Fire Door Signs

Fire doors are a requirement for all public buildings. Most fire doors are able to resist a fire for over 30 minutes. Fire door signs must be displayed on every fire door. All fire door signs are blue on a white background with white writing meaning that fire door signs are mandatory signs. Fire door signs and other fire related signs should meet the requirements of British Standard 5499. All fire resisting doors should be in good condition and should fully close into their frames, fire doors should not be wedged open with a wedge or fire extinguisher – if fire doors are required to be open, self closing devices should be effective and safe. Finally appropriate fire door signs should be fixed both sides of fire doors.

As fire doors vary so do fire door signs. Most state ‘Fire door keep shut’ or ‘Fire door keep closed’ and should be used on each side of self closing fire doors, these fire door signs should be displayed at eye level. For fire doors that must be kept locked, eg cleaners cupboards etc, the fire door signs should be displayed on the outer door face at eye level, this fire door sign should state ‘keep locked shut’. Some fire doors are kept open and have an automatic shutting device which releases on activation of the fire alarm / smoke detection system. The fire door signs relating to this type of fire door should state; ‘Automatic fire door keep clear’. Again, as with all fire door signs, it should be placed at eye level and should be positioned on the visible side of the fire door. Automatic release mechanisms should comply with British Standard 5839: Part 3. Where possible, automatic fire doors should be closed at night and have an additional sign to this effect. ‘Fire exit keep clear; fire door signs should be displayed on fire doors on the final exit which risk getting obstructed by vehicles bins etc. on the outside of the building.