Standards › Standard 2B › Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Standard operating procedure (SOP) · ENV-SOP-003 · Version 1.1 · Approved by the ASF Expert Committee
Supports: 2B.8
At a glance
- Sign every evacuation route, emergency exit, restroom, and department or procedure door, not only the entrance.
- Use one signage style across the building, with the same words and symbols.
- Survey the whole building against the sign list each quarter, with photos.
- Replace missing or damaged signs within 14 days.
- Stop and get help straight away if: an evacuation route or emergency exit is unsigned or blocked by a sign or object.
1. Purpose
To make evacuation routes, emergency exits, restrooms and department doors clearly signed throughout the facility, so that people can find them without help [EC].
2. Scope
| Applies to | Facilities, fire safety, reception and department managers |
| Locations | All internal and external routes at the facility |
| When | At design, at any change, and quarterly check |
| Does not apply to | Wayfinding from the entrance, covered separately under the access standards |
3. Definitions
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Evacuation sign | A sign showing an escape route or exit, lit or reflective as the fire rules require (EC) |
| Signage survey | A list of every sign in the building, with its location, condition and photo |
4. Background
Evacuation drills alone do not show that signs exist throughout the building. A survey and quarterly check do. Criterion 2B.8 asks for complete signage, not only at the entrance.
5. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility | Competence |
|---|---|---|
| Facilities manager | Owns the survey and sign plan; arranges repairs | Facilities competence |
| Fire safety officer | Confirms evacuation signs meet fire rules | Fire safety competence |
| Department heads | Report missing or damaged signs in their area | Induction |
6. Materials and equipment
| Item | Requirement | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Sign plan (list of every required sign) | Current; locations marked on floor plans | Current |
| Sign stock | Standard design and language set by the committee (EC) | Stocked for replacement |
7. Safety
- Never block an exit sign or evacuation route with another sign or object.
- Use signs with the lighting and reflectivity the fire rules require.
8. Before you start
- Use the latest floor plans and the sign plan.
9. Procedure
Step 1. Make the sign plan.
- List every required sign: evacuation routes, exits, assembly points, restrooms, and every department and procedure door.
- Mark each location on the floor plan.
Key point: A sign that is not on the plan is missed at every check.
Step 2. Survey the building.
- Walk the whole building against the plan.
- Record each sign: present, missing, damaged or blocked, with a photo.
Key point: The survey is the evidence. Photos show what the sign looks like in use.
Step 3. Replace and fix.
- Replace or repair any missing, damaged or unreadable sign within 14 days.
- Remove any sign that is no longer correct.
- Clear any blocked sign at once.
Key point: A missing exit sign is a fire risk on the day it is needed.
Step 4. Check quarterly.
- Repeat the survey every quarter.
- Record the result on ENV-FRM-005.
Key point: Quarterly checks catch the signs that are removed by cleaning, works or moving furniture.
Step 5. Check on change.
- After any change of use, refit or new door, check the signs within 14 days.
Key point: Changes are when signs are most often lost.
10. Decision points
- If an evacuation sign is missing, the fire safety officer is informed the same shift, and a temporary sign is fitted.
11. Special situations
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Temporary works or closures | Fit temporary signs for the diversion and remove them at completion. |
12. Escalation
- Missing evacuation signage is reported to the fire safety officer at once.
13. Monitoring
| Measure | Target | Frequency | Owner | If not met |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signs present against the sign plan | 100% | Quarterly | Facilities manager | Replace within 14 days |
| Missing signs replaced within 14 days | 100% | Monthly | Facilities manager | Escalate to chief executive |
| Evacuation signs checked by fire safety officer | 100% | Quarterly | Fire safety officer | Immediate correction |
14. Records
| Record | Kept in | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Sign plan | Facilities file | Current, plus history for the period set by the facility’s records policy years |
| ENV-FRM-005 Signage Survey and Quarterly Check | Facilities file | the period set by the facility’s records policy years |
15. Training
- Facilities staff are trained in the sign standard and survey method (EC).
16. Related documents
| ID | Title | Use |
|---|---|---|
| ENV-FRM-005 | Signage Survey and Quarterly Check | Used in step 4 |
| EMG-SOP-001 | Fire Safety and Evacuation | Evacuation routes |
| SOP-N22 | Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Policy | Accessible signage |
17. Evidence
| Reference | Note |
|---|---|
| E-009 | ASF Expert Committee consensus. Sign standard and lighting to be checked against national fire and accessibility rules. |
18. Change history
| Version | Date | What changed | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | the date of approval | First version | Approved by the ASF Expert Committee |
| 1.1 | the date of approval | Internal quality review: corrected cross-references, status wording and document control | Approved by the ASF Expert Committee |
E-learning for this document
Planned course: Facility signage. New course planned.
References
- Accréditation Sans Frontières (2026). ASF Expert Committee consensus on Standard 1. (E-009)