Safety signs

Symbolic Safety Signs

Introduction

Signs are used in buildings for imparting information to the occupants, which is not obvious or apparent in any other way.

Safety signs are a particular type of such signs, which are displayed for the purpose of maintaining the well-being of the occupants of the building. It is important, therefore, that occupants are aware of the meaning and purpose of the signs and interpret them consistently.

In the past, safety signs designed and produced for each building or building type differed widely. Often signs contained words which some occupants were unable to understand either due to illiteracy or unfamiliarity with the two official languages.

There is a need to co-ordinate the design of such signs in the interest of safety and use nationally recognisable, standard symbols.

The International Organization for Standardization, of which South Africa is a member, has published recommendations for the use of symbolic safety signs. With this information as the base, the South African Bureau of Standards has designed the range of safety signs that follow. These are recommended for use throughout the Republic.

The signs are divided into four categories. Each type is recognisable by colour and also by shape, with one exception.

Colours

The colours shown in this document are only representative. The actual colours of the signs must to conform to SABS 1091 as shown in the table below.

Positioning of Signs

All safety signs must be placed where they can be easily seen and provide the best warning of the presence of a hazard. Generally they are best placed above eye level at a height above two metres. Obviously the sign should not be so placed as to create a hazard. To ensure that the sign is easily seen it may be necessary to place it at 90 degrees to the passage or walkway.

In atmosphere that contains corrosive chemicals, thermoplastic signs should be used.

Fixing of Signs

All signs that are not self-supporting should be attached to flat surfaced or backing plates. The edges of the backing plate should not protrude beyond the edges of the sign. The sign may be framed, but the frame should not dominate the sign and the visible area of the sign should conform to the sizes given above. For attaching the sign, galvanised nuts, bolts and washers should be used. In an atmosphere that contains corrosive chemicals, these nuts, bolts and washers should be coated. The colour of the heads of the rivets or bolts and nuts, should be the same as that part of the sign in which they are placed.

Suitable precautions should be taken to prevent the penetration of moisture into the joint between a metal sign and its support.

Lighting of Signs

If a sign is not illuminated adequately by means of natural lighting or the building is occupied during the hours of darkness, artificial lighting should be provided.

Published by
Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa
Incorporated Association not for Gain)
(Reg.No. 73/00022/08)
P O Box 15467
Impala Park
1472

Safety sign.pdf

People in Risk

Marcel Wood

Marcel Wood heads Etana’s risk management division. Before starting in insurance he worked for the fire department, rescuing people and (literally) putting out fires. He’s passed through Munich Re and Santam, and has designed the only risk management tool aimed specifically at the insurance industry – ARQ. Marcel is a mean guitarist, a brilliant vocalist and an accomplished soccer player with the personal motto: “Do your best all the time”.