🇬🇧
Fire Safety · UK

Fire Safety Symbols - UK (BS 5839 / BS 5266)

These symbols are used on fire alarm system drawings, emergency lighting plans, and fire safety certificates in the UK. They follow BS 5839-1 for fire detection and alarm systems and BS 5266-1 for emergency lighting. Fire alarm engineers and fire risk assessors use these symbols to document installed systems.

This chart has 14 fire safety symbols used in the UK, in 4 groups: Detection & Alarm, Emergency Lighting, Suppression, Passive Fire Protection. Each entry gives the drawing, what it means and the standard it comes from (BS 5839-1 / BS 5266-1 / BS ISO 7010).

Last updated

Certs, quotes, invoices. Fill them in on site.

Get started
BS 5839-1 / BS 5266-1 / BS ISO 701014 symbols
Share on WhatsApp

Detection & Alarm

Manual Call Point (MCP)

Break glass fire alarm call point

BS 5839-1

OS

Optical Smoke Detector

Optical (photoelectric) smoke detector for fire alarm system

BS 5839-1

IS

Ionisation Smoke Detector

Ionisation chamber smoke detector

BS 5839-1

HD

Heat Detector

Fixed temperature or rate-of-rise heat detector

BS 5839-1

MS

Multi-Sensor Detector

Combined optical smoke and heat detector

BS 5839-1

S

Fire Alarm Sounder

Audible alarm sounder / bell

BS 5839-1

Visual Alarm Device (VAD)

Fire alarm visual beacon / strobe

BS 5839-1

FACP

Fire Alarm Control Panel

Main fire alarm control and indicating equipment (CIE)

BS 5839-1

Emergency Lighting

Maintained Emergency Light

Emergency luminaire that operates at all times (maintained mode)

BS 5266-1

Non-Maintained Emergency Light

Emergency luminaire that only operates on mains failure

BS 5266-1

EXIT

Illuminated Exit Sign

Emergency exit sign (maintained or non-maintained)

BS 5266-1 / BS ISO 7010

Suppression

Fire Extinguisher

Portable fire extinguisher location

BS 5306 / BS ISO 7010

Sprinkler Head

Automatic fire sprinkler head

BS EN 12845

Passive Fire Protection

FD

Fire Door

Fire-rated door assembly (FD30 / FD60)

BS 476 / BS EN 1634

All 14 at a glance

Fire Safety Symbols - UK (BS 5839 / BS 5266): each symbol, what it means and the standard it comes from
SymbolWhat it meansGroupStandard
Manual Call Point (MCP)Break glass fire alarm call pointDetection & AlarmBS 5839-1
Optical Smoke DetectorOptical (photoelectric) smoke detector for fire alarm systemDetection & AlarmBS 5839-1
Ionisation Smoke DetectorIonisation chamber smoke detectorDetection & AlarmBS 5839-1
Heat DetectorFixed temperature or rate-of-rise heat detectorDetection & AlarmBS 5839-1
Multi-Sensor DetectorCombined optical smoke and heat detectorDetection & AlarmBS 5839-1
Fire Alarm SounderAudible alarm sounder / bellDetection & AlarmBS 5839-1
Visual Alarm Device (VAD)Fire alarm visual beacon / strobeDetection & AlarmBS 5839-1
Fire Alarm Control PanelMain fire alarm control and indicating equipment (CIE)Detection & AlarmBS 5839-1
Maintained Emergency LightEmergency luminaire that operates at all times (maintained mode)Emergency LightingBS 5266-1
Non-Maintained Emergency LightEmergency luminaire that only operates on mains failureEmergency LightingBS 5266-1
Illuminated Exit SignEmergency exit sign (maintained or non-maintained)Emergency LightingBS 5266-1 / BS ISO 7010
Fire ExtinguisherPortable fire extinguisher locationSuppressionBS 5306 / BS ISO 7010
Sprinkler HeadAutomatic fire sprinkler headSuppressionBS EN 12845
Fire DoorFire-rated door assembly (FD30 / FD60)Passive Fire ProtectionBS 476 / BS EN 1634

Download this chart

Get a free branded PNG image of all 14 symbols. Print it, pin it to your workshop wall, or save it to your phone.

Share on WhatsApp

Frequently asked questions about fire safety symbols

Are fire alarm symbols standardised in the UK?
Yes. BS 5839-1 Annex A provides recommended symbols for fire detection and alarm system drawings. These are widely used across the industry for design, installation, and as-fitted drawings.
What is the difference between maintained and non-maintained emergency lighting?
Maintained emergency lights operate continuously (both from mains and battery). Non-maintained lights only switch on when the mains supply fails. The choice depends on the building use and fire risk assessment.
What do the detector abbreviations mean?
OS = Optical Smoke, IS = Ionisation Smoke, HD = Heat Detector, MS = Multi-Sensor. Multi-sensor detectors combine optical smoke and heat sensing, reducing false alarms while maintaining detection coverage.

Create fire safety certificates on your phone

153 certificate types, filled in on your phone and signed on site. Quotes and invoices too.

Get started free
Symbols based on BS 5839-1 / BS 5266-1 / BS ISO 7010. This is a reference guide only. Always consult the full standard for official symbol definitions.