HomeMy WebLinkAbout402.016 - Fire Department Required SignageEffective Date: December 2016 Darla J. Scott, Supervising Fire Inspector
Current Revision Date: 9/24/25 Section 402.016
Next Revision (1) Date: 9/24/28 Page 1 of 3
Fresno City Fire Department
400 Prevention Manual
SECTION 402.016 FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUIRED SIGNAGE
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to provide direction to building owners, developers, and
all disciplines and trades involved in the construction process.
APPLICATION
This policy clarifies the Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) requirements
for fire related signage installations. This requirement is only applicable where a
specified sign type (including color, height, stroke, etc.) is not already identified in the
California Building Code (CBC) or California Fire Code (CFC).
OPERATIONAL POLICY
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OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
Based upon the need for uniformity in application across the Department’s diverse
service delivery area, and after careful deliberation, the Department has determined
the following:
1. When fire related signage is required based on a CFC or CBC requirement (or
as required by the Fire Marshal or designee), and the code does not specify
the criteria of the signage, the signage will be installed at each of the following
locations:
A. Directly adjacent to the main entrance door of the room or space, or
directly adjacent to the feature(s), equipment or condition(s) noted.
B. Any other location as required by the Fire Marshal, or designee.
2. Where installed, the signage shall:
A. Be made of a permanent and durable material.
B. Be of an approved, contrasting color. This shall include the letters or
Effective Date: December 2016 Darla J. Scott, Supervising Fire Inspector
Current Revision Date: 9/24/25 Section 402.016
Next Revision (1) Date: 9/24/28 Page 2 of 3
numbers on the sign from the background and the sign itself from the
background it is affixed to).
C. Have letters or numbers of not less than 1 inch in height, by ¼ inch
stroke.
In every case, the Fire Marshal, or designee, has the authority to increase the number
of signs installed, require sign installations at additional locations, or increase the sign
dimensions.
Additional requirements may be required and the determination will be made at the
sole discretion of the Fire Marshal, or designee.
PROCESS
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INFORMATION
As noted in the CFC, Chapter 1, the fire code official has the authority to formulate
policies they deem necessary based upon local conditions including uniformity in
marking building features, equipment, or conditions that exist in (or on) buildings,
facilities or occupancies.
The intent of this policy is to ensure the safety of the public and emergency responders
by making them aware of the presence of features, equipment or other conditions that
may be present in a building or occupancy where the features, equipment or
conditions exist and affect fire or life safety. As noted with other signage related to
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, uniform signage requirements
are intended to provide a "simple, recognizable and easily understood system of
[signage] that provides a general idea of the [features, equipment or other conditions]
as they relate to emergency response".
In some individual cases, the requirements may appear to be onerous and the
Department recognizes that there will be outliers (either when or where signs are
required). The Department also recognizes that this will occur regardless of the
criteria used for determining when or where required signs are installed. The
operational guidelines noted above provide an appropriate balance between alerting
the public and emergency responders of life safety features, equipment or conditions
present in any given location, while preventing the public and emergency responders
from becoming desensitized to fire related signs and the information they represent.
Effective Date: December 2016 Darla J. Scott, Supervising Fire Inspector
Current Revision Date: 9/24/25 Section 402.016
Next Revision (1) Date: 9/24/28 Page 3 of 3
DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
California Fire Code, Chapter 1
Fresno Municipal Code
California Building Code
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards