British Standard.
	Fire Extinguishers - Carbon Dioxide		Portable “CARBON DIOXIDE TYPE” fire extinguishers so indicated the capacity of which is shown in Kg and conforming to the relevant British Standard.
	Fire Extinguishers - Vaporizing Liquid		Portable “VAPORISING LIQUID TYPE” fire extinguishers so indicated the capacity of which is shown in kg and conforming to the relevant British Standard.
	Fire Extinguishers - Fire Blanket		Fire Blankets so indicated the size of which is shown in metres conforming to the relevant British Standard.
	Fire Alarm - Call Point		Fire Alarm Call Points so indicated conform to the relevant British Standard.
	Fire Alarm - Audible Warning Device		Audible Warning Devices so indicated which conform to the relevant British Standard.
	Fire Alarm - Visual Warning Device		Visual Warning Devices so indicated which conform to the relevant British Standard
	Fire Alarm - Internal Telephone		The Internal Telephones so indicated
	Fire Alarm - Indicator Panel		Fire Alarm Indicator Panel(s) so indicated which conform to the relevant British Standard.
	Fire Alarm - Manual Sounders		Manual Fire Alarm Sounders so indicated.
	Automatic Fire Alarm - Heat		Automatic Detector Heads so indicated forming part of the fire warning system, which conforms to the relevant British Standard.
	Automatic Fire Alarm - Smoke		Automatic Detector Heads so indicated forming part of the fire warning system, which conforms to the relevant British Standard.
	Emergency Lighting Points		Lighting Points so indicated which conform to the relevant British Standard form part of the emergency lighting system.
	Emergency Lighting Hand Lamp		Hand lamps so indicated, together with the hand lamps issued to members of the staff.
	Emergency Lighting - Illuminated Exit Box		Illuminated “Exit” sign boxes which conform to the relevant British Standard with letters of the height shown in mm.
	Emergency Lighting - Illuminated Directional Exit Box		Illuminated “Exit Directional Signs” which conform to the relevant British Standard with letters of the height shown in mm.
	Fire Exit Sign		Signs which conform to the relevant British Standard with letters the height shown in mm
	Fire Exit Directional Sign		Signs which conform to the relevant British Standard with letters the height shown in mm.
	Fire Notice - General Notice		Notices so indicated which show the general fire procedure as indicated in the "General Fire Procedure"
	Fire Notice - Staff Notice		Notices so indicated which show the staff fire procedure as indicated in the "Staff Fire Procedure"
	Fire Notice - Keep door Shut Notice		Doors so indicated are permanently marked with a notice “THIS DOOR TO BE KEPT SHUT WHEN NOT IN USE”
	Fire Notice - Slide to open Notice		Doors so indicated are permanently marked with a notice and have the words “Slide to Open” in letters of the height shown in mm together with an arrow indicating the direction of travel.
	Fire Notice - Fire Exit Keep Clear Notice		Notices so indicated which have the words “FIRE EXIT - KEEP CLEAR” in letters of the height shown in mm.
	Fire Notice - Keep door Shut Notice		Signs so indicated which have the words “FIRE DOOR - KEEP SHUT” or words to the like effect.
	Fire Notice - Door Fitted with Push Bars Notice		Doors so indicated are permanently marked “PUSH BAR TO OPEN” immediately above the PUSH BAR in letters of the height shown in mm.
HRL	Handrail		Handrail(s) so indicated are fixed at a height of not less than 840 mm not more than 991 mm measured vertically above the pitch line or the travel surface.
GRL	Guardrail Balustrade or Wall	*	Guardrail(s), balustrade(s) or wall(s) so indicated are fixed at or rise to a height of not less than 1. 06 m measured vertically above the pitch line or the travel surface. The space between the pitch line or travel surface and the underside of the guardrail or balustrade is in filled in such a manner as to prevent any person from falling through the side.
WP	Staircase - Weather Protection		The protection from inclement weather for the staircase(s)
R.S.	Door - Roller Shutter		Doors so indicated are ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS.
U.O.	Door - Up and Over		Doors so indicated are UP and OVER DOORS.
	Ramp	*	RAMPS so indicated are of the ratio shown in metres together with an arrow showing the direction of ascent.
V.P.	Vision Panel	*	Glazed panel situated to allow occupants observation of outer room.
	Roof Light - Automatic Venting		Roof lights for smoke venting as detailed in the “Smoke Venting Systems”
	Roof Light - Manual Venting		Roof lights for smoke venting as detailed in the “Smoke Venting Systems”
	Roof Ventilator - Automatic Venting		Roof Ventilators for smoke venting so indicated. as detailed in the “Smoke Venting Systems”
	Roof Ventilator - Manual Venting		Roof Ventilators for smoke venting so indicated. as detailed in the “Smoke Venting Systems”
	Roof Ventilator - Manual Override Point		Roof Ventilation Manual Override Points so indicated are as detailed in the “Smoke Venting Systems”
	Automatic Sprinkler Points		Sprinkler Points so indicated which conform to the relevant British Standard.
	Automatic Sprinkler - Main Valve		Sprinkler Main Valve so indicated which conforms to the relevant British Standard.
	Area Protected by a Pressurization System		Pressurization System for Smoke Control so indicated which conforms to the relevant British Standard.
	Hazard Location		This symbol indicates each hazard and can be identified numerically or alphabetically on an attached schedule.

AutoCad2002 Fire Symbol Block Library

If you have AutoCad then try this download Fire Certificate Symbols (older standard) for an interpretation of the above symbols. You may have to scale them up or amend them. The font used for the symbols was Bold Courier New 100 mm (0.1) and the descriptions are Txt 70mm.(0.07)

You could try this interpretation of a few of the BSI Current Symbols you may find them useful. Because of the large number of permutations, I have only include the ones that I feel are best suited to Fire Safety and not fire engineering (mechaniocal or electrical) drawings. On your ledgend you could use the term " Area covered in accordance with the current British Standard " when you cannot identify an exact location.The font used for the symbols was Bold Courier New 200 mm (0.2) and the descriptions are Txt 100mm.(0.1)

I would appreciate any feedback to enable me to improve the block libraries.

The British standards are available from : -

British Standards Online

Fire Industry Association

This handout provides a general overview and basic information on this topic. It may not apply to everyone, consequently to find out if this guide applies to you and to get more information on this subject, study all the relevant legislation, guides and British/European Standards. Also you should seek advice from an expert on the subject or your local Fire Safety Officer or Fire Safety Professional.

The Fire Safety Advice Centre. Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for nonprofit educational uses.

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This page was last checked and modified on Sunday, 17 August, 2008 15:50