Fire Extinguisher Signage

[NRB]

Can someone put some light on a small enquiry I have.  Is it a requirement by Law to have fire extinguisher signage above each extinguisher, or it just a little nicety?  I was always told that when you have an extinguisher on a wall, it’s obvious what it is, and its contents and usage is displayed on the cylinder itself.  As you can imagine what’s happened, I’ve had a risk assessment carried out and the assessor said I needed these signs put up.  At £6.00 each and I have 20 fire points. I don’t think so if I can avoid it.  So Do I Need Them By Law?

[Midland Retty]

Hi There

Signage is only needed where fire extinguisher locations are not immediately obvious (ie some organisations locate extinguishers in service cupboards etc)

So long as the location of the fire extinguishers are obvious for all to see you don't need the signs!

[NRB]

Thank you, just as I though.

[CivvyFSO]

What often happens is the 'risk assessor' works for the company who want to sell you the signs.

FWIW, Article 13 of RR(FS)O says "Where necessary";  and you will find that the FRS view of 'where necessary' is as Midland Retty says. (The risk assessor may just show you the part of the legilsation that says "The responsible must ensure that....." and forget about the "where necessary" part preceeding it.)

[jokar]

Grab a copy of the Signs and Signals Regulations 1996 to make it all clear.

[wee brian]

My other favourite is a tiny retail unit with only one fairly obvious door in it. They put an exit sign above it, just in case you cant remember how you got to the counter (2m from the door).

[AnthonyB]

£6 a sign is a rip off anyway, you can get them far cheaper if you do want them.

IIRC the RRO wording in the actual law as oppose to the guides reads such that if an extinguisher is 'necessary' then it MUST be signed, unlike previous law (eg workplace regs)

The guides do not reflect this and only suggest signs where not obvious.

The ID type of sign is useful in selecting the correct extinguisher as oppose to identifying it & is the only sign of choice as the extinguisher picto alone isn't much use

[kurnal]

Article 13 actually says:" where necessary  in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons the responsible person must ensure that  b) any non automatic fire fighting equipment so provided is easily accessible, simple to use and indicated by signs."


NB WHERE NECESSARY . Ah! good old risk assessment again and not a prescriptive MUST.

[Jim Creak]

Signs are like any other provision in fire safety...They can if applied correctly and appropriately help the Responsible Person satisfy the obligation, duty and legislative requirement  to instruct,inform,train, educate,locate and identify risk, measures and fire safety arrangements, plans ,procedures and practice for building occupants.

Fire Safety Signs that conform to Standards are an excellent, simple and effective method of Standardised communication.

In respect to First Aid Fire Fighting Equipment the Responsible Person has two significant obligations Location and Identification, In respect to 1 LOCATION and the risk assessment Essex Fire Authority publish statistics that show that 80% of Staff are unaware of the location of fire extinguishers... This is a significant finding in any risk assessment which fires great caverns in the hearsay evidence that they are obvious? The Health and Safety(Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 as implemented in 1998 requires the findings of the risk assessment as above before the minimum requirement applies? Can you ingnore the findings of a Fire Authority?

Secondly 2 IDENTIFICATION the body of EN3 Extinguishers have  safety sign graphical symbols to which a meaning has been assigned for class of fire without any explanation or tested meaning. The risk associated with misunderstanding is significant and should require fire safety management training, instruction and information. Indeed in our own premises we have a 27A rated Gloria WATER Fire Extinguisher that informs us that it is safe for Electrical Fire?

This situation creates a situation of significant risk for the Responsible person...I suggest that clear signs used appropriately in conjunction with formal familiarisation will satisfy all the legislative requirements and are fixed, permanent reminders that the Responsible Person has fulfilled their obligation completely. All for £2.50

[AnthonyB]

As an aside Water based extinguishers that have based the EN3 35kV dielectric test do not have to be marked as unsafe for electrical fires & can use the lightning flash symbol if desired - Firemaster, Total & UK Fire/Blazex extinguishers have the electrically safe lightning flash on water spray & foam spray extinguishers (Total like most German extinguishers do put a 1000V limit on usage)

I must admit if I'm going to sign an extinguisher I'll use the ones with the usage pictograms as the 'fire extinguisher here' symbol on its own seems a bit pointless when there is a big red thing clearly wall mounted.

[Fishy]

My other favourite is a tiny retail unit with only one fairly obvious door in it. They put an exit sign above it, just in case you cant remember how you got to the counter (2m from the door).

That's nothing.  Ive got a picture somewhere of a fire exit sign on the inside of the door of a toilet cubicle!

On the signage side - I always use them, in our buildings.  More to indicate where they should be kept and to make it easier to identify whether they've been moved / used / nicked.

[Jason Miller]

Selling fire extinguisher identity/location signs is an example of how an "upsell" has actually become a sensible idea.

Originally, if an extinguisher location was not clear, you'd stick a huge great sign up on the wall so everyone can see it. Then, cute little ones with the clever idea of adding the type and usage advice appeared and, thanks to people like Jim Creak of Jalite, in photoluminescent material.

Although many extinguisher companies sell them at rip-off prices - £6.00 is a rip-off - these signs:

a. show where the item is
b. show what the item is for in an easier way than reading the label on the extinguisher
c. show very clearly when an extinguihser is not where it should be

But, as for being a legal requirement, the lines are blurred but I'd say no, it's not if your risk assessment decides it's not necessary.

Jason