On Aug 1st, China’s compulsory national standard on fire safety signs GB 13495.1-2015 took effect and replaced its 1992 predecessor.
Fire safety signs are combinations of geometric shapes, safety color and specified pictograms, serving as the visual tool to point people to the location of fire-fighting equipment, direct the paths to safety/exit in emergency and warn against the access to the fire and explosion area. According to the new standard, there are 27 fire safety signs under 6 categories namely the signs for fire alarm devices, emergency evacuation, fire extinguishers, prohibitions/warnings and directions and additional text messages.
3 signs newly added to the standard are:
Signs | Name |
| 消防电话 FIRE TELEPHONE |
| 推车式灭火器 WHEELED FIRE EXTINGUISHER |
| 消防炮 FIRE MONITOR |
Changes of the names are made to 6 signs
Signs | Old name (GB 1349-1992) | New name (GB 13495.1-2015) |
| 紧急出口 EXIT | 安全出口 EXIT |
(*Color changed from red to green) | 消防梯 FIRE LADDERS | 逃生梯 ESCAPE LADDER |
| 消防水带 FIRE HOSE | 消防软管卷盘 FIRE HOSE REEL |
| 当心火灾——易燃物质 DANGER OF FIRE – HIGHLY FLAMMABLE MATERIALS | 当心易燃物 WARNING: FLAMMABLE MATERIAL |
| 当心火灾——氧化物 DANGER OF FIRE – OXIDIZING MATERIALS | 当心氧化物 WARNING: OXIDIZING SUBSTANCE |
| 当心火灾——爆炸性物质 DANGER OF FIRE – EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS | 当心爆炸物 WARNING: EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL |
In addition, the graphic designs of 12 signs have been slightly modified.
