BS 5499 Safety Signs, Including Fire Safety Signs

BS 5499 covers all safety warning sign, including fire safety signs and is compatable with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. It is also compatable with the ISO standards relevant to fire signs but in regards to EC Safety Signs Directive 92/58/EEC – fire exit signs there is some confusion.

A sample of BS 5499 fire warning signs

Prohibition sign No Smoking Sign Prohibition sign no matches Prohibition signs
These signs prohibit actions detrimental to safety		 Black graphical symbol on a white circle within a circular red band and behind a red crossbar.
General Mandatory Sign Mandatory sign keep door shut Mandatory sign
Signs that require actions or activities that will contribute towards safety		 White graphical symbol on a blue circle. Because the “Fire Door keep shut” sign doesn’t have a pictogram it is not in accordance with EC directive
Oxidising Sign General warning sign Warning signs
These signs give warning of potential risks		 Black graphical symbol on a yellow triangle that has a strong black border.
Running Man sign Safe Condition Signs
These signs indicate exit routes in the event of a fire or emergency		 These signs indicate exit routes in the event of a fire or emergency
Fire safety sign Hose Reel Sign Fire safety sign Fire telephone Fire Equipment Signs
These signs are used to indicate the location of fire equipment		 White graphical symbol on a red square.
Supplementary sign arrow Supplementary sign flames Supplementary Information Signs Determined by the appropriate sign.

BS 5499 Part 4

BS 5499 part 4 is devoted to escape route signing and while good sign design is important, the correct application and positioning of those signs is of equal significance in ensuring an effective signing system is in place. The size and positioning of signs within a building should form a major part of the considerations.

Points to consider are

  • Sign type, sign size and viewing distance
  • Construction durability and suitability
  • Servicing and maintenance
  • Illustrations (use of safety signs)
  • Use of arrows to indicate direction of travel

The standard deals with the issues associated with designing a co­ordinated system of signage throughout any given building. The code outlines items that need to be addressed:

  • Results of any risk assessment
  • Requirements (if any) of enforcing authorities
  • Operational needs of the building’s managers
  • Convenience of the users of the building, both workers and Public

The code stresses that it is only through the consideration of these factors that an effective design system for escape route signing can be achieved. It provides clear guidance on how to do this.

Examples of BS 5499 Escape route signing

Green Arrow Sign Running Man Sign Fire Exit Sign
Supplementary directional arrow. The internationally recognised graphical symbol for emergency exits Supplementary text

Consideration

Exhaustive testing of both comprehension and judgment of graphical symbols conforming to BS5499 and ISO 7010, ISO16069 achieved the highest comprehension credentials. However, as it only achieved some 80% performance, the British Standard requires supplementary text to aid comprehension. This too was tested and finally achieved 100% comprehension under ISO 9186. (Comprehension Testing Standard). Both the International and the British Standard Technical committee agreed that Escape Route Location and directional identification should not be left to graphic symbols alone. Consequently escape route signs should consist of three elements, the internationally-recognised graphical symbol for emergency exits, supplementary text (Exit or Fire exit) and a directional arrow.

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March 28, 2011[Last updated: February 9, 2022]

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