Fire Tested Wayfinding Signage for the Sign Trade.
Floor indicators, directories, and all major wayfinding signage inside buildings is concentrated around stairwells, lift lobbies, and main corridors, the very places where the spread and effects of fire are of most concern. These are the areas that need to resist the spread of fire, and protect occupants from the effects of fire as they make their escape from the building. Using the right materials for wayfinding signage in such critical locations is important.
Signage where safety must come first
Our etched stainless steel wayfinding signage, infilled using our unique paint system, allows the installation of the highest quality signs in high-rise and public buildings, student accommodation, and schools. Our digitally anoprinted interior wayfinding signage offers options for full colour graphics that will withstand harsh environments such as schools and social housing. Both products have been certified to have passed BS 476: Part 6: 1989 + A1: 2009 – Fire Propagation, and have achieved Class1: BS 476: Part 7: 1997 – Surface Spread of Flame, so are safe to use in situations where protection against the effects of fire are important.
There is much more to fire safety than the spread of fire. It is important that the signage that you install must not make the effects of fire more dangerous. Some materials that do not burn, or are even self-extinguishing, will give off dangerous amounts of toxic gases when part of a fire. Because our interior wayfinding signage is almost entirely metal, there is no substrate that can emit toxic gases that will make the effects of fire more dangerous. Our anoprinted aluminium also complies with the requirements of low smoke, zero halogen directives. If your client wants peace of mind, you can offer signage schemes that are safe.
Floor Number Signage Regulations
There are new regulations concerning fire safety signage for buildings with a top floor more than 11m above ground level. These relate to wayfinding signage for the Fire Service, and are likely to be an essential element of wayfinding signage for any building of four storeys or more. Any signage for protected stairways, firefighting stairs, firefighting lifts, and any protected corridor or lobby will have to meet these standards. You can read the relevant extracts from the regulations on our Technical Help Page.