You probably see fire door signs every day but don’t give them much thought. It’s easy to overlook them, yet they play an important part in helping a building operate safely. Clear signage tells you how to use the fire door and reminds everyone why leaving it open or blocked could create unnecessary risks.
Why is fire door signage important?
Fire door signs provide simple instructions that help people use the fire doors correctly. You might notice signs stating “Fire door keep shut” or “Fire door keep locked”, depending on what the door’s used for.
The wording is designed to be clear and consistent to avoid confusion. If you’re researching a fire risk assessment Gloucester, you can find information from providers such as https://apmfireandsecurity.com/fire-risk-assessment/gloucester/, explaining how fire doors fit into your wider fire safety measures.
Where should fire door signs be fitted?
You’ll usually find fire door signs fixed where they’re easy to see before the door is used. The exact position to put them depends on the type of door and how people approach it, but visibility is the most important. Make sure your signs are clean, legible and attached securely.
The UK Government’s fire safety guidance explains your responsibilities for maintaining suitable fire safety measures, including keeping essential information available to building users.
Do signs need to be checked?
Like any other fire safety feature, you need to check signage as part of the routine building checks you do. You need to replace faded or damaged signs or update them if the building layout changes.