What shape and color is a fire extinguisher sign?

It is a square or rectangular sign with a red background and a white pictogram of the extinguisher (Annex E).

What does a yellow triangular sign signify?

It indicates a warning of a hazard or danger, such as 'Flammable Material' or 'Risk of Electric Shock' (Clause 6 & Table 1).

What is the basic design for a 'No Smoking' sign?

It's a prohibition sign: circular shape with a red border, white background, a black pictogram of a cigarette, and a red diagonal bar across it (Clause 5 & Annex A).

What are the four main types of safety signs as per this code?

Prohibition, Warning, Mandatory Action, and Safe Condition signs (Clause 3).

IS 12349

: 1988

Fire protection-safety signs

CurrentEssentialSpecificationBIMFire Safety · Fire Safety

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This standard specifies the requirements for fire protection safety signs. It classifies signs into prohibition, warning, mandatory, and safe condition categories, defining their shape, color, and graphical symbols to ensure clear and uniform communication for fire safety in various premises.

Fire protection-safety signs

Quick Reference Values

Prohibition Sign ShapeCircular with red border and diagonal bar

Warning Sign ShapeEquilateral triangle with black border

Mandatory Action Sign ShapeCircular

Safe Condition / Escape Route Sign ShapeRectangular or square

Prohibition Sign Primary ColourRed

Warning Sign Primary ColourYellow

Mandatory Action Sign Primary ColourBlue

Safe Condition Sign Primary ColourGreen

Practical Notes

This standard is critically referenced in the National Building Code of India (NBC), Part 4 'Fire and Life Safety', which governs the placement and requirements of such signs in buildings.

For international projects or to ensure wider comprehension, consider using graphical symbols from ISO 7010, which are now widely adopted in India.

Ensure that escape route and fire equipment signs are made of photoluminescent materials, allowing them to be visible during a power outage or smoke-filled conditions.