Placing Emergency Exit and Escape Route Signs

What rules apply to emergency exit signs?

An emergency exit sign exists so that people can find the way out of a building filled with smoke or without power. The assessment therefore starts not with "is a sign hanging there?" but with "can it be seen from every point of the building under the worst conditions?"

Three sets of rules apply together:

• Art. 73 of the Regulation on the Fire Protection of Buildings (BYKHY): Emergency wayfinding is provided in all buildings with more than one exit, and the planned exit route from every point inside the building is shown by emergency exit signs. Size, height, viewing distance and operating time are given in figures in this article.
• Annex 1, Art. 10 of the Regulation on Workplace Buildings and Annexes: Emergency exit routes and doors are marked in accordance with the safety signs legislation, and signs are kept in suitable places and made permanent. Exit routes that require lighting have emergency lighting connected to a separate power source in case of a power cut.
• Regulation on Health and Safety Signs: Emergency exit and first aid signs have a white pictogram on a green background.

Under Art. 73 of the BYKHY, wayfinding signs carry the word "EXIT" for exits used in normal times and "EMERGENCY EXIT" for exits to be used in emergencies (in Turkish on signs in Türkiye). We explain the general framework of colour and shape rules for signs in our article on health and safety signs, and escape route widths and door rules in our article on escape route and emergency exit rules. This article focuses on the placement of signs.

Viewing distance: how is sign size calculated?

Art. 73 of the BYKHY links the maximum distance from which a sign can be seen to the sign's height:

• Externally or edge-lit sign: maximum viewing distance is 100 times the sign height.
• Internally or back-lit (illuminated) emergency wayfinding unit: maximum viewing distance is 200 times the sign height.
• Sign height may in no case be less than 15 cm.

Example calculations under this rule:

In practice the calculation is done in reverse: measure the distance from the furthest point of a corridor to the sign and choose the sign height accordingly. The Regulation requires as many additional wayfinding signs as necessary for access from points further away than this distance. In a long warehouse aisle, several signs at intervals are often a better solution than one large sign.

Emergency exit sign height and placement points

Under Art. 73 of the BYKHY, wayfinding signs are mounted between 200 cm and 240 cm above the floor. This range ensures that the sign can be seen over the heads of a crowd.

Typical points where a sign is needed:

1. Above or right next to every emergency exit door,
2. Every corner and junction where the escape route changes direction,
3. Stair entrances and floor transitions on stairs,
4. Long corridors and large spaces where an exit sign cannot be seen from one point,
5. Near doors and passages on the escape route that could draw a person in the wrong direction.

Pay attention to two more rules when placing signs. The Regulation prohibits illuminated signs or objects on escape routes, other than wayfinding signs, that could create doubt about the direction of escape; advertising boards and flashing screens should be assessed from this angle. In addition, wayfinding signs must be visible from all access points on the escape route under both normal and emergency lighting. The most common problem in warehouses is racking or stacks added later that block the sign.

Directional arrows: how is direction shown correctly?

Directional arrows should take a person from where they are to the next sign. Common mistakes on site are:

• Arrow leading to a closed door: An arrow not updated after a layout change takes people to a locked store door.
• Conflicting arrows: Two signs at the same junction pointing in different directions.
• Wrong arrow meaning: On the TS EN ISO 7010 compliant signs commonly used in practice, an upward arrow means "go straight ahead"; a diagonal downward arrow indicates going down the stairs. An employee who reads the upward arrow as "go up to the next floor" may go the wrong way; this meaning should be explained in training.
• Mismatch with the layout plan: The route on the evacuation plan on the wall and the arrows must point to the same exit.

Review the arrows together with the evacuation plan after every layout change. We explain the layout plan rules in the emergency plan in our article on how to prepare an emergency plan.

Illuminated emergency exit signs and power cuts

Art. 73 of the BYKHY describes two ways of lighting wayfinding signs: external lighting with emergency lighting units having the features in Art. 72, or internally lit emergency wayfinding units with the same features. When the power fails:

• Emergency wayfinding lasts at least 60 minutes; if the occupant load is more than 200, it must last at least 120 minutes.
• The luminance of externally lit signs must be at least 2 cd/m² in every direction from which they can be seen, with a contrast ratio of at least 0.5.
• The emergency lighting level on the centre line of the escape route must be at least 1 lux and must not fall below 0.5 lux at any point by the end of the operating time (Art. 72).

As well as the signs, the route to the signs must not be left in darkness. Art. 72 of the BYKHY requires emergency lighting on all escape routes, in lifts and escalators, in workshops and laboratories with high-risk moving machinery and chemicals, in electrical distribution and generator rooms, in pump stations, in enclosed car parks, at locations of first aid and safety equipment, and in areas with fire alarm call points and fire hose cabinets. Hospitals, educational buildings, hotels, windowless buildings and buildings with an occupant load of more than 200 are also covered. In a production hall, the aisles between machines must be lit separately even if an illuminated sign is visible.

When choosing illuminated emergency exit signs, it must be tested that the battery actually provides this duration, even years after installation. Batteries lose capacity over time; it cannot be assumed that a sign will light during a power cut just because it lights on mains power. The test method and frequency are set according to the manufacturer's instructions and recorded.

When is a photoluminescent sign useful?

A photoluminescent sign is made of a material that stores light under normal lighting and glows for a while in the dark. It needs no electricity, is cheap and easy to maintain. However, Art. 73 of the BYKHY describes the lighting of wayfinding signs through emergency lighting units or internally lit units; it does not mention photoluminescent material. We therefore recommend planning photoluminescent signs not as a replacement for these two solutions but as an additional measure alongside them.

Checklist: how do you inspect signs on site?

A desk check does not tell you whether a sign can be seen in the dark. At least once a year, preferably before a drill, carry out the following check:

1. Walk from the furthest points of the building and confirm that an exit sign can be seen from every point.
2. Measure sign heights and mounting heights; compare them with the distance to the furthest point.
3. Note obstructions added later, such as racking, stacks, partitions or suspended ceilings.
4. Cut the normal lighting in a controlled way and see that illuminated signs and emergency lighting come on.
5. Check that the route shown by the arrows is the same as the evacuation plan on the wall.
6. List broken, faded or missing signs and set a date for correction.

You can track inspection and drill dates with the OHS calendar. For the assembly point, the end point of evacuation, see our article on how to choose an assembly point. When preparing emergency plans for businesses in Bursa and the surrounding provinces, we check sign placement by walking the site and report deficiencies together with the layout plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is an emergency exit sign mounted?

Under Art. 73 of the BYKHY, wayfinding signs are mounted between 200 cm and 240 cm above the floor. The sign itself must be at least 15 cm high.

From how far away should an emergency exit sign be visible?

An externally lit sign is considered visible up to 100 times its height, and an internally lit sign up to 200 times its height. A 15 cm illuminated sign is sufficient up to 30 metres; additional signs are placed for points further away.

Is a photoluminescent sign sufficient?

It is not recommended on its own. The BYKHY requires wayfinding signs to be lit by emergency lighting units or provided as internally lit units. Photoluminescent signs are used as a supplement, especially for wayfinding close to the floor.

How long should emergency exit signs stay lit when the power fails?

At least 60 minutes. If the building's occupant load is more than 200 people, at least 120 minutes. Because this duration can fall as batteries age, it should be tested regularly.