We see these labels posted around buildings and attached to furniture and we may take them for granted and not read them. They should always be understood and never ignored. They are there to help save lives.
There are two places that you will see fire safety labels prominently displayed; in public buildings and workplaces, and on certain items of furniture. These two websites provide detailed information on the regulations relating to signs and labels in these places.
Fire safety labelling on furniture is required to indicate the ignition resistance of each item and must be attached to all new furniture at the point of sale, with the exception of mattresses, bed bases, pillows, scatter cushions, seat pads, loose covers and stretch covers.
You should read and understand these labels, never ignore them and never remove them. The label itself must be attached to the piece of furniture in a prominent position so that it will be clearly visible to a potential purchaser and the wording can be easily read on both sides.
Display labels contain very useful information regarding the steps taken to ensure compliance and should be specific to each item of furniture.
Permanent labels are intended to assist enforcement officers and to show compliance with specific ignition requirements for covers and fillings.
If the permanent label is loose or has come off (or you have removed it) then it should be properly re-attached or replaced especially in the case of landlords who are renting out a property as a business activity – the regulations apply in this case.
If you want to sell a piece of furniture, charities and other organisations will only accept them if the fire safety label is properly attached. Each individual item of furniture must have the fire safety label either sewn on or stapled on and may be attached to any external surface.
The owners and managers of public buildings and workplaces are responsible for putting up fire safety signs and stickers in appropriate places; it is the law and they are liable to heavy fines and more serious penalties if they fail to carry out this obligation.
The public and employees are directed to and encouraged to read and understand the information or instructions on these stickers. Doing this could save property from severe damage one day or even a life.
In the office, school or public building, fire safety is of the utmost importance and as such that a busy public or working environment complies with necessary building regulations. Advisory fire safety stickers and signs, located in the right places, can help prevent accidents and tragedies. You should not ignore them.
Fire safety stickers and signs advise and warn people about fire hazards to help to prevent fires from starting or give directions to people in the event of an emergency to the nearest fire extinguishers or escape route to fire exits. Your building should have the appropriate fire safety labels marking the fire alarm call points, the fire extinguisher points and the location of fire hose reels.
Labels or stickers display clear instructions on how to use a piece of equipment, give directions in an emergency, or state things that are prohibited.
The purpose of a fire action notice is to make sure that anyone working in or visiting a building knows what to do if they discover a fire or if they need to evacuate the building.
Fire action stickers are usually pre-printed with information relevant to the action and provide a space for you enter user information specific to your building such as the fire brigade’s telephone number or an assembly point.
In the UK, fire exit signs are coloured green and white as this colour combination signifies a safe condition. Fire exit signs are typically green.
In the UK, blue fire safety signs are used to indicate a mandatory action, such as keeping a fire door shut. These blue signs require you to carry out an action in order to contribute towards your safety and must be coloured this way according to BS 5499.
In the UK, red fire safety signs are used to indicate prohibition, the location of fire equipment and supplementary information. An example of a red label is, no smoking in this area, fire hazard or do not use the lift in case of fire.
All fire safety stickers are designed to communicate a simple message to be clearly and quickly understood, and to be unambiguous. They often include appropriate graphics to assist understanding, such as the little green man running towards the fire exit.
Fire exit signs are not required for small properties or premises such as shops but for larger buildings they are essential, especially when building exits may not be obvious.
All fire exit doors must carry the blue standard “Fire door, keep shut” sticker. Green fire assembly point stickers should clearly indicate the assembly point and take into account helping those people with mobility issues.
In the event of a fire, it is essential that the building occupants know where to find firefighting equipment and which equipment to use for each different emergency.
All occupants should receive basic training so that those responsible know that correct procedures will be followed in the case of emergency.
The labelling and wording on fire extinguishers, for example, can be extensive and detailed – it is important that you read and understand how to use the different types of extinguisher. Don’t ignore it – the label provides clear instructions on how and where to use the equipment. Don’t be shy. If in doubt, ask somebody.
Download the Fire Safety in 2023 eBook, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry. Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.
Plus, we explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.
This implies that all fire exits have to be fire doors “All fire exit doors must carry the blue standard “Fire door, keep shut” Is that correct