What is a fire extinguisher ID sign?
We at Total Safe often get asked what purposes do fire extinguisher ID signs serve and what they consist of. Well, these are signs that show immediate identification of extinguishers. Not only this but it also gives safety information that states what type of fires it should/should not be used for. Although fire extinguisher ID signs are not mandatory for a business, the presence of them on your premises has multiple advantages. Later on in this article, the advantages will be further explained.
What do they look like and where can you find them?
Above every fire extinguisher, there should be either a square or rectangle sign that features a description of the type of extinguisher below it and its uses. Fire extinguisher ID signs are often found in different colours, usually varying from white, red and green. However, unless you have a chrome extinguisher, the background of the sign would be chrome instead of white. You may be wondering why each sign has the type of extinguisher on it but in a different colour. Well, all fire extinguishers are colour coded in order to help quickly identify it. This is the same as the ID sign, whatever fire extinguisher it is for, it will represent the correct colour. You can find these ID signs either fixed to the wall, attached to an extinguisher stand or just the extinguisher itself.
What are the advantages of using fire extinguisher ID signs?
The purpose of fire extinguisher signs is to show identification to the extinguisher below it and to give clear, written instructions, detailing which class of fire is suitable and not suitable for. This ensures that the person who uses the fire extinguisher in an emergency knows the correct one to use just by looking at the identification sign. If the wrong extinguisher is used for the wrong type of fire, this can be life-threatening.
Some ID signs are also photoluminescent meaning that they glow in the dark. In event of a power outage or if it’s just at night, they can still be seen if an emergency occurs and the person is then able to identify which extinguisher to use.
The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 states that safety signs and signals are required, despite putting in place all other relevant measures, a significant risk to the health and safety of employees and others remains. All signs must be clear and legible, however, using too many signs should be avoided as it could cause confusion.
The ID sign isn’t legally required, however, the fire extinguisher symbol itself is required to be displayed at all fire safety points so that people are aware of where the extinguishers are. These signs can display this as well as safety instructions. Although it is not compulsory, it is important to have them around your building near all fire extinguishers in case a staff member or a visitor gets injured at your workplace. This then allows them to file a lawsuit, resulting in the possible outcome of your business getting sued as you have not complied with the Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
Different fire extinguisher ID signs:
