When we think of fire safety we often mistakenly think of evacuation maps alone, but these don’t represent the broad range of signs that can be deemed to contribute to fire safety or be under the purview of local fire departments. Take for example stair identification signs like the one pictured. These are required in commercial buildings, and each stairwell has to be labeled consecutively and identify if it allows for roof access or not. They must also clearly identify which is the exit floor.
There are also signs that identify specific fire equipment and where such equipment is located. Alarm pulls, where the hose equipment is and the like must also be clearly marked so that they are easily identified in the case of an emergency. Not to mention the decals and overhead labels that tell us where the fire extinguishers are located. In fact, SignWorks produces lots of fire extinguisher identification signs for our client Trader Joe’s.
In addition to producing evacuation maps for several large construction projects that comply with local guidelines (both for San Francisco and Oakland), SignWorks has been instrumental in guiding clients through the sometimes cumbersome approval process required by local fire departments. It is not just a matter of insuring that we fabricate using non-glare acrylic lens or that we understand the sizing of the map area and how the symbols are to be represented, but each city has its own unique requirements. When hallways are especially long, a map of directional arrow may be a required addition. And if that’s not enough, each individual fire inspector has lots of latitude and can call for additional signs if deemed necessary for d=safety reasons!
If you are a property owner, manager or contractor, it is in your best interest to work with a sign company that is knowledgeable in the area of fire safety signs. You need look no further than SignWorks! Connect with us online by going to our website or you can call us at (510) 357-2000. We’re excited about the prospect of working with you!