High-Rise Residential Wayfinding: 2026 Signage Regulations Guide

For a full overview of legal requirements, see our core guide on UK Safety Sign Regulations: Comprehensive Guide 2026.

Since the introduction of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, wayfinding signage in high-rise residential buildings has been a mandatory legal requirement. These regulations were a direct response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which found that firefighters often struggled to identify floor levels and flat numbers in smokey conditions.

In 2026, these requirements apply to all residential buildings in England with a floor at least 11 metres above ground level.

[!IMPORTANT] Buying for a large project? Open a Trade Account for exclusive pricing, or request a bulk quote for Fire Safety Signs today.

The Dual Purpose of wayfinding Signage

Wayfinding signs serve two critical groups:

Residents: To help them navigate out of the building during an evacuation.
Fire and Rescue Services (FRS): To help them navigate into the building, even when visibility is near zero due to smoke or power failure.

mandatory floor identification Signs

The regulations specify exactly how floor identification signs must be designed and placed.

Placement Requirements

Stairwells: A sign must be visible on every landing of a protected stairway.
Lobbies: A sign must be visible in every corridor lobby that is reached via that stairway.
Visibility: The signs must be positioned so they are clearly visible even when a door is held open.

Design Standards

To ensure clarity under stress, the following specifications are required:

Typeface: A clear, sans-serif font must be used.
Contrast: Symbols/text must contrast strongly with their background.
Size: Floor numbers must be at least 75mm high.
Mounting Height: Signs should be mounted between 1.7m and 2.0m from the floor to avoid being obscured by smoke layers which typically accumulate from the ceiling downwards.

mandatory flat indicator signs

Floor numbers alone are not enough; firefighters also need to know which flats are on which floor.

Placement

flat indicator signs must be placed:

On every landing where there is access to flats.
In a position where they are immediately visible to someone entering the lobby from the stairway.

[!TIP] Need compliant signage? Explore our full range of professional Fire Safety Signs for next-day UK delivery.

Content

The signs must clearly state the range of flat numbers accessible from that point (e.g., "Flats 10-20").

Arrow guidance: If the flats are located down different corridors, arrows must be used to indicate direction.
Symbol Size: The text for flat numbers must be at least 50mm high.

photoluminescent Requirements for 2026

While the 2022 regulations did not explicitly mandate photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) materials, industry best practice and Fire risk Assessments for 2026 strongly recommend them.

Why use photoluminescent Wayfinding?

Smoke Penetration: High-grade photoluminescent materials (PSPA Class C or D) can be seen through thin smoke layers better than standard reflective signs.
Power Failure: If the emergency lighting system fails, wayfinding remains active.
Evacuation Efficiency: It provides a "luminous path" for residents who may be disoriented during a nighttime evacuation.

Signage Audit for Building Managers

If you manage an 11m+ residential building, your 2026 safety audit should check the following:

Sign Type	Location	Requirement Met?
Floor ID	Stairwell Landing	[ ] Visible, font >75mm
Floor ID	Corridor Lobby	[ ] Visible, font >75mm
Flat Indicator	Lobby Entry	[ ] All flat ranges correct
Material	All	[ ] High contrast, durable
Mounting	All	[ ] Installed at 1.7m-2.0m

Conclusion

Wayfinding signage in high-rise buildings is a small hardware cost that has a massive impact on life safety. Failure to comply with the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 is a criminal offence for the Responsible Person.

Beyond the legal requirement, clear wayfinding provides peace of mind for residents and vital seconds for emergency responders.

Need to update your building's wayfinding signage? Browse our specialized high-rise signage kits or contact our team for a bulk quote tailored to your floor count and flat layout.

For full regulatory compliance data, download our Technical Data Sheets for Fire Safety Signs.

Up Next

Continue your journey by exploring our detailed guide on Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996: What Employers Must Know.