Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals)
Regulations Fire safety signs can be required under a wide variety of legislation, some that the Fire Authority enforces, such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and some enforced by other authorities where the Fire Authority may act as a consultee.
The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 require employers to ensure safety signs are provided (or are in place) and maintained in circumstances where risks to health and safety have not been avoided by other means, for example engineering controls or safe systems of work.
While the Regulations do not require safety signs to be used where there are no significant risks to health and safety, fire safety signs may still be required under other legislation (e.g. perhaps to comply with fire certificate requirements).
Enforcement
The Fire Authority enforces fire safety sign requirements for premises covered by legislation for which it is the enforcing authority. Requirements for other premises are enforced by the authority that enforces the legislation that applies in the case.
Any newly installed fire safety signs/notices should comply with the appropriate standards detailed in Parts 1 to 3 of BS 5499 'Fire safety signs, notices and graphic symbols'. The sign/notice should consist of a suitable graphic symbol, but text may also be used where necessary. The shape and colouring of signs/notices should be suitable for their purpose as described in BS5499: Part 1.
The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 lay down minimum requirements for the type, size and colouring of safety signs generally. They also make specific requirements for "fire safety signs" which includes signboards, marking the location of fire fighting equipment and acoustic signals (fire alarms).
Signs, which comply with BS 5499, will also satisfy the Regulations requirements.
Contact Details
Group Manager - Health & Safety
Tel: 01274 655834
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