Fire stairs are the one part of a building that has to work perfectly on the worst day. That means doors that close, stairs kept clear, and signs that tell residents to keep it that way and help firefighters find their way around a building they've never been in. This guide covers fire stair signs, plus the Fire and Rescue NSW wayfinding signs many NSW buildings now use.
Fire stair and fire door requirements come from the NCC, state fire safety rules and your building's approved documents. This guide is general information. Your certifier, fire safety engineer or fire services contractor has the final say.
1. Fire stair doors
- Fire stair door: keep closed
- Fire safety door: do not obstruct, do not keep open (silver)
- Do not disconnect or tamper with door closer
- Fire door keep closed with your own text
See our fire door signs guide and fire door wording guide.
2. Keep it clear
Bikes, boxes and old furniture in fire stairs are a common problem in apartment buildings, and a real danger in an evacuation.
3. Exits and roof access
4. Fire equipment in the stair
- Fire hose reel and hydrant and Fire extinguisher and fire hose reel
- Manual call point and Fire alarm call point
5. Fire and Rescue NSW wayfinding signs
In NSW, Fire and Rescue NSW guidance helps firefighters find their way in large or complex buildings. We make signs designed around that guidance:
- Building area and level identification for exit doors and lift lobbies.
- Building entry point sign: names the floors or areas each exit door serves.
- ESIP location sign: points crews to the Emergency Services Information Package.
- ESIP missing label
These are made to order with your building's details. Confirm the content with your fire safety engineer or certifier before ordering.
More Fire and Rescue NSW items: ESIP folder cover label ยท Designated site entry point, emergency vehicle access ยท Impulse fan switch label ยท Impulse fan block plan board ยท BESS enclosure visual warning device sign ยท Waste facility layout plan sign. Your fire safety engineer or FRNSW guidance will confirm what your building needs.
Strata: check them every year
Fire stair signs get damaged, painted over or removed. Add them to your annual fire safety walk-through. See our strata facilities sign audit.
Frequently asked questions
Can the signs match our building's colours?
Many fire stair signs come in silver, gold, white and black. See our colourways guide.
Can I order signs for every level?
Yes. Buy 25 or more of the same sign to save an extra 5%, 50+ to save 10%, or 150+ to save 15%, applied automatically. Every sign is made to order and dispatched in 2โ3 business days.
Related: E-bike and e-scooter charging signs
Looking for something else? Browse every guide in our Sign Guide Library.
