Regulations around Wayfinding Signage

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 made it a legal requirement from 23 January 2023 for all high-rise residential buildings in England to install wayfinding signage in their buildings [as defined by The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 as a building at least 18 metres in height or at least 7 storeys].This includes clear markings identifying floor and individual flat numbers.

This new requirement comes as a result of The Grenfell Tower Phase 1 report which noted that in the building, stairwell landings were not clearly marked with the relevant floor number and so fire-fighters were unable to easily identify floors when carrying out their duties. The Inquiry recommended (Recommendation 33.27) that in all high-rise buildings floor numbers be clearly marked on each landing within the stairways and in a prominent place in all lobbies in such a way as to be visible both in normal conditions and in low lighting or smoky conditions.

Installing signage in existing high-rise residential buildings can, in the event of a fire, assist the Fire and Rescue Service in navigating their way round a building; even when visibility is low. Signage should conform to the specification and locations set out in paragraph 15.14 to 15.16 of Approved Document Volume 1 2019 edition incorporating 2020 amendments.

In summary, rules about format and positioning of Signage are very specific

• Floor Identification Signs must be installed on every landing of a protected stairway, corridor/lobby into which a firefighting lift opens.

• The typeface used should be sans-serif with a minimum letter height of 50mm

• Numerals on the Floor Identification signage should be a minimum height of 75mm.

• Signs should be visible from the top step of a firefighting stair and where possible, from inside a firefighting lift when the lift doors open.

• All Floor identification signs should be supplemented by Flat Indicator Signs which provide info relating to the flats accessed on each floor.

• Flat Indicator signs should be separate to Floor Identification signs, and there are specific rules again relating to their format, location and positioning.

• Wording should be supplemented by directional arrows and text and arrows should be on a contrasting background, easily legible and readable in low level lighting conditions or when illuminated with a torch.

To ensure your wayfinding scheme is fully compliant contact us for more information.