Note for Guidance
The Fire Safety Advice Centre
Graphical Symbols and Abbreviations for Fire Protection Drawings
Introduction
The current standard is BS 1635 : 1990 has been produced with the agreement of the Fire Standards Policy Committee and replaces BS 1635: 1970. During preparation the international standard ISO 6790 "Graphical symbols for fire protection plans", was considered and those symbols have been used wherever possible, with consideration of the content of BS 1635 : 1970. The format uses the style as recommended in BS 1192 Part 3: 1987 and ISO 6790, and incorporates precedents that exist in best British drawing practice. The names given to symbols have wherever possible been derived from BS 4422 and the wording used in group 9, Fire safety signs, complies with BS 5499: Part 1. BS 1635:1990
The rationale they have used, is to produce simple icons that representing one piece of fire engineering and are called element. You then combine a number of these elements into a symbol, for example the element for any type of extinguisher is a triangle, insert into the triangle the element for water, a circle with a vertical line and you have a Water Extinguisher. You can make them more complex and they are then called applications. The symbol for a hose reel is a semicircle, with the water element inserted, add an outlet which is an arrow, and the element for length of hose in meters and you have an application.
The application for a hose reel shows the length of the hose in metres in the upper right hand corner and although contrary to the standard I believe it should be also apply to portable extinguishers.
The above is only a very brief introduction and the symbols are simple sketches produced by me consequently you need to research the British Standard by purchasing a copy or use the local reference library who may have copies.
| Group | Table |
| Information Devices | 1.1 - Convention for indicating zones |
| Fire Extinguishers | 2.1 - Portable and transportable equipment |
| 2.2 - Fixed Systems | |
| Fire Fighting Equipment | 3.1 - Fire Fighting Equipment |
| Fire Alarm | 4.1 - Control and Indicating Equipment |
| 4.2 - Initiating Equipment | |
| 4.3 - Warning Equipment | |
| Means of Escape | 5.1 - Routes |
| Risk Areas | 6.1 - Fire and Explosion |
| Fire Precautions | 7.1 - Building Elements |
| Emergency Lighting | 8.1 - Lighting |
| Fire Safety Signs | 9.1 - Descriptions |
| Smoke Control | 10.1 - Venting and Pressurization |
Note. The symbols taken from ISO 6790 without modification are noted with
an asterisk.
Table 1.1 - Convention for indicating zones
| Conventions |
||
|
|
1.101 |
Behind cutting plane - Hidden |
|
|
1.102 |
Behind cutting plane - Visible |
|
|
1.103 |
Beyond cutting plane - Visible |
|
|
1.104 |
Beyond cutting plane - Hidden |
Table 2.1 - Portable and transportable
| Elements |
|||
|
|
Water2.1E1 |
|
Halon Gas2.1E7 |
|
|
Foam2.1E2 |
|
Carbon Dioxide Gas2.1E8 |
|
|
Powder Any Type2.1E3 |
|
Wall Mounted2.1E9 |
|
|
BC Powder2.1E4 |
|
Transportable,Wheel or Skid Mounted2.1E10 |
|
|
ABC Powder2.1E5 |
|
Fire Blanket2.1E11 |
|
|
Gas Any Type2.1E6 |
|
|
*
*
*
*
*
*| Symbols |
|||
 * |
Any Type2.101 |
|
Any type Gas Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E6 |
| |
Portable Free standing Water Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E1 |
|
Halon Gas Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E7 |
|
Portable Free standing Foam Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E2 |
|
Carbon DiOxide Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E8 |
|
Dry Powder Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E3 |
|
Water Bucket2.110 |
| |
BC Dry Powder Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E4 |
|
Sand Bucket2.111 |
|
ABC Dry Powder Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E5 |
|
Fire Blanket2.101 + 2.1E11 |
| Applications |
|||
| |
Portable free standing Water Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E1 + 3.1E6 |
|
Transportable Halon Gas Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E7 + 2.1E10 + 3.1E6 |
 |
Portable wall mounted BC Powder Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E4 + 2.1E9 + 3.1E6 |
|
|
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Group 2 - Fire Extinguishers
Table 2.2 - Fixed Installations
| Elements |
|||
|
|
Outlet 2.2E1 |
|
Hydraulic Operation2.2E6 |
|
|
Inlet 2.2E2 |
|
Manual Operation2.2E7 |
|
|
Total Application2.2E3 |
|
Mechanical Operation2.2E8 |
|
|
Actuator Any Type2.2E4 |
|
Pneumatic Operation2.2E9 |
|
|
Electrical Operation2.2E5 |
|
Thermal Operation2.2E10 |
*
*
*
| Symbols |
|||
|
|
Fixed System Any Type 2.201 |
|
Hydraulic Actuator 2.2E4 + 2.2E6 |
|
|
Fixed System Water 2.2E3 + 2.1E1 |
|
Manual Actuator 2.2E4 + 2.2E7 |
|
|
Fixed System Foam 2.2E3 + 2.1E2 |
|
Mechanical Actuator 2.2E4 + 2.2E8 |
|
|
Fixed System Powder 2.2E3 + 2.1E3 |
|
Pneumatic Actuator 2.2E4 + 2.2E9 |
|
|
Fixed System Gas 2.2E3 + 2.1E6 |
|
Thermal Actuator 2.2E4 + 2.2E10 |
|
|
Electrical Actuator 2.2E4 + 2.2E5 |
|
|
| Applications |
|||
|
|
Fixed System any Type Local Application 2.201 + 2.2E1 |
|
Fixed System Manually Actuated 2.201 + 2.2E7 |
|
|
Drencher System Any Type 2.201 + 2.2E1 |
|
|
*
*
*
*
Table 3.1 - Fire Fighting Equipment
| Elements |
|||
|
|
Pipe Below Ground 3.1E1 (See 1.104) |
|
Indicator or Meter 3.1E5 |
|
|
Pipe Above Ground 3.1E2 |
|
Length of hose in metres 3.1E6 |
|
|
Chamber in Ground 3.1E3 |
|
Non Return Check Valve 3.1E7 |
|
|
Valve 3.1E4 |
||
*| Symbols |
|||
|
Fire Main or Riser Any Type3.101 |
|
Ground Hydrant in Chamber Double3.1E3 + 3.1E1 + 3.1E4 + 2.2E1 |
|
Fire Main Dry3.102 |
|
Pillar Hydrant Single3.1E1 + 3.12 + 3.1E4 + 2.2E |
| Fire Main Wet3.101 + 2.1E1 |
|
Pillar Hydrant Double3.1E1 + 3.12 + 3.1E4 + 2.2E |
|
|
Fire Main Foam3.101 + 2.1W2 |
|
Fire Point3.109 |
| Ground Hydrant in Chamber Single3.1E3 + 3.1E1 + 3.1E4 + 2.2E1 |
|
Hosereel3.110 |
|
| Applications | |||
| Dry Fire Main Landing Valve3.101 + 3.1E4 + 2.2E1 |
|
Underground Fire Main3.1E12.1E2 |
|
 |
Foam Inlet3.102 + 2.2E2 |
|
Hosereel 45m long3.110 + 3.1E6 + 2.1E1 + 2.2E1 |
 |
Underground Fire Main3.1E1 + 2.1E1 |
|
Under ground Fire Main with Metered by Pass3.1E1 + 3.1E3 + 3.1E4 + 3.1E5 |
*
*
*
*
Table 4.1 - Control and Indicating Equipment
Elements |
|||
 * |
Sounder 4.1E1 |
|
Illuminated Signal 4.1E2 |
Symbols |
|||
 * |
Control Panel Any Type 4.101 |
|
Control Panel Illuminated Signals 4.101 + 4.1E2 |
 * |
Control Panel Sounders 4.101 + 4.1E1 |
|
Control Panel Sounders and Illuminated Signals 4.101 + 4.1E1 + 4.1E2 |
|
|
|
|
|
*
*
*Table 4.2 - Initiating Equipment
| Elements |
|||
|
|
Smoke4.2E1 |
|
Beam4.2E3 |
|
|
Flame4.2E2 |
|
|
*
| Symbols |
|||
 * |
Detector Any Type4.201 |
|
Gas Detector4.201 + 2.1E6 |
 |
Heat Detector4.201 + 2.2E10 |
|
Fire Alarm Manual Call Point4.201 + 2.2E7 |
 * |
Smoke Detector4.201 + 4.2E1 |
|
Beam Detector4.201 + 4.2E3 |
 |
Flame Detector4.201 + 4.2E2 |
|
|
*
Table 4.3 - Warning Equipment
| Elements |
|||
|
|
Manual Sounder 4.3E1 |
|
LoudSpeaker 4.3E3 |
|
|
Electric Bell 4.3E2 |
|
Telephone 4.3E4 |
*
*
*| Symbols |
|||
|
|
Warning Device Any Type4.301 |
|
Warning Device Loudspeaker4.301 + 4.3E3 |
|
|
Warning Device Manual Sounder4.301 + 4.3E1 |
|
Warning Device Telephone4.301 + 4.3E4 |
|
|
Warning Device Sounder4.301 + 4.1E1 |
|
Warning Device Visual4.301 + 4.1E2 |
|
|
Warning Device Bell4.301 + 4.3E2 |
|
|
| Applications |
|||
|
|
Telephone with Flashing Light4.301 + 4.3E4 + 4.1E2 |
|
|
*
*
*
*
*
Table 5.1 - Routes
Elements |
|||
 |
Directional Arrow5.1E1 |
|
|
Symbols |
|||
|
Escape Route5.101 |
|
Escape Route, Final Exit5.103 |
|
Escape Route, Direction to Follow5.102 |
|
|
*
*
*Return
Table 6.1 - Fire and Explosion
| Elements |
|||
| Flammable Materials6.1E1 |
|
Explosive Materials6.1E3 |
|
| Oxidizing Materials6.1E2 |
|
|
|
| Symbols |
|||
| General Hazard Warning6.101 |
|
Oxidizing Materials Risk Area6.103 |
|
| Flammable Materials Risk Area6.102 |
|
Explosive Materials Risk Area6.104 |
|
Return
Table 7.1 - Building Elements
| Elements |
|||
| Ramp Gradient7.1E1 |
|
Self Closing Automatic Release7.1E8 |
|
| Fire Resistance in Minutes7.1E2 |
|
Vision Panel7.1E9 |
|
| Fire Resisting Glazed Element7.1E3 |
|
Guarding Handrail7.1E10 |
|
| Security Lock7.1E4 |
|
Push Bar Door Ironmongery7.1E11 |
|
| Key in Box7.1E5 |
|
Fusible Link7.1E12 |
|
| Free From Fastenings7.1E6 |
|
Fire Resisting7.1E13 |
|
| Self Closing7.1E7 |
|
Smoke Resisting7.1E14 |
|
| Symbols |
|||
| Wall Opening with Window7.101 |
|
Door set, Sliding Leaf7.111 |
|
| Wall Opening with Roller Shutter7.102 |
|
Door set, Revolving Leaves7.112 |
|
| Wall Opening with Up and Over Door7.103 |
|
Door set, Sliding/folding, End Hung7.113 |
|
| Door Set, Hinged Leaf7.104 |
|
Door set, Sliding/folding, Centre Hung7.114 |
|
| Door set, Hinged leaf (alternative)7.105 |
|
Stairway, Arrow Indicates Up Direction7.115 |
|
| Door set, Hinged Leaf, Normally Closed7.106 |
|
Ramp, Arrow Indicates Up Direction7.116 |
|
| Door set, Hinged Leaf, Normally Open7.107 |
|
Fire Damper7.117 |
|
| Door set, Hinged Leaf, O[opening Either Way7.108 |
|
Fire Resisting Construction 30 min7.118 |
|
| Door set, Hinged Leaf, Opening 1807.109 |
|
Fire Resisting Construction 30 min's (for small scale drawings)7.119 |
|
| Door set, Two Hinged Leaves7.110 |
|
|
|
Applications |
|||
| Fire Resisting Glazed Screen7.1E2 + &.7.1E3 7.101 + 7.118 |
|
Final Exit Door set Double Leaves Single Swing with push bar door ironmongery7.110 + 7.1E11 |
|
| Fire Damper in Ductwork7.117 |
|
Ramp Showing Direction of Rise and Gradient7.116 + 7.1E1 |
|
| 30 min Fire Resisting Door set, Single Leaf, Single Swing7.118 + 7.104 +7.1E2 + 7.113 |
|
Guarding Rail along side of open Stairwell7.115 + 7.1E10 |
|
| 60 min Fire Resisting Door set, Single Leaf, Single Swing7.118 + 7.104 +7.1E2 + 7.1E13 + 7.1E14 |
|
Wall Opening with Roller Shutter 30 min's Fire Resistance operated by Fusible Link7.102 + 7.1E13 + 7.1E12 |
|
| 30 min Fire and Smoke Resisting Door set, Double Leaf, Single Swing, Self Closing. Normally held open on electro magnetic devices7.118 + 7.110 + 7.1E2 + 7.1E8 + 7.1E13 + 7.1E14 |
|
|
|
Return
Table 8.1 - Lighting
| Elements |
|||
| Luminaire Any Type8.1E1 |
|
Luminaire Linear Any Type Enclosed8.1E4 |
|
| Luminaire Any Type, Enclosed8.1E2 |
|
Emergency / Safety8.1E5 |
|
| Luminaire Linear Any Type8.1E3 |
|
|
|
| Symbols |
|||
| Emergency, Enclosed8.101 |
|
Emergency, Linear Self Contained8.104 |
|
| Emergency, Self Contained8.102 |
|
Emergency, Linear Enclosed8.105 |
|
| Emergency, Linear Any Type8.103 |
|
Exit Sign Internally Illuminated8.106 |
|
Return
Table 9.1 - Descriptions
| Elements |
|||
| General Prohibition9.1E1 |
|
General Condition Sign9.1E21 |
|
| Smoking is Prohibited9.1E2 |
|
Fire Exit9.1E22 |
|
| Smoking and Flames Prohibited9.1E3 |
|
Slide to Open9.1E23 |
|
| Water as Extinguishing Agent Prohibited9.1E4 |
|
Break to Obtain Access9.1E24 |
|
| General Warning9.1E5 |
|
Push Bar to Open9.1E25 |
|
| Flammable Materials9.1E6 |
|
Directional Arrow (Green)9.1E26 |
|
| Oxidizing Materials9.1E7 |
|
Collection of Firefighting Equipment9.1E27 |
|
| Risk of Explosion9.1E8 |
|
Fire Alarm Call Point9.1E28 |
|
| No Means of Escape9.1E9 |
|
Fire Telephone9.1E29 |
|
| In the Event of a Fire, Avoid use of Lift9.1E10 |
|
Fire Hose Reel9.1E30 |
|
| General Mandatory Sign9.1E11 |
|
Fire Extinguisher9.1E31 |
|
| Fire Action Sign9.1E12 |
|
Foam Inlet9.1E32 |
|
| Fire Door Keep Shut9.1E13 |
|
Dry Riser9.1E33 |
|
| Fire Door Keep Locked9.1E14 |
|
Wet Riser9.1E34 |
|
| Automatic Fire Door Keep Clear9.1E15 |
|
Fireman`s Switch9.1E35 |
|
| Automatic Fire Door, Keep Clear, Close at Night9.1E16 |
|
Open Valve, in the event of a Fire9.1E36 |
|
| Door to be Secured Open9.1E17 |
|
Open Valve before running out Hose9.1E37 |
|
| Door to be Unlocked9.1E18 |
|
Fire Plan9.1E38 |
|
| Gangway Keep Clear9.1E19 |
|
Directional Arrow (Red)9.1E39 |
|
| Fire Escape Keep Clear9.1E20 |
|
|
|
Symbols |
|||
| Fire Exit9.101 |
|
|
|
| Applications |
|||
| Fire Door to be kept shut 7.118 + 7.104 + 9.114 |
|
Fire Exit Door with Sign 7.118 + 7.110 + 8.106 + 9.1E22 |
|
Return
Table 10.1 - Venting and Pressurization
| Elements |
|||
| Smoke Vent on Plan10.1E1 |
|
Smoke Vent in Horizontal or Vertical Section10.1E5 |
|
| Smoke Vent over on Plan10.1E2 |
|
Fan10.1E6 |
|
| Roof Light Vent on Plan10.1E3 |
|
Flow Direction Extract10.1E7 |
|
| Roof Light Vent over on Plan10.1E4 |
|
Flow Direction Supply10.1E8 |
|
Symbols |
|||
|
Space Requiring Smoke Ventilation10.101 |
|
Replacement Air Intake10.111 |
|
Pressurized Space10.102 |
|
Window Smoke Release Manual10.112 |
| Pressurized Space, Single stage10.103 |
|
Window Smoke Release Automatic10.113 |
|
| Pressurized Space, Double Stage10.104 |
|
Pressure Air Supply Point10.114 |
|
| Smoke Reservoir10.105 |
|
Pressurizing Air Intake 10.115 |
|
| Pressure Differential Point10.106 |
|
Smoke Curtain Fixed10.116 |
|
| Smoke Vent Manually Actuated10.107 |
|
Smoke Curtain Automatically Actuated10.117 |
|
| Smoke Vent Automatically Actuated10.108 |
|
Smoke Extraction Fan10.118 |
|
| Smoke Extract Point10.109 |
|
Pressurizing Air Supply Fan10.119 |
|
| Smoke Discharge Point10.110 |
|
|
|
*
*
Return
| Standard Number |
Title |
| Recommendations for graphic symbols and abbreviations for fire protection drawings |
British Standards are available from : - British Standards Online
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.
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This page was last checked and modified on Thursday, 28 January, 2010 20:46
