A fire risk assessment may identify the escape routes, but people still need to find them quickly when visibility is poor and pressure is high. If you are asking, which fire exit sign do I need?, the answer depends on the route people must follow from each part of your premises - not simply on the door marked as the final exit.
For UK workplaces, public buildings, warehouses, schools, hospitality venues and managed properties, fire exit signs should make the escape route obvious at every point where someone could hesitate, turn the wrong way or mistake another door for an exit. The most effective setup uses consistent green and white signs, clear directional arrows and the recognised running-man escape symbol.
Which fire exit sign do I need for each route?
Start by walking every escape route as if you were unfamiliar with the building. Begin in offices, work areas, stock rooms, toilets, meeting rooms and any other occupied space, then follow the route to a place of safety. At each junction, corridor turn, stairwell and exit door, ask one practical question: would a visitor know where to go without being told?
A standard fire exit sign normally combines the running-man pictogram with a directional arrow. The arrow must show the direction of travel from where the sign is viewed. For example, choose a left-arrow sign where the route turns left, a right-arrow sign where it turns right, and a straight-on sign where occupants should continue ahead towards the exit.
Signs above or beside a final exit door should confirm that the door is part of the escape route. A door that looks like an ordinary store cupboard, staff room or service entrance may need a clear fire exit sign even if it leads outside. Conversely, a green fire exit sign should not be used on a door that does not provide a safe means of escape.
The route needs to work from all occupied areas. A sign that is correct when approaching from one corridor can be misleading when seen from another. This is why a site walk-through is more reliable than ordering signs based only on a floor plan.
Use recognised running-man fire exit symbols
Current fire exit signage is generally based on the recognised running-man pictogram used in ISO 7010 safety signs. The green background and white symbol provide a familiar visual instruction that can be understood more quickly than words alone, including by visitors and people whose first language is not English.
Older signs carrying text such as “Fire Exit” may still be present in many buildings. Whether existing signage remains suitable depends on its clarity, condition, consistency and the findings of the fire risk assessment. Where you are renewing signs, extending premises or improving a route, using the running-man symbol throughout is usually the clearest choice.
Avoid mixing several sign styles without a reason. A mixture of old text-only signs, different pictograms and inconsistent arrow formats can make an escape route harder to read at speed. Standardising the signs across a site also makes future replacements and maintenance simpler.
Fire exit signs are not fire door signs
These products do different jobs. A fire exit sign directs people towards or through a means of escape. A fire door sign provides an instruction, such as “Fire Door Keep Shut”, “Automatic Fire Door Keep Clear” or “Fire Door Keep Locked Shut”.
A final exit fitted with a fire-resisting door may require both types of message, provided the layout remains clear. Do not assume that a fire door notice tells people it is an exit, or that an exit sign tells staff how the door must be managed.
Where should fire exit signs be positioned?
Position signs so they are visible along the route before a person reaches a decision point. They should not be hidden by open doors, racking, displays, hanging stock, temporary event equipment or seasonal decorations. In warehouses and workshops, consider sightlines from forklifts, high-level storage and machinery as well as pedestrian routes.
The key locations are usually final exits, changes of direction, corridor intersections, stairways, level changes and doors leading to protected escape routes. Signs may also be needed to identify a route from a large open-plan area where the exit is not immediately obvious.
In larger or more complex premises, a sign is often required before the junction as well as at it. Someone walking quickly should see the instruction early enough to act on it. In a long corridor, repeat signs may be sensible where the route is not continuously visible.
Do not place signs only at the final exit and assume the route is self-explanatory. That approach often fails in multi-room offices, schools, factories, care settings and venues with back-of-house areas. The correct sign system leads occupants from their starting point all the way to safety.
Choose the right sign size and viewing distance
A small sign can be compliant in a compact office but ineffective in a warehouse aisle or sports hall. Sign size should be suitable for the distance at which it needs to be recognised, as well as the amount of ambient light and any visual clutter around it.
As a practical rule, the further away the sign must be read, the larger it should be. Small signs suit short internal corridors and doors viewed at close range. Larger rigid signs are a better fit for production areas, loading bays, large retail floors, communal halls and long circulation routes.
Illuminated signs can be seen at greater distances than non-illuminated signs of the same size, but the lighting arrangement must be properly designed and maintained. Emergency lighting and escape signage should work together. A clearly printed sign is of limited value if it cannot be seen following a power failure.
Your fire risk assessment, emergency lighting design and building layout should guide the final choice. If a route is unusually long, crowded, poorly lit or used by members of the public, it may need larger, repeated or illuminated signage.
Should you choose photoluminescent fire exit signs?
Photoluminescent fire exit signs absorb light under normal conditions and glow when lighting levels fall. They are a practical option for many indoor routes because they offer additional visibility during an emergency, without requiring a wired power supply.
They are not a replacement for correctly designed emergency lighting where that is required. Their performance depends on receiving sufficient charging light in normal use, so a sign fitted in a permanently dim corner may not provide the expected afterglow. Check the lighting conditions, particularly in warehouses with lights switched off overnight or in areas used only occasionally.
For routine internal applications, rigid plastic signs provide a durable, cost-effective choice. Self-adhesive signs can suit smooth, clean internal surfaces where drilling is not appropriate. For outdoor exits, exposed yards or demanding industrial areas, select a material and fixing method that will withstand weather, cleaning and regular use.
Check arrows, doors and escape hardware together
The arrow is only correct if it leads to a usable escape route. Before fitting signs, check that escape doors open readily in the direction required by the fire strategy, are not blocked, and have appropriate panic or emergency exit hardware where necessary.
A sign pointing to an exit that is routinely locked, obstructed by deliveries or restricted by access-control equipment creates a serious operational problem. The same applies to a route through a shuttered warehouse area, a gate that is secured after hours, or a door used for storage access.
Facilities teams should include fire exit signs in routine inspections. Look for faded print, damaged corners, missing fixings, changed room layouts and signs obscured by new equipment. Refurbishments are a common reason for routes to change without signage being updated.
A practical ordering checklist
Before placing an order, confirm the escape routes identified in your fire risk assessment and map each decision point. Then check the direction shown from the viewer’s position, choose a size suitable for the viewing distance, and decide whether standard rigid, self-adhesive, photoluminescent or more durable outdoor signage is appropriate.
Also count the supporting signs that may be required, including fire door notices, keep-clear signs, assembly point signs and emergency exit hardware instructions. Ordering these together helps maintain a consistent format across the premises and avoids last-minute gaps before an inspection, opening date or handover.
The Sign Shed supplies fire exit signs in clear directional formats for workplaces, public sites and industrial premises, making it easier to match the sign to the route rather than settling for a generic message.
A well-signed escape route should feel obvious long before an emergency occurs. Walk it regularly, view it from the position of a visitor or new starter, and replace any sign that leaves room for doubt.
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