As we all know, fires can have devastating consequences, particularly in large, complex commercial premises where organisation is paramount. In such buildings, fire safety must always be at a top priority, ensuring that each employee is prepared for any eventuality. One of the best ways to achieve this is through fire safety signage, ranging from fire exit to assembly point signs, all of which can truly save lives. In this article we will take a look at this signage, highlighting why it’s so important.
Fire exit signage
While, for smaller buildings which only have one exit, fire exit signage isn’t always necessary, for larger and more complex buildings, fire exit signage is absolutely vital.
Exit signage ensures that, from any particular point in a building, the quickest route out can be easily taken by following the signs. This should be considered the building’s primary exit route. Fire exits, on the other hand, can be seen as secondary escape routes. These routes are taken in fires when the flames have made the primary route impassable.
Fire exit signage ensures that employees and visitors are always keenly aware of the quickest route out of a building during a fire, and help keep any panic to a minimum.
Fire door signage
As you may know, fire doors are absolutely vital when it comes to stopping the spread of fire. When closed, fire doors act as a barrier to stop fire from spreading from room to room; when open, they offer a means of escape to those trapped inside.
All fire door signage features the command “keep shut”. The importance of this should not be understated. If people see and abide by this signage, then – if a fire breaks out – those fire doors will be shut, meaning that the fire will not be able to spread and damage will be reduced significantly.
Fire action notice
Fire action notices inform employees or visitors just what course of action to take in the event of a fire, and include vital information such as the following:
- Phone number to call the fire brigade
- The address of the building
- How to exit the building
- Assembly point information
- Any other specific instructions regarding the building
For visitors in particular, fire action notices can be an absolute saving grace. For someone who doesn’t know the building and is panicking, these notices provide a one-stop shop for all the information needed to contact the authorities, and evacuate as quickly as possible.
Fire assembly point
Your emergency exit routes need to lead to a safe zone, and that’s where fire assembly points come in. Fire assembly points offer an area for evacuees of a building to congregate and be accounted for. This way, managers of the building are able to make sure that there isn’t anyone left inside the building – and in danger.
At Protect & Detect, we offer a range of services to ensure your property or business meets all fire safety regulations, including a comprehensive installation and safety check on fire extinguishers and fire detection devices in a variety of business fields. For more information on our services, contact Protect & Detect today.