Rank: Forum user 
|
Fire extinguishers signs are normally photoluminscent as this finish will grow for upto 20 mins in the dark and will aid perosn on the escape route out (so I am lead to beleive) but I have noticed that many places now have silver or aluminium signs or even white. What are the exact rules or are there any ruels on sign types please? Also, if an extiguisher can be easily seen even in emergency lighting, does it have to have a sign at all? I was always under the impression it did but a recent encounter with 'a fire expert' mentioned that this idea was false? Any guidance?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
One of the great cons of the fire equipment industry - displaying additional fire extinguisher signs.
If the extinguishers are so positioned as to be clearly visible there is no need for additional signage.
Fire equipment companies like to say so, so they can sell the signs and make extra profit.
Source of information: West Yorkshire Fire Service guidance. Other guidance also available, which says the same.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
JJ Prendergast wrote:
If the extinguishers are so positioned as to be clearly visible there is no need for additional signage.
They often seem to me like putting up a great big sign saying "Caution: there's a great big sign here so don't walk into it". The fire extinguisher is blatantly obvious - it's not like I'm not going to realise that the big red cylindrical thing with black handles and a black hose isn't a fire extinguisher. Nor do I have numerous other red cylindrical things that aren't fire extinguishers littered about the place. Nor, shoudl I find a fire, will I decide not to use a fire extinguisher I espy that doesn't have a sign adjacent to it. The only purpose for a fire extinguisher sign is to highlight where there's supposed to be one, so that it can be hunted down if it has gone walkabout. That doesn't need large expensive photo-luminescent signs, in my view. My office does have luminous signs by the extinguishers, as it happens, but small ones that just identify whether there's a supposed to be a water or a CO2 one at that location (or powder for the one place we have a powder one). They are luminous only because the small neat signs that did the job from our normal supplier happened to be luminous.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
To be fair, they can be useful for showing when an extinguisher is missing, and a reminder of they type and class of fire they can be used. We considered installing them in our head office, but as we have circa 750 extinguishers, for the signs and labour it all got too expensive for a 'nice-to-have' item
BUT (as others have said) they are not a requirement. The law says signs are required 'where necessary'. So unless the extinguisher is hidden (in a box, behind a curtain etc) they are not a must have sign
Another fire sign which states the bleeding obvious is the manual call point sign ( a sort of clenched hand with out stretched index finger pointing at a MCP). What is the point when most call point locations are obvious?
But my favourite is where there's a fire exit sign when there's only one route. A perfect example of this is in IOSH's training room at their HQ (just off the reception area). It's a large lecture room with one door - and above that door, a huge oversized fire exit sign!!! You couldn't make it up!! :)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Yes , more examples of the fire equipment industry making money . Another would be the installation fee they try to charge. Its a hook and a couple of screws and how much do they think they can charge, quite often a few quid? Well its nothing from me - nor any thing on ID signs. Anybody any further examples of unwanted and expensive nice to haves, but not needed guidance,signs in health and safety.
SBH
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
One thing to bear in mind is peripheral obstacles. A fire extinguisher might be blatantly obvious from one side of a room but if there are tables/plants etc obstructing its view from another angle then a 'high level' sign can be seen as useful I guess?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
jacqui wrote:Fire extinguishers signs are normally photoluminscent as this finish will grow for upto 20 mins in the dark and will aid perosn on the escape route out (so I am lead to beleive) but I have noticed that many places now have silver or aluminium signs or even white. What are the exact rules or are there any ruels on sign types please? Also, if an extiguisher can be easily seen even in emergency lighting, does it have to have a sign at all? I was always under the impression it did but a recent encounter with 'a fire expert' mentioned that this idea was false? Any guidance? Did you type this with your nose?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.