Safety Signs
Regulation
Regulations require that all fire safety signs and signals must have a guaranteed power supply in the event of a power failure. This is a requirement to ensure life safety information can be seen in darkness and the signs retain their intrinsic features under emergency conditions.
Quality photoluminescent guarantees that the signs remain visible in the absence of light satisfying these regulations.
The best photoluminescent properties are achieved if the signs are installed as close to the light sources as possible, preferably receiving direct sunlight.
According to the Norm ISO 16069 (SWGS – Safety Way Guidance System) a complete sign system involves three levels of signs:
Escape Route Signs
It is necessary to make sure that from any point of a building people have clear directions on how to get to a place of safety.
These instructions are given by standard evacuation signs along the evacuation route.
The evacuation safety system is comprised of signs above doors and signs that indicate all changes of direction along a route. It is essential that people when reaching a sign can already see the next one and to continue that way until the final exit.
|
|
Fire Safety Signs
These should be installed in a way to guarantee their visibility from any point in the building. In case of fire, it is essential that fire fighting equipment is readily available for use as a first response.
For this reason such equipment needs to be located quickly and easily. Permanent signs must be used at all times and placed at the location of each piece of equipment and at the correct height of 1.8 meters to 2.5 meters depending on the viewing distances.
In situations where equipment and location signs are directly obstructed from view another sign is required to inform the location of the equipment.
Identification signs should also be placed directly above the equipment to help identify what type of extinguisher to use.
|
|
Health and Safety Signs
When identifying the different levels of risk, these signs must be placed to clearly identify the nature and the location of the hazard.
In all situations where certain actions or behaviours can be dangerous, prohibition signs must be used to forbid these actions, so reducing the risk.
Using the correct hazard signs at the right location will reduce the number of dangerous situations and the risk of accidents. Special attention should be given to placing the signs in a clear and visible location before encountering the hazard.
To ensure the use of protective wear or to indicate that a specific course of action is to be taken, mandatory signs must be used.
|
|
