ISO Fire Equipment Signs
Red square or rectangular signs identify fire equipment and manual alarm points.
ISO fire equipment signs show where to find firefighting equipment and fire alarm devices: extinguishers, hose reels, alarm call points, fire blankets, fire doors, and firefighters' lifts. They answer one question, "where is it?", so they are mounted where they can be seen even when the equipment itself is hidden by people, racking, or smoke.
Fire equipment signs share red with prohibition signs but not the shape. A red square means "fire equipment here"; a red circle with a bar means "do not". A fire equipment sign does not tell anyone which extinguisher type suits which fire, or whether they should fight the fire at all. That depends on training and the site emergency plan.
Finding equipment does not mean it is suitable or safe to use. Follow your training and the site emergency procedure.
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Extinguishers and blankets
Hoses and monitors
Alarms and communication
Fixed extinguishing systems
Access, doors and lifts
Where fire equipment signs come from
ISO 7010 registers the pictograms; ISO 3864-1 sets the colors, shapes, and layout rules they are drawn to. In the EU, Directive 92/58/EEC sets minimum requirements for safety signs at work, and its annex requires the red to cover at least half of a firefighting sign's area. The UK implements the same requirements through the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, and both markets publish ISO 7010 as EN ISO 7010.
In the United States, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145 and the ANSI Z535 series govern accident-prevention signs. ISO pictograms are widely used inside ANSI Z535 layouts, but the ANSI format adds signal words and text panels that an ISO sign does not carry. Australia uses AS 1319. Always check the rules for the site where the sign will be installed.
Frequently asked questions
What does a red square sign mean?
A red square or rectangle with a white pictogram is an ISO 7010 fire equipment sign. It shows the location of firefighting or fire alarm equipment, such as an extinguisher (F001), hose reel (F002), or alarm call point (F005).
Should a fire extinguisher sign show the extinguisher type?
The F001 pictogram is the same for every extinguisher type. Many sites add an identification panel stating the agent (water, foam, CO2, powder, wet chemical) and the fire classes it is suitable for. Requirements vary by country and are covered by OSHA 1910.157 in the US and by national fire standards elsewhere.
Can a fire equipment sign have an arrow?
Yes. ISO 7010 fire equipment signs are often combined with a directional arrow on a supplementary sign to lead people to equipment that is out of sight. The arrow panel uses the same red and white colors.