Search for "exit sign" and you'll find two very different products: the illuminated green running-man boxes above doors in every shopping centre, and printed signs that say "Emergency Exit" or "Fire Exit" on a door or gate. Both have a place, but they aren't interchangeable. Here's how to tell which one you need.
Illuminated exit signs: required by the building rules
In most commercial, industrial and multi-residential buildings, the National Construction Code (NCC) requires exit signs above required exits and directional exit signs along the path of travel where the exit isn't obvious. Those signs must meet AS/NZS 2293.1 (emergency lighting and exit signs for buildings). They're light fittings with battery backup, designed to stay visible when the power fails, and they're installed, tested and maintained by electricians.
A printed sign does not replace a required illuminated exit sign.
Printed exit signs: identification and wayfinding
Printed exit signs are used alongside the illuminated system and in places that don't need it. Common uses include:
- Exit door faces: "Emergency Exit" or "Fire Exit" on the door itself, so it's clear the door is an exit when approached from the side or at close range.
- Exit hardware instructions: "Push bar to open" and similar signs on panic bars and latches.
- Gates, sheds and outdoor areas: external gates on egress routes, warehouse roller-door areas, farm sheds, construction site compounds and event spaces.
- "Keep clear" messages: "Emergency exit – do not obstruct" on the outside of exit doors, loading docks and car park doors, where deliveries or parked cars tend to block them.
- Directional arrows on large outdoor sites where illuminated signs aren't practical.
The right colours
Emergency information signs, including exit signs, use white symbols and text on green, following AS 1319 conventions. The running-man pictogram is widely recognised, so pairing it with short text works even for visitors who don't read English well.
Exit-related notices for fire doors and stairs
Fire-isolated stairs and fire doors often carry their own notices, such as "Fire safety door – do not obstruct – do not keep open". In NSW, buildings with fire-isolated exits may also need the prescribed "Offence relating to fire exits" notice. Read our NSW offence relating to fire exits guide and our exit and egress signage guide.
Choosing a printed exit sign
- Vinyl sticker for door faces and glass.
- ACP or aluminium for walls, gates and outdoor locations.
- Reflective for outdoor signs that need to be seen with torches or headlights.
Exit and egress requirements depend on the building class and approved design. Your certifier or fire safety practitioner has the final say on what's required.