🔒 General Provisions (Based on DBJ01-611-2002, Partial Excerpt)
To ensure proper design and installation of fire safety evacuation signs, and to safeguard human life, reduce fire hazards, and facilitate emergency rescue efforts, the following standards have been established. These guidelines apply to the design, construction, acceptance, and maintenance of fire evacuation signage systems in newly built, renovated, or expanded civil buildings, including dual-purpose civil defense projects (used in both peacetime and wartime).
1. Compliance Requirements:
- Evacuation signs must comply with national fire safety laws, building codes, and quality control regulations.
- Products used for fire evacuation signage must be certified by the national fire product quality inspection and testing center.
- All design, installation, and maintenance work should conform not only to this standard but also to all other applicable national codes and industry regulations.
🏢 Where Fire Evacuation Signs Must Be Installed
To reduce confusion in emergencies and provide clear evacuation guidance, the following types of buildings and facilities are required to install compliant fire safety evacuation signage:
a) High-Rise Civil Buildings
All high-rise buildings used for civil purposes must be equipped with evacuation signs.
🚫 Note: Category II high-rise residential units with compartmentalized unit structures may be exempt.
b) Public Assembly Spaces
Locations where large numbers of people gather, especially when escape routes may be complex or limited, such as:
- Theaters, cinemas, stadiums, exhibition halls, auditoriums
- Entertainment venues
- Shops larger than 1,000 m² (excluding open or semi-open markets)
- Restaurants and food courts larger than 500 m²
c) Healthcare & Welfare Facilities
Facilities serving vulnerable populations must provide clear evacuation guidance:
- Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, kindergartens, nurseries
- Elderly care homes, assisted living facilities
d) Transport & Transit Hubs
Evacuation signs must be installed in:
- Airport terminals
- Intercity and long-distance bus stations
- Railway stations, subways, and public transport interchanges
e) Large Vehicle Garages
Parking garages (either standalone or attached) with more than 50 parking spaces.
f) Mixed-Use & Educational Buildings
Multi-purpose public buildings including:
- Commercial complexes, office buildings, hotels
- Libraries, archives, teaching and academic buildings
- Student dormitories, research institutes
g) Underground and Semi-Underground Spaces
Including:
- Underground or semi-underground buildings
- Civil defense shelters with dual-use functions in both peace and wartime
💡 International Comparison & Extended Guidance
In European and North American fire safety systems, similar standards are outlined in regulations such as:
- NFPA 101 (USA) – Life Safety Code
- EN 1838 (EU) – Lighting applications for emergency lighting
- ISO 16069 – Safety way guidance systems (SWGS)
All these standards emphasize visibility, durability, and reliability of evacuation signage under power loss or smoke conditions.
✅ Key Features of Compliant Evacuation Signs:
- Photoluminescent or self-luminous materials for visibility during blackouts
- Directional arrows and floor-level mounting for low-visibility evacuation
- Signs must be fire-retardant, impact-resistant, and long-lasting
- Installed at critical points: exits, stairwells, intersections, elevators (with “Do Not Use in Fire” signs)
📐 Recommended Design Best Practices
To meet both local regulations and international expectations:
- 🔹 Install signage at regular intervals along escape routes
- 🔹 Ensure signs are clearly visible from all points in a corridor or room
- 🔹 Include tactile or braille signage in facilities serving visually impaired individuals
- 🔹 Test visibility under emergency lighting conditions, including smoke simulation
- 🔹 Use standardized pictograms and colors in line with ISO 7010 for global recognition
📌 Conclusion
Fire safety evacuation signage is not just a legal requirement, but a life-saving measure. Whether in public buildings, transit hubs, or care facilities, proper placement and maintenance of signage can drastically improve evacuation effectiveness and reduce panic in emergencies. If you’re designing or managing international building projects, make sure your signage solutions are certified, visible, and code-compliant—everywhere, every time.