The direction arrow is a supplementary sign that, together with the ISO 7010 "emergency exit" sign (E001/E002), shows the direction of escape: horizontal for left or right, pointing up for "straight on" or "through here", and diagonal – in German practice – usually for stairs going up or down. Arrow and running person always point the same way, and the arrow normally sits on the side it points to. National rules show the permitted combinations; in German workplaces this is ASR A1.3.
What is a direction arrow on an exit sign?
A direction arrow is a supplementary sign that adds the direction of escape to a safe condition sign. It is square or rectangular, green with a white arrow, and has no meaning on its own. Only in combination with the ISO 7010 "emergency exit" sign does it become a clear route instruction.
The emergency exit sign comes as a mirror pair: E001 (person running to the left) and E002 (person running to the right). The running direction is not itself a route instruction – it simply makes sign and arrow read together. The direction of escape is given by the arrow.
ISO 7010 is the common European basis for the signs themselves, but how arrows are combined and interpreted is partly national. In Germany, workplace rule ASR A1.3 illustrates the combinations, and ASR A2.3 requires escape routes to be signed so that the direction to the nearest exit is recognisable from every point. The basics of colours and signs are covered in Exit sign meaning.
What does each arrow mean?
Direction arrows are normally used only in 45° steps: horizontal, vertical or diagonal. The meanings as used in German practice:
| Arrow direction | Combination | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| horizontal left | arrow to the left of E001 | escape route goes left |
| horizontal right | E002 with arrow to its right | escape route goes right |
| vertical up | with E001 or E002 | straight on, or through here |
| diagonal down-left | arrow to the left of E001 | stairs down, to the left |
| diagonal down-right | E002 with arrow to its right | stairs down, to the right |
| diagonal up-left | arrow to the left of E001 | stairs up, to the left |
| diagonal up-right | E002 with arrow to its right | stairs up, to the right |
The upward arrow causes the most misunderstandings. It does not mean "up to the next floor" but "straight on" or "through here". Above a door it means: the escape route continues through this door.
Diagonal arrows usually indicate stairs in German practice: pointing down for stairs going down, pointing up for stairs going up. In some other countries an arrow pointing diagonally upwards is read as "forward and to the left/right" instead. Check the national convention, and in buildings with an international public use diagonal arrows only where stairs actually follow.
A downward arrow is not understood consistently across Europe; its meaning varies with national practice. In Germany, "straight on" is shown with the upward arrow. Use a downward arrow only where the planning documents and national rules expressly provide for it.
Which side does the arrow go on?
The basic rule: the arrow normally sits on the side it points to. A left-pointing arrow goes to the left of E001, a right-pointing arrow to the right of E002. The running person moves towards the arrow, so sign and arrow read as one movement.
This gives some fixed combinations:
- Arrow to the left (horizontal or diagonal): always with E001, arrow on the left.
- Arrow to the right (horizontal or diagonal): always with E002, arrow on the right.
- Upward arrow: with E001 or E002; in practice the sign is chosen so that the person runs towards the arrow.
A right-pointing arrow next to E001 – a person running away from the arrow – is contradictory and one of the most frequent findings in inspections.
How are arrows used on stairs?
In stairwells the escape route usually leads down to the ground floor and outside; in underground car parks and basements it leads up. The diagonal arrows are chosen accordingly:
- At the foot or head of the stairs, or on the landing, the diagonal arrow shows the direction of travel on the stairs.
- Where the direction changes on a landing, for example on a dog-leg stair, a new sign with the correct direction is needed there.
- On the ground floor the sign shows the exit to the outside, so that people do not carry on down to the basement.
That last point is often overlooked: without a clear exit sign on the ground floor, people under stress frequently walk past the exit level.
What applies to illuminated and double-sided signs?
Where emergency escape lighting is required, exit signs including their arrows must remain illuminated during a power failure, usually as an internally illuminated exit sign luminaire. The arrow is then part of the pictogram and must meet the same EN 1838 photometric requirements as the sign itself, such as at least 2 cd/m² on the green area. The viewing distance of an internally illuminated sign is d = 200 × h, see Exit sign viewing distance.
With double-sided luminaires, such as pendant or ceiling-mounted signs across a corridor, each side is set from the viewpoint of the person looking at it. If the route leads in one compass direction, the viewer on one side sees it to the right, the viewer on the other side to the left. The two faces then usually carry different pictograms, for example E002 with a right arrow and E001 with a left arrow.
The NOTLUX exit sign luminaire of the Series 19 has an exchangeable pictogram film. If the escape direction changes after alterations, the film is swapped without replacing the luminaire.
Practical tip: Fix arrow directions on the floor plan before ordering luminaires, and note the pictogram for each face of every exit sign luminaire. This avoids wrong films during installation and contradictions later.
What are the most common arrow mistakes?
- Wrong combination: right arrow with E001, or left arrow with E002.
- Upward arrow read as "upstairs": the vertical arrow means straight on or through here, not up.
- Diagonal arrows without stairs: a diagonal arrow usually announces stairs and confuses people when none follow.
- Contradictory arrows after alterations: new partitions or relocated doors, but unchanged signs.
- Double-sided luminaires with identical faces: one face then points the wrong way.
- Missing arrow at a change of direction: every branch and junction needs a sign with an arrow.
- Mixed sign generations: older national arrows and pictograms next to ISO 7010 signs.
- Conflict with the escape plan: arrows in the building do not match the routes shown on the fire escape plan.
Check all arrows along the escape routes after every alteration. The overall system is described in Escape route signage.
Frequently asked questions
What does an upward arrow on an exit sign mean?
A vertical upward arrow means "straight on" or "through here". It does not mean the route goes to a higher floor; diagonal arrows are used for stairs.
What does a diagonal arrow on an exit sign mean?
In German practice a downward diagonal arrow usually indicates stairs going down and an upward diagonal arrow stairs going up, to the left or right. In some countries an upward diagonal arrow can mean "forward and to the side", so check the national convention.
Which sign goes with a left arrow?
A left arrow goes with E001, the person running to the left, with the arrow to the left of the sign. A right arrow goes with E002, with the arrow to its right.
Does an exit sign above the door need an arrow?
Above the door the sign must make clear that this door is the emergency exit. Where an arrow is used in German practice, it is the upward arrow for "through here". What matters is that signs along the route never contradict each other.
Can the arrow direction of an exit sign luminaire be changed?
Yes – and it must be changed if the escape route changes. With luminaires that have an exchangeable pictogram film, only the film is swapped; afterwards all signs along the route should be checked for contradictions.
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