In a fire or emergency, workers evacuate in seconds. The sequence of green exit signs and directional arrows must be visible, complete, and unambiguous — because a missing sign at a junction has sent people the wrong way in real emergencies.
South Africa’s Occupational Health and Safety Act and SANS 10400-T (the National Building Regulations for fire protection) set out specific requirements for emergency evacuation signs, evacuation plans, and assembly points.
What the Law Requires
OHS Act General Safety Regulations
Regulation 4 of the OHS Act General Safety Regulations requires every employer to:
- Have a written emergency evacuation plan
- Practise the plan at least once per year (evacuation drill)
- Post the evacuation plan in a visible location on every floor
- Designate and sign the emergency assembly point
- Appoint emergency floor wardens
SANS 10400-T (National Building Regulations: Fire Protection)
SANS 10400-T specifies the technical requirements for emergency exit signage:
- Emergency exit signs must be visible from any point on the evacuation route with a maximum unobstructed viewing distance of 30 metres
- Exit signs must be green rectangle, white symbol (SANS 1186 safe condition category)
- Photoluminescent exit signs are required in buildings over four storeys, in enclosed stairwells, in underground or enclosed car parks, and wherever emergency lighting may not be reliable
Emergency Exit Signs: Requirements and Placement
Sign Specification
Emergency exit signs in South Africa must be:
- SANS 1186 compliant — green rectangle, white running figure with directional arrow
- Sized for the viewing distance: minimum 200mm height for 10-metre viewing distance, 400mm for 20-metre viewing distance
- Mounted so the base of the sign is at a minimum height of 2 metres from the floor
Placement Rules
- Above every emergency exit door — including fire escape doors and stairwell exits
- At every junction on the evacuation route — every point where a worker could turn the wrong way requires a directional arrow
- In every stairwell — at least one sign per floor, visible when descending
- No gap greater than 30 metres — on long corridors, additional directional signs are required if exit signs are more than 30 metres apart
Key rule: The sign sequence must be complete. A route with a sign above the final exit door but missing directional arrows at corridor junctions does not meet SANS 10400-T requirements.
Photoluminescent Exit Signs: Where They Are Mandatory
Photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) signs are mandatory in certain building types under SANS 10400-T:
- All buildings over 4 storeys
- Enclosed stairwells and service corridors
- Underground and enclosed car parks
- Any area where emergency lighting may not function reliably
During load shedding — when batteries in emergency lighting systems may be depleted from repeated charge/discharge cycles — photoluminescent signs provide the only reliable evacuation guidance.
See: Photoluminescent Exit Signs South Africa: Why They Are Essential During Load Shedding
The Assembly Point Sign
Every workplace must have a designated emergency assembly point. The assembly point must be:
- Outside the building and away from the path of emergency services
- Clearly signed with a SANS 1186 assembly point sign (green rectangle, white figure with upward arrows)
- Known to all employees — communicated during induction and evacuation drills
- Identified in the posted emergency evacuation plan
The assembly point sign must be permanently fixed at the gathering location, not just shown in the printed plan.
The Emergency Evacuation Plan
The OHS Act requires a written evacuation plan posted in a visible location on every floor. The plan must include:
- A floor plan diagram showing evacuation routes, emergency exits, fire equipment locations, and the assembly point
- The procedure for raising the alarm
- The procedure for evacuating workers with disabilities
- The role of floor wardens and emergency coordinators
- Emergency contact numbers (fire department, ambulance, security)
A plan that exists only in the safety officer’s filing cabinet does not meet OHS Act requirements.
Evacuation Drill Requirements
The OHS Act requires at least one evacuation drill per year. The drill must:
- Test the alarm system
- Simulate a real evacuation of all occupants
- Identify blockages, missing signs, or procedural gaps
- Be recorded — date, participants, time to evacuate, findings
Drill records form part of the safety file that OHS Act inspectors review.
Common Evacuation Signage Non-Compliance Findings
- Missing directional arrows at corridor junctions — the exit door is signed but the junction leading to it is not
- No assembly point sign at the external gathering area — the point is known but not formally signed
- Evacuation plan not posted on every floor — exists in document form only
- No photoluminescent signs in stairwells — no load-shedding provision
- Exit signs obscured by shelving or decor — the sign is present but not visible from 30 metres
- No evacuation drill recorded — drill conducted but not documented
Emergency Evacuation Requirements Checklist
| Requirement | Legal Basis | Who It Applies To | Common Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exit signs | SANS 1186; SANS 10400-T | All workplaces | Signs present above the final exit door only — route junctions left unsigned |
| Directional arrows | SANS 10400-T; SANS 1186 | All workplaces with more than one exit or multi-directional routes | Missing at corridor junctions where the evacuation route changes direction |
| Assembly point sign | OHS Act General Safety Regulations Reg 4 | All employers | Assembly point is known to staff but not formally signed at the external location |
| Evacuation plan poster | OHS Act General Safety Regulations Reg 4 | All employers | Plan exists in the safety file only — not posted visibly on every floor |
| Emergency lighting | SANS 10400-T; SANS 10114 | Buildings over 4 storeys; enclosed stairwells; underground parking | Units are present but batteries are depleted from repeated load-shedding charge/discharge cycles |
| Evacuation drill | OHS Act General Safety Regulations Reg 4 | All employers | Drill conducted but not recorded, or not conducted within the past 12 months |
| First aider | OHS Act First Aid Regulations | Workplaces with 5 or more employees | Appointed first aider’s certificate has expired, or the person is no longer present during working hours |
Frequently Asked Questions
What emergency evacuation signs are required by law in South African workplaces?▼
South African law — through SANS 10400-T and the OHS Act — requires SANS 1186-compliant emergency exit signs above every emergency exit door, directional arrow signs at every junction on the evacuation route, and an assembly point sign at the external gathering area. Signs must be green rectangle with white symbol, sized for the viewing distance (minimum 200mm height for a 10-metre viewing distance), and mounted with the base of the sign at least 2 metres from the floor. Photoluminescent versions are mandatory in specific building types.
How many emergency exit signs does a workplace need in South Africa?▼
The number is determined by the building layout, not a fixed count. SANS 10400-T requires a sign above every emergency exit door, a directional arrow at every junction where a worker could turn the wrong way, and at least one sign per floor in every stairwell. On long corridors, no gap of more than 30 metres is permitted between signs. A single-floor open-plan office may need as few as three to five signs; a multi-storey building may require dozens. A site walkthrough is the reliable way to determine the correct count.
Is a written emergency evacuation plan legally required under the OHS Act?▼
Yes. Regulation 4 of the OHS Act General Safety Regulations requires every employer to have a written emergency evacuation plan and to post it in a visible location on every floor of the workplace. The plan must include a floor plan diagram showing evacuation routes, emergency exits, fire equipment locations, and the assembly point, as well as emergency contact numbers and the roles of floor wardens. A plan that exists only in the safety officer’s files does not satisfy the OHS Act requirement.
How often must an emergency evacuation drill be conducted in South Africa?▼
The OHS Act General Safety Regulations require a minimum of one evacuation drill per year. The drill must test the alarm system, simulate a full evacuation of all occupants, identify any gaps in the route or signage, and be formally recorded — including the date, number of participants, time taken to evacuate, and any findings or corrective actions. Drill records form part of the safety file reviewed by OHS Act inspectors and are required for most OHS compliance certificates.
What is an assembly point sign and is it required by law?▼
An assembly point sign is a SANS 1186 safe condition sign (green rectangle, white figure with upward arrows) permanently fixed at the external location where employees gather during an emergency evacuation. The OHS Act General Safety Regulations require every employer to designate and sign the emergency assembly point. The sign must be physically present at the gathering location — it is not sufficient for the assembly point to appear only in the printed evacuation plan or to be communicated verbally during induction.
Do emergency exit signs need to be photoluminescent in South African workplaces?▼
Photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) emergency exit signs are mandatory under SANS 10400-T in all buildings over four storeys, enclosed stairwells, underground and enclosed car parks, and any area where emergency lighting may not function reliably. For other workplaces, photoluminescent signs are strongly recommended as a practical measure — particularly during load shedding, when emergency lighting batteries may be depleted from repeated charge/discharge cycles and standard illuminated signs may fail.
Where can I buy emergency evacuation signs in South Africa?▼
Dimple Safety, at 22 Fraser Street, KAJ Park, Unit 8, Booysens, Johannesburg, stocks the full range of SANS 1186-compliant emergency evacuation signs — standard and photoluminescent — including emergency exit arrows in all directions, assembly point signs, fire equipment location signs, and A4 evacuation plan display frames. Same-day collection is available Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:00. WhatsApp your requirements to 061 582 8943 for a same-day quote, or visit dimplesafety.co.za for the full product catalogue.
Order Evacuation and Emergency Exit Signs
Dimple Safety stocks the full range of SANS 1186-compliant emergency evacuation signs — standard and photoluminescent — from our Booysens, Johannesburg warehouse:
- Emergency exit arrows — all directions — standard and photoluminescent
- Assembly point signs
- Fire equipment location signs
- Emergency evacuation plan holders (A4 display frames)
📞 WhatsApp your request: wa.me/27615828943
🌐 dimplesafety.co.za | 📍 22 Fraser Street, Booysens, Johannesburg
Also see: OHS Act Workplace Safety Compliance: A Practical Checklist for South African Businesses
