Luminous safety signs

Illuminated signs

The sign has to be bright enough to be seen, without causing glare.

Care should be taken to ensure that a number of illuminated signs are not used together if this could give rise to confusion. Confusion could also arise if an illuminated sign is placed close to any other similar light source. 

The luminous area of the sign may be of a single safety colour or contain a pictogram on a specified background consistent with the requirements of Schedule 1 of the Regulations.

If an illuminated sign can be either ‘on’ continuously or operate intermittently (ie flash on and off), use the flashing sign to indicate a higher level of danger or a more urgent need for intervention or action.

The duration and frequency of flashes for an intermittent illuminated sign should be such as to ensure the message is properly understood, and avoid any confusion with other illuminated signs, including continuous illuminated signs. 

If a flashing sign is used instead of, or together with, an acoustic signal, it is important to synchronise the two. This means that the duration and frequency of flashes should be in line with both the pulse length and interval for an acoustic signal. The choice of equipment and the way it operates, of course, must take account of other risks. For example, with fast flicker rates epilepsy could be triggered in some people or, in other cases, some types of electronic pulse could be a danger in respect of stores containing certain explosives.

Where flashing signs are used to warn of imminent danger, it is particularly important to ensure that measures are in place to either detect failure of the sign quickly or to prevent its failure (eg by fitting duplicate bulbs etc)