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Fire safety signs and labels are meant to alert people and show them what to do during a fire emergency. The National Fire Protection Association regulates them, and every building is obligated to have them. Therefore, if you’re a business owner in AZ, the following guide is going to help you understand which emergency signs you should get.
Importance of Fire Safety Signs and Labels
Safety signs are vital as they can help millions of people survive fire emergencies. They communicate all the steps that the people involved need to take to survive and leave the facility without getting hurt.
Categories of Fire Safety Signs
Prohibition Signs
These signposts explain which activities are prohibited in the facilities to avoid starting a fire.
Mandatory Signs
Mandatory signs show actions that the person must do to protect themselves in a dangerous situation.
Warning Signs
These sign labels are meant to make people aware of potentially dangerous circumstances, such as flammable liquids in the location.
Fire Action Signs
Fire action signs are short visual cues that explain a list of procedures that the users must do once they know there is a fire.
Evacuation Signs
These green signs are meant to show where the fire exit is.
Fire Safety Equipment and Fire Extinguisher Signs
The fire safety tools signs are usually red and rectangular. They indicate where the firefighting equipment is. Example signs are fire extinguisher signs and fire hose signs.
[Read: 5 Tips to Avoid an Expensive Fire Extinguisher Repair]
First Aid Equipment Signs
If there’s a health emergency, these signs show where the first aid kits are located.
Safe Condition Signs
These signs show actions that the users must do during a fire emergency.
Fire Safety Sign Rules
Different types of businesses must follow different rules. Some of the most common differences are the following:
Fire Action Notice
These are mandatory for all types of buildings and offices. However, there are a wide variety of signs, and each business owner can choose the one that adapts better to their building.
Fire Exits
Fire exit signs aren’t mandatory in small spaces where finding the exit is easy, but in any other case, there must be at least one of these signs.
Types of Fire
Type A
This type includes only organic materials, such as wood and fabric.
Type B
Type B includes flammable liquids, such as gasoline and oil.
Type C
These are the fires caused by flammable gasses, such as methane.
Type D
Type D fires are caused by flammable metals, such as lithium and aluminum.
Type F
Finally, type F includes all kinds of cooking oils and fats.
Labeling Fire Extinguishers
When you find a fire extinguisher, you may notice different signs indicating which type of fire it must be used for. This is extremely important, as using the wrong one could have mortal consequences.
Color Code of Fire Safety Signs
Most NFPA signs are color-coded to indicate several different meanings. Some of the most common are the following.
Green
The color green is meant to help the user feel calm in the middle of the emergency, so it is used to indicate where the exits are.
Blue
On the other hand, blue signs indicate actions that must be followed to survive.
Red
Finally, red signs indicate danger. However, they could also show where to find the supplies.
[Read: Active and Passive Fire Protection: What’s the Difference?]
Keep Your Business Safe from Fire
Having a fire department connection and several signposts in your business is incredibly important to ensure you follow regulations and that all your clients stay safe.
If you want to plan for your home’s fire safety, read our guide on how to protect your home from a fire.
If you’re interested in finding the best fire and security systems in Arizona, get in touch with our fire security professionals at B&W Fire Security Services.
What fire safety signs are you using in your establishment? Let us know in the comments section below!
