Emergency Lighting Design Guide – Signage

Part 2 – Signage

General

BS EN 1838 :2013 Clause 5 :

• Required to ensure ESCAPE ROUTES are apparent from any location
• Should be MAINTAINED mode where occupants may be unfamiliar with building
• Should be conspicuous
• The designer consider smoke accumulation when locating signs

Location

BS5499-4 :2013 Clause 4.5 states safety signs should be located :

• At all normal exits
• At all emergency exits
• Along escape routes
• Anywhere else if the route to the nearest exit is not clear

Requirements

All safety signs must have the below to comply to the relevant BS standards :

• BS5499 states the sign must have a green background (safety colour) and white pictogram (contrast colour)
• BS5266 states the sign must have a minimum illuminance of 2 cd/m3 on the safety colour
• BS5266 states the sign must have a contrast between the safety colour and the safety colour of >5:1 but <15:1
• BS5266 states the sign must have a ratio of the max-min luminance within contrast or safety colours of <10:1
• Signs shall be illuminated to at least 50% of the required luminance within 5 seconds and full required luminance within 60 seconds

Types

Maximum Viewing Distances

Use of Arrows

BS5499-4 :2013 Clause 4.8 states the use of signs as shown in the below table: