Fire Safety and Emergency Exit Signs

Occupants of any building of any type need to be able to find their way out in an emergency safely and effectively and for this purpose fire safety signs are employed. It is also necessary for all signs to be made clearly visible for all the occupants of a building. Safety signs, if used and placed correctly, are a cost effective method of reducing the risk of a range of safety hazards, which are present in all types of commercial premises, of ever occurring or becoming out of control.

Australian Standard AS 1319-1994 sets forth design and use standards for safety signs used in the occupational environment. Safety signs are classified by function into groups.


Standard safety signs are used as an aid to:

• communicate information on hazards;
• communicate the need for personal protective equipment (where other control strategies are inadequate or impracticable)
• communicate the location of safety equipment/emergency facilities (eye wash stations, first aid kit);
• give guidance and instruction in an emergency.