Fire Prevention Week and Emergency Preparedness Signs

Fire Prevention Week is the perfect time to reevaluate fire safety protocols and signs at your school, building or office. Since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has sponsored Fire Prevention Week during the week of October 9^th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871. The goal of Fire Prevention Week, according to the NFPA, is for children, adults and teachers to learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. Schools across the nation teach students about fire and emergency safety and firefighters often provide resources and information to the public to decrease the devastation fires can cause.

The 2021 Fire Prevention Week theme was “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” and focused on educating the public about the different sounds smoke and carbon monoxide alarms can make. Fire Prevention Week is a great time to educate employees, students, staff, residents and anyone else who uses your facility about what to do in the case of an emergency. Also review your fire and emergency evacuation protocols and conduct an audit of your fire and emergency signage to ensure it is up to code and that it effectively communicates fire-related safety messages.

The Importance of Fire and Emergency Signage

When fires or other emergencies occur, a lot can happen in seconds. The appropriate signage—along with emergency preparedness protocols—can make all the difference in keeping staff, guests, students or residents safe. Your building’s fire and emergency signs help people react quickly should they find themselves in an emergency and the right safety signs can even help prevent a fire from occurring in the first place. Fire extinguisher signs and other signs help people find fire equipment like  extinguishers, fire hoses and fire alarms and the nearest emergency exit route, muster point or area of refuge.

Keep Your Building Compliant with Fire Codes

The safety of your guests, residents or employees should be your number one priority but keeping your building compliant with local and national fire codes is also important. Most codes are set at the local or state level. That being said, many state and municipal codes pull guidance from the standards set by the NFPA, the International Fire Code, the International Building Code and ANSI.

Any place of business is also protected by OSHA and the ADA—both of which set requirements for emergency exit signage. Even if you’re running a school or apartment building, you’re likely employing teachers, security guards or front office staff, so your building likely qualifies as a business. Read up on each of these regulations and be sure to check in with your local fire and building ordinances to make sure your facility is up to code.

Fire Exit Signs

Easy-to-read Emergency Contact 911 signs provide key information to employees and visitors – and help you comply with building fire codes.

All the Fire and Emergency Signage You Need

As you make a list of the important fire and emergency signage you need for your facility, be sure to include these important safety signs. And if you need help determining which signs are right for you, reach out to the experts at ComplianceSigns.

Fire Exit Signs
Clearly marking fire and emergency exits is not only essential to student, resident and employee safety, but it’s legally mandated. You also need to ensure those signs have raised Braille characters to adhere to ADA standards and ensure everyone in your facility can make a safe exit in the case of an emergency. Direct people to the nearest exit and make sure emergency exits remain clear with fire exit signs.

Emergency Evacuation Signs
In addition to marking emergency exit doors, you need to make sure everyone in your building knows the quickest evacuation route for any emergency. Guide people to safety with electric and glow in the dark emergency exit signs, evacuation route signs and signs that point to the various types of refuge areas.

 Area of Rescue / Refuge Signs
Sometimes, exiting the building is not the safest course of action. Some emergencies require people to shelter in a safe place. Area of rescue and area of refuge signs indicate where visitors and employees should shelter in the case of severe weather, tornadoes and tsunamis. They also identify areas where people with disabilities should go in the event of an emergency that requires evacuation.

Emergency Contact Signs
Make sure anyone who walks into your building knows what to do, where to go and who to call in case of an emergency. Print a custom sign with emergency phone numbers, including 911 and the numbers of your police department, local hospital, poison control and other numbers your staff or visitors might need if they believe someone is in danger.

Fire Equipment and Extinguisher Signs
Occasionally, your staff might run into a situation where they are able to stop a fire from spreading. Help the adults—and emergency responders—in your facility find the fire extinguishers, fire alarms, sprinklers, fire hose and fire department connection with safety signs that clearly identify them. Be sure to also grab fire extinguisher inspection tags to keep on top of inspections, so you know your extinguishers will work should you ever need them.

FEMA Safe Room Signs
If your facility is looking to comply with FEMA Safe Room Guidelines, we can help. We offer reflective, glow-in-the-dark FEMA safe room tornado, hurricane and combined shelter signs to ensure everyone remains safe and your building is compliant.

Muster Point Signs
In emergency situations and even practice drills, teachers and office managers are tasked with helping students or employees safely and swiftly exit the building. And once you’re out the door, students and employees are typically told to gather in a designated space, so you can get a headcount and make sure everyone made it out safely. Clearly identify these meeting points with muster point or meeting place signs, so everyone knows where to gather.

No Smoking Signs
One of the best ways to keep people safe from a fire is to prevent one from starting in the first place. Make sure matches and lighters are not used on your property—and encourage healthy habits—with “no smoking” signage posted throughout your building.

Chemical Safety Signs and Labels
The flammable materials stored in maintenance closets, manufacturing facilities and chemistry labs need to be handled with care in order to avoid fires and or combustion. Make sure all chemicals are properly labeled and the appropriate flammable-liquid signage is posted so people understand the dangers present when near chemicals. You may even take things one step further and post Do Not Enter signs on any rooms that contain chemicals that unauthorized personnel shouldn’t have access to.

Unique Signs for Unique Needs

Not finding the exact sign you’re looking for? Or are you interested in printing safety signs in your school colors or with your company logo on it? ComplianceSigns offers customizable signs and labels, designed to meet your needs. Adjust the size, shape, colors or images of an existing sign or design a completely customized sign from scratch. Whatever your needs, ComplianceSigns can make it happen.

Ready to shop? Browse through our fire and emergency signs to find everything you need to keep students, residents, employees and staff safe and ensure your building is compliant.