Fire Extinguisher & Equipment Signs Australia
Fire extinguisher signage sits at the intersection of AS 2444 (selection and location), AS 1851 (routine service), AS 1319 (sign visual class), and Fire and Rescue state-regulator guidance on visibility and height. This guide explains what signs go where — and why.
Last reviewed:
The three standards that matter
- AS 2444 — Portable Fire Extinguishers and Hose Reels, Selection and Location. Determines the type of extinguisher required for the fire risk and where it must be placed. Because signs follow the extinguishers, AS 2444 effectively drives signage placement.
- AS 1851 — Routine Service of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment. Governs inspection, testing, and maintenance after installation — including service tags and record-keeping.
- AS 1319— Defines the visual “Fire” sign class (white pictogram on solid red) used across all fire-equipment location signage.
Placement and visibility
Fire and Rescue NSW publishes practical guidance that matches what WHS inspectors typically look for across Australian jurisdictions. The key placement rules they promote:
- Mounting height — at least 2000 mm above floor level. Keeps the sign visible over people, stored goods, and mezzanine mounts.
- Visible from at least 20 metres on approach. In open warehouses and large rooms, double-sided or flag-mounted signs may be required to achieve this.
- At least one sign per extinguisher. Mounted above or immediately adjacent.
- Class identification.Pair the location sign with a class-specific 200 mm disc identifying the extinguisher type (Water, Foam, Dry Powder, CO₂, Wet Chemical).
- Clear floor space. The Standard is that extinguishers are unobstructed — and so their signage must remain clear of shelving, displays and temporary storage.
Extinguisher classes and their identification discs
Water
Identifier: Solid red body
Use for: Class A only: wood, paper, cloth, textiles, plastics.
Avoid: Never on electrical or flammable liquid fires.
Foam (AFFF)
Identifier: Blue band on red body
Use for: Class A + B: general combustibles and flammable liquids.
Avoid: Not suitable for live electrical or cooking oils.
Dry Chemical Powder — AB(E)
Identifier: White band on red body
Use for: Class A, B, and E: combustibles, flammable liquids, and electrical.
Avoid: Leaves residue that can damage electronics.
CO₂
Identifier: Black band on red body
Use for: Class B + E: flammable liquids, electrical equipment, office/server rooms.
Avoid: Limited cooling effect — risk of re-ignition on Class A.
Wet Chemical
Identifier: Oatmeal / beige band on red body
Use for: Class F: cooking oils and fats (commercial kitchens).
Avoid: Not for electrical fires.
Dry Chemical Powder — BE
Identifier: White band on red body
Use for: Class B + E: flammable liquids and electrical fires in industrial environments.
Avoid: Less effective on Class A solids than AB(E).
Extinguisher colour-code descriptions above reflect the common Australian identification scheme. For your specific product, always follow the extinguisher manufacturer’s label and the class-disc artwork you source.
Other fire-equipment signage
- Fire Hose Reel signs — installed above or adjacent to every fire hose reel. AS 2441 (a related Standard) governs hose-reel installation itself.
- Fire Blanket signs — commonly paired with Class F wet-chemical extinguishers in commercial kitchens, laboratories and schools.
- Fire Alarm / Break Glass signs — marking manual call points for building fire alarm systems.
- Fire Action Notice signs — customisable procedure signs showing the site-specific actions on discovering a fire, raising the alarm, evacuating, and assembling.
- “Do Not Use Lifts” signs — mounted near lift call points to direct evacuees to stairwells.
- Fire Brigade block plan signs — custom site-layout signs for fire-brigade access.
Servicing — AS 1851 tags and records
Once extinguishers are installed, AS 1851kicks in. The Standard requires routine service at defined intervals — typically six-monthly inspections with a service tag, and annual / five-yearly service cycles depending on the equipment type. The service tag itself counts as signage: it must be legible and attached to every extinguisher. Most extinguisher-service providers handle tag issuance, but if you manage the equipment in-house you’ll need AS 1851-compliant service tags ready to issue after each inspection.
Product ranges we manufacture
Fire Equipment Signs
Extinguisher location discs, fire blanket, hose reel, alarm and Class-specific identifiers.
Fire Signs
Broader fire-signage range including 'In Case Of Fire', 'Do Not Use Lifts' and evacuation notices.
Fire Action Notices
Customisable fire action procedure signs for offices, schools, hotels, factories.
Official references
- Standards Australia — AS 2444 (Portable Fire Extinguishers and Hose Reels, Selection and Location)
- Standards Australia — AS 1851 (Routine Service of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment)
- Fire and Rescue NSW
- Australian Building Codes Board — NCC
Frequently asked questions
How high should a fire extinguisher sign be mounted?
Fire and Rescue NSW guidance states that fire extinguisher location signs should be mounted at least 2000 mm above floor level so they remain visible when the extinguisher is obstructed by people or equipment. The sign should be clearly visible on approach from at least 20 metres, and at least one sign must be provided above or adjacent to each extinguisher.
What is AS 2444 and does it apply to signage?
AS 2444 (Portable Fire Extinguishers and Hose Reels — Selection and Location) governs how you choose the right extinguisher type for the fire risk and where it should be located. Because the Standard determines where extinguishers go, it effectively determines where the location signage goes. AS 2444 is a referenced standard under the National Construction Code in many Australian jurisdictions.
What is the difference between AS 2444 and AS 1851?
AS 2444 covers selection and location of portable fire-fighting equipment. AS 1851 (Routine Service of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment) covers inspection, testing, and maintenance after the equipment is installed. A typical workplace needs both: AS 2444 informs where signs and equipment are placed; AS 1851 governs the periodic service tags and inspection records.
Do I need separate signs for each extinguisher class?
Yes. The location sign identifies where the extinguisher is mounted; a separate class-specific identification disc (typically 200 mm) identifies what kind of extinguisher it is — water, foam, dry powder AB(E), CO2, or wet chemical. This matters because using the wrong extinguisher on a fire can make it worse — CO2 or water on a fat fire, water on an electrical fire, or foam on live equipment.
Does AS 1319 apply to fire extinguisher signs?
AS 1319 defines a 'Fire' sign class (white pictogram on solid red) that covers fire-equipment identification signage. Fire extinguisher location signs, hose-reel signs and fire-blanket signs all use this visual grammar. The selection and placement rules that determine where those signs need to go, however, come from AS 2444.
Fire equipment sign packs
Extinguisher location discs (Water / Foam / Dry Powder / CO₂ / Wet Chemical), hose reel signs, fire blanket signs, and customisable fire action notices — in photoluminescent, reflective, corflute, colorbond and vinyl.
Planning signage for a specific site? These interactive checklists bring together the sign families covered above alongside the rest of what the workplace typically needs.