Safe condition signs are the green and white safety signs in ISO 7010 whose codes begin with "E" – from E001/E002 emergency exit and E003 first aid to E010 defibrillator. EN ISO 7010 is the common European basis; how the signs must be applied is set by national rules, such as workplace rule ASR A1.3 in Germany. Where emergency escape lighting is required, the signs for escape routes and emergency exits in particular must remain illuminated during a power failure, usually as exit sign luminaires.
What are ISO 7010 E signs?
An E sign is a safe condition sign from ISO 7010 that marks an escape route, an emergency exit or first aid and rescue equipment. ISO 7010 gives every registered safety sign a unique code made up of a letter for the sign group and a three-digit number.
| Letter | Sign group | Colour and shape |
|---|---|---|
| E | Safe condition signs | green rectangle or square, white symbol |
| F | Fire equipment signs | red rectangle or square, white symbol |
| M | Mandatory signs | blue circle, white symbol |
| P | Prohibition signs | white circle with red border and diagonal bar |
| W | Warning signs | yellow triangle with black border |
In Europe the standard has been adopted as EN ISO 7010; in Germany it is published as DIN EN ISO 7010. The meaning of the colours is explained in Exit sign meaning.
Which safe condition signs exist? The overview table
The table lists the safe condition signs most commonly found in buildings and workplaces. Symbols are described in words.
| Code | Title | Symbol (description) | Typical location |
|---|---|---|---|
| E001 | Emergency exit (left hand) | running person to the left, door | emergency exits and escape routes, with arrow |
| E002 | Emergency exit (right hand) | running person to the right, door | emergency exits and escape routes, with arrow |
| E003 | First aid | white cross | first aid room, first aid kit |
| E004 | Emergency telephone | telephone handset | emergency call points, e.g. in car parks or lift lobbies |
| E007 | Evacuation assembly point | group of people with arrows | outdoor assembly point after evacuation |
| E009 | Doctor | cross with stethoscope | doctor's room, e.g. occupational physician |
| E010 | Automated external defibrillator (AED) | heart with lightning bolt and cross | location of the defibrillator |
| E011 | Eyewash station | eye with water jet | laboratories, workshops, chemical handling |
| E012 | Safety shower | person under a shower | laboratories, chemical stores |
| E013 | Stretcher | stretcher with cross | storage location of a stretcher |
| E016 | Emergency window with escape ladder | window with ladder | window with escape ladder used as an exit |
| E017 | Rescue window | window as exit | window through which people can be rescued |
ISO 7010 contains further E signs, for example emergency exits for people unable to walk or with walking impairment (E026 left, E030 right), drinking water or door-opening instructions. Which signs a building needs follows from the risk assessment, the fire strategy and national building rules.
Practical tip: When ordering signs or pictogram films, check that the ISO code is stated. This keeps one sign generation throughout the building and stops older national designs from creeping in.
What exactly do E001 and E002 mean?
The "emergency exit" sign is the most important safe condition sign. It comes as a mirror pair: E001 (person running to the left) and E002 (person running to the right). The direction of the running person alone is not a route instruction – the direction is given by the supplementary arrow. Arrow and running direction always point the same way, so a right-pointing arrow never goes with E001.
E001 and E002 appear in three places:
- above or immediately next to the emergency exit door,
- along the escape route at every change of direction and every junction,
- in long corridors at intervals no greater than the viewing distance.
Arrow combinations and what diagonal or vertical arrows mean are covered in Exit sign arrows.
Which safety signs must be illuminated?
The basic rule: where emergency escape lighting is required, the signs for escape routes and emergency exits must stay illuminated during a power failure. This mainly concerns E001 and E002 with their arrows, and in practice also E026/E030 where used. Whether escape lighting is required is decided nationally – typically for places of assembly, shops, hotels, hospitals and high-rise buildings, and for workplaces where the risk assessment calls for it. See Emergency lighting requirements.
For illuminated signs, EN 1838 sets the photometric requirements:
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Luminance of the green area | at least 2 cd/m² in all relevant viewing directions |
| Contrast white to green | between 5 : 1 and 15 : 1 |
| Viewing distance | d = z × h, with z = 200 internally and z = 100 externally illuminated |
| Colour rendering | at least Ra 40, so that green and red remain distinguishable |
An internally illuminated sign with a 15 cm pictogram can therefore be recognised from up to 30 m. The calculation is explained in Exit sign viewing distance.
Other safe condition signs such as E003 first aid or E010 defibrillator do not need their own luminaire. However, the equipment must remain findable in emergency mode: EN 1838 requires at least 5 lx vertical at first aid points that are not already on a lit escape route.
Photoluminescent or illuminated?
Where no escape lighting is required, safe condition signs are often photoluminescent. They store light from the general lighting and glow for a while after it fails, with luminance falling steadily. Measurement is covered nationally, for instance by DIN 67510 in Germany. As a rule they do not replace required electrical escape lighting. The full comparison is in Photoluminescent vs illuminated exit signs.
The NOTLUX exit sign luminaire of the Series 19 has a viewing distance of 30 m and an exchangeable pictogram film, so the sign or arrow direction can be changed after alterations without replacing the luminaire.
How do fire equipment signs (F) differ from safe condition signs?
Fire equipment signs form a separate group: red with a white symbol, codes beginning with "F". They mark firefighting and alarm equipment, not the way out.
| Code | Title | Typical location |
|---|---|---|
| F001 | Fire extinguisher | portable fire extinguishers |
| F002 | Fire hose reel | wall hydrant / hose reel |
| F003 | Fire ladder | location of a firefighting ladder |
| F004 | Collection of firefighting equipment | grouped firefighting equipment |
| F005 | Fire alarm call point | manual call point |
| F006 | Fire emergency telephone | telephone for reporting fire |
Fire equipment must also be findable in emergency mode. EN 1838 requires at least 5 lx vertical at fire extinguishers and manual call points that are not on a lit escape route – see Emergency lighting illuminance. In practice this usually means an emergency luminaire close to the equipment.
What are supplementary signs?
Supplementary signs are rectangular signs that complement a safety sign but have no meaning on their own. For safe condition signs this is mainly the direction arrow, which shows the way to the nearest exit. Supplementary signs use the same safety colour as the main sign – green for safe condition signs, red for fire equipment signs.
Frequently asked questions
What does the "E" stand for on safety signs?
In ISO 7010, "E" identifies the group of safe condition signs. The codes range from E001 and E002 for emergency exits and E003 for first aid to signs for safety showers, stretchers and rescue windows.
Which safe condition signs are mandatory?
There is no single list for every building. Emergency exits and escape routes are marked with E001/E002 throughout Europe; signs such as first aid, eyewash station or defibrillator are needed wherever that equipment is provided. Details depend on national rules and the risk assessment.
What is the difference between E001 and E002?
E001 shows the running person heading left, E002 heading right. You choose the sign whose running direction matches the accompanying direction arrow.
Does the first aid sign have to be illuminated?
A dedicated exit sign luminaire is not usually needed. Where escape lighting is installed, however, EN 1838 requires the first aid point to be lit with at least 5 lx vertical if it is not on a lit escape route.
Are green and red safety signs the same?
No. Green signs (E) mark escape routes and rescue equipment, red signs (F) mark fire equipment such as extinguishers and call points. Both must remain recognisable in emergency mode.
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