That's great question Jacqui and one I have been asking for a long time - and I extend that to all fire action notices, especially those adjacent to manual call points.

My view is that there is plenty of guidance, but no firm legislation to make such signs mandatory. I suggest this is a legacy issue from the Fire Precaution Act 1971 where (usually) the fire service laid down what fire safety precautions were necessary in larger buildings including Fire Action Notices (FANs) and signs, by way of plans attached to a Fire Certificate.

For the life of me, I cannot under why a FAN would be useful adjacent to a manual call point. These are usually in busy circulation spaces near staircases and by exits from the building. Not the best place to stop and read it - especially during an evacuation.

We have been more pragmatic/creative and have installed ours where staff gather such as in tea points and noticeboards, plus where we have a captive audience (hungry for something to read) - such as the rear of toilet cubicle doors!!

So if anyone can point to legislation (not guidance) re the location of requirement for FANs, I would be interested to see it

Thanks for the replies.

I agree that to have a FAN by the call point or exit point is not good because all that is on your mind is to get out and not stand, search for your reading glasses to read the instructions whilst you are being trampled on or/and blocking an exit.


For hotel rooms I personally would say Yes a notice with a plan is necessary as many visitors may not understand English and a picture is the universal language and tells a story. However, for the image aspect - a sign is regarded as poor taste thus if do not a mandatory formal legal regulation or statement then it is out of the window and regardless if it is best practice until, the 'event or loss of life' occurs and the question is asked 'Why did you not tell me I needed one?'

What fun H&S is.