Fire Door Sign Height Requirements (UK)

For landlords, managing agents and facilities managers who need to understand where and at what height fire door signs should be fitted to meet typical inspection expectations.

At what height should fire door signs be fitted?

Fire door signs are typically fitted at a height where they are clearly visible to building occupants using the door.

In practice, this usually means:

• approximately eye level (typically around 1.5m to 2.0m from the floor)
• centrally positioned on the door leaf (so it is seen on approach)
• not obscured by hardware (push plates, closers, vision panels)

There is rarely a single fixed millimetre requirement written into legislation. Instead, inspectors typically expect signage to be:

• clearly visible
• not obstructed
• not positioned too low or too high
• consistent across similar doors

If signage is difficult to see or inconsistently positioned, this may be recorded during an FRA (Fire Risk Assessment).

Should signs be fitted on both sides of the door?

Often, yes.

Where both sides of a fire door are accessible to occupants, inspectors frequently expect signage on each face. This is particularly common for:

• corridor doors
• stairwell doors
• flat entrance doors opening into communal areas

What happens if the sign is too low or too high?

FRA (Fire Risk Assessment) comments commonly relate to:

• signage fitted near the bottom of the door
• signage obscured by hardware
• inconsistent placement across the building

These are usually straightforward remedial items, but they can affect perceived management standards.

Does sign height differ for “Keep Shut”, “Keep Locked” and “Keep Clear”?

No major difference in height is normally expected.

What matters is that the sign is:

• visible from the side where the instruction applies, and
• correct for the door’s function

Quick checks inspectors will “fail” signage on

Examples recorded in reports include:

• no sign on one face
• sign positioned behind hardware
• temporary labels used instead of permanent signage
• inconsistent height/location between similar doors