Graphical Symbols and Abbreviations Standard BS 1635:1990

Introduction

The current standard is BS 1635 : 1990 .

The standard applies simple icons that representing one piece of fire engineering and are called element. You then combine a number of these elements into a symbol, for example the element for any type of extinguisher is a triangle, insert into the triangle the element for water, a circle with a vertical line and you have a Water Extinguisher. You can make them more complex and they are then called applications. The symbol for a hose reel is a semicircle, with the water element inserted, add an outlet which is an arrow, and the element for length of hose in meters and you have an application.

The application for a hose reel shows the length of the hose in metres in the upper right hand corner and although contrary to the standard I believe it should be also apply to portable extinguishers.

The above is only a very brief introduction and the symbols are simple sketches produced by me consequently you need to research the British Standard by purchasing a copy or use the local reference library who may have copies.

Group 1 – Information

Table 1.1 – Convention for indicating zones

Conventions
	1.101	Behind cutting plane – Hidden
	1.102	Behind cutting plane – Visible
	1.103	Beyond cutting plane – Visible
	1.104	Beyond cutting plane – Hidden

Group 2 – Fire Extinguishers

Table 2.1 – Portable and transportable

Elements
	Water2.1E1		Halon Gas2.1E7
	Foam2.1E2		Carbon Dioxide Gas2.1E8
	Powder Any Type2.1E3		Wall Mounted2.1E9
	BC Powder2.1E4		Transportable,Wheel or Skid Mounted2.1E10
	ABC Powder2.1E5		Fire Blanket2.1E11
	Gas Any Type2.1E6

Symbols
	Any Type2.101		Any type Gas Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E6
	Portable Free standing Water Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E1		Halon Gas Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E7
	Portable Free standing Foam Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E2		Carbon DiOxide Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E8
	Dry Powder Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E3		Water Bucket2.110
	BC Dry Powder Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E4		Sand Bucket2.111
	ABC Dry Powder Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E5		Fire Blanket2.101 + 2.1E11
Applications
	Portable free standing Water Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E1 + 3.1E6		Transportable Halon Gas Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E7 + 2.1E10 + 3.1E6
	Portable wall mounted BC Powder Extinguisher2.101 + 2.1E4 + 2.1E9 + 3.1E6

Group 2 – Fire Extinguishers

Table 2.2 – Fixed Installations

Elements
	Outlet 2.2E1		Hydraulic Operation2.2E6
	Inlet 2.2E2		Manual Operation2.2E7
	Total Application2.2E3		Mechanical Operation2.2E8
	Actuator Any Type2.2E4		Pneumatic Operation2.2E9
	Electrical Operation2.2E5		Thermal Operation2.2E10

Symbols
	Fixed System Any Type2.201		Hydraulic Actuator2.2E4 + 2.2E6
	Fixed System Water2.2E3 + 2.1E1		Manual Actuator2.2E4 + 2.2E7
	Fixed System Foam2.2E3 + 2.1E2		Mechanical Actuator2.2E4 + 2.2E8
	Fixed System Powder2.2E3 + 2.1E3		Pneumatic Actuator2.2E4 + 2.2E9
	Fixed System Gas2.2E3 + 2.1E6		Thermal Actuator2.2E4 + 2.2E10
	Electrical Actuator2.2E4 + 2.2E5
Applications
	Fixed System any Type Local Application2.201 + 2.2E1		Fixed System Manually Actuated2.201 + 2.2E7
	Drencher System Any Type2.201 + 2.2E1

Group 3 – Fire Fighting

Table 3.1 – Fire Fighting Equipment

Elements
	Pipe Below Ground3.1E1 (See 1.104)		Indicator or Meter3.1E5
	Pipe Above Ground3.1E2		Length of hose in metres3.1E6
	Chamber in Ground3.1E3		Non Return Check Valve3.1E7
	Valve3.1E4

Symbols
	Fire Main or Riser Any Type3.101		Ground Hydrant in Chamber Double3.1E3 + 3.1E1 + 3.1E4 + 2.2E1
	Fire Main Dry3.102		Pillar Hydrant Single3.1E1 + 3.12 + 3.1E4 + 2.2E
	Fire Main Wet3.101 + 2.1E1		Pillar Hydrant Double3.1E1 + 3.12 + 3.1E4 + 2.2E
	Fire Main Foam3.101 + 2.1W2		Fire Point3.109
	Ground Hydrant in Chamber Single3.1E3 + 3.1E1 + 3.1E4 + 2.2E1		Hosereel3.110
Applications
	Dry Fire Main Landing Valve3.101 + 3.1E4 + 2.2E1		Underground Fire Main3.1E12.1E2
	Foam Inlet3.102 + 2.2E2		Hosereel 45m long3.110 + 3.1E6 + 2.1E1 + 2.2E1
	Underground Fire Main3.1E1 + 2.1E1		Under ground Fire Main with Metered by Pass3.1E1 + 3.1E3 + 3.1E4 + 3.1E5

Group 4 – Fire Alarm

Table 4.1 – Control and Indicating Equipment

Elements
	Sounder4.1E1		Illuminated Signal4.1E2
Symbols
	Control Panel Any Type4.101		Control Panel Illuminated Signals4.101 + 4.1E2
	Control Panel Sounders4.101 + 4.1E1		Control Panel Sounders and Illuminated Signals4.101 + 4.1E1 + 4.1E2

Group 4 – Fire Alarm

Table 4.2 – Initiating Equipment

Elements
	Smoke4.2E1		Beam4.2E3
	Flame4.2E2

Symbols
	Detector Any Type4.201		Gas Detector4.201 + 2.1E6
	Heat Detector4.201 + 2.2E10		Fire Alarm Manual Call Point4.201 + 2.2E7
	Smoke Detector4.201 + 4.2E1		Beam Detector4.201 + 4.2E3
	Flame Detector4.201 + 4.2E2

Group 4 – Fire Alarm

Table 4.3 – Warning Equipment

Elements
	Manual Sounder4.3E1		LoudSpeaker4.3E3
	Electric Bell4.3E2		Telephone4.3E4

Symbols
	Warning Device Any Type4.301		Warning Device Loudspeaker4.301 + 4.3E3
	Warning Device Manual Sounder4.301 + 4.3E1		Warning Device Telephone4.301 + 4.3E4
	Warning Device Sounder4.301 + 4.1E1		Warning Device Visual4.301 + 4.1E2
	Warning Device Bell4.301 + 4.3E2
Applications
	Telephone with Flashing Light4.301 + 4.3E4 + 4.1E2

Group 5 – Means of Escape

Table 5.1 – Routes

Elements
	Directional Arrow5.1E1
Symbols
	Escape Route5.101		Escape Route, Final Exit5.103
	Escape Route, Direction to Follow5.102

Group 6 – Risk Areas

Table 6.1 – Fire and Explosion

Elements
	Flammable Materials6.1E1		Explosive Materials6.1E3
	Oxidizing Materials6.1E2

Symbols
	General Hazard Warning6.101		Oxidizing Materials Risk Area6.103
	Flammable Materials Risk Area6.102		Explosive Materials Risk Area6.104

Group 7 – Fire Precautions

Table 7.1 – Building Elements

Elements
	Ramp Gradient7.1E1		Self Closing Automatic Release7.1E8
	Fire Resistance in Minutes7.1E2		Vision Panel7.1E9
	Fire Resisting Glazed Element7.1E3		Guarding Handrail7.1E10
	Security Lock7.1E4		Push Bar Door Ironmongery7.1E11
	Key in Box7.1E5		Fusible Link7.1E12
	Free From Fastenings7.1E6		Fire Resisting7.1E13
	Self Closing7.1E7		Smoke Resisting7.1E14

Symbols
	Wall Opening with Window7.101		Door set, Sliding Leaf7.111
	Wall Opening with Roller Shutter7.102		Door set, Revolving Leaves7.112
	Wall Opening with Up and Over Door7.103		Door set, Sliding/folding, End Hung7.113
	Door Set, Hinged Leaf7.104		Door set, Sliding/folding, Centre Hung7.114
	Door set, Hinged leaf (alternative)7.105		Stairway, Arrow Indicates Up Direction7.115
	Door set, Hinged Leaf, Normally Closed7.106		Ramp, Arrow Indicates Up Direction7.116
	Door set, Hinged Leaf, Normally Open7.107		Fire Damper7.117
	Door set, Hinged Leaf, O[opening Either Way7.108		Fire Resisting Construction 30 min7.118
	Door set, Hinged Leaf, Opening 1807.109		Fire Resisting Construction 30 min’s (for small scale drawings)7.119
	Door set, Two Hinged Leaves7.110
Applications
	Fire Resisting Glazed Screen7.1E2 + &.7.1E3 7.101 + 7.118		Final Exit Door set Double Leaves Single Swing with push bar door ironmongery7.110 + 7.1E11
	Fire Damper in Ductwork7.117		Ramp Showing Direction of Rise and Gradient7.116 + 7.1E1
	30 min Fire Resisting Door set, Single Leaf, Single Swing7.118 + 7.104 +7.1E2 + 7.113		Guarding Rail along side of open Stairwell7.115 + 7.1E10
	60 min Fire Resisting Door set, Single Leaf, Single Swing7.118 + 7.104 +7.1E2 + 7.1E13 + 7.1E14		Wall Opening with Roller Shutter 30 min’s Fire Resistance operated by Fusible Link7.102 + 7.1E13 + 7.1E12
	30 min Fire and Smoke Resisting Door set, Double Leaf, Single Swing, Self Closing. Normally held open on electro magnetic devices7.118 + 7.110 + 7.1E2 + 7.1E8 + 7.1E13 + 7.1E14

Group 8 – Emergency Lighting

Table 8.1 – Lighting

Elements
	Luminaire Any Type8.1E1		Luminaire Linear Any Type Enclosed8.1E4
	Luminaire Any Type, Enclosed8.1E2		Emergency / Safety8.1E5
	Luminaire Linear Any Type8.1E3

Symbols
	Emergency, Enclosed8.101		Emergency, Linear Self Contained8.104
	Emergency, Self Contained8.102		Emergency, Linear Enclosed8.105
	Emergency, Linear Any Type8.103		Exit Sign Internally Illuminated8.106

Group 9 – Fire Safety Signs

Table 9.1 – Descriptions

Elements
	General Prohibition9.1E1		General Condition Sign9.1E21
	Smoking is Prohibited9.1E2		Fire Exit9.1E22
	Smoking and Flames Prohibited9.1E3		Slide to Open9.1E23
	Water as Extinguishing Agent Prohibited9.1E4		Break to Obtain Access9.1E24
	General Warning9.1E5		Push Bar to Open9.1E25
	Flammable Materials9.1E6		Directional Arrow (Green)9.1E26
	Oxidizing Materials9.1E7		Collection of Firefighting Equipment9.1E27
	Risk of Explosion9.1E8		Fire Alarm Call Point9.1E28
	No Means of Escape9.1E9		Fire Telephone9.1E29
	In the Event of a Fire, Avoid use of Lift9.1E10		Fire Hose Reel9.1E30
	General Mandatory Sign9.1E11		Fire Extinguisher9.1E31
	Fire Action Sign9.1E12		Foam Inlet9.1E32
	Fire Door Keep Shut9.1E13		Dry Riser9.1E33
	Fire Door Keep Locked9.1E14		Wet Riser9.1E34
	Automatic Fire Door Keep Clear9.1E15		Fireman`s Switch9.1E35
	Automatic Fire Door, Keep Clear, Close at Night9.1E16		Open Valve, in the event of a Fire9.1E36
	Door to be Secured Open9.1E17		Open Valve before running out Hose9.1E37
	Door to be Unlocked9.1E18		Fire Plan9.1E38
	Gangway Keep Clear9.1E19		Directional Arrow (Red)9.1E39
	Fire Escape Keep Clear9.1E20

Symbols
	Fire Exit9.101
Applications
	Fire Door to be kept shut 7.118 + 7.104 + 9.114		Fire Exit Door with Sign 7.118 + 7.110 + 8.106 + 9.1E22

Group 10 – Smoke Control

Table 10.1 – Venting and Pressurization

Elements
	Smoke Vent on Plan10.1E1		Smoke Vent in Horizontal or Vertical Section10.1E5
	Smoke Vent over on Plan10.1E2		Fan10.1E6
	Roof Light Vent on Plan10.1E3		Flow Direction Extract10.1E7
	Roof Light Vent over on Plan10.1E4		Flow Direction Supply10.1E8

Symbols
	Space Requiring Smoke Ventilation10.101		Replacement Air Intake10.111
	Pressurized Space10.102		Window Smoke Release Manual10.112
	Pressurized Space, Single stage10.103		Window Smoke Release Automatic10.113
	Pressurized Space, Double Stage10.104		Pressure Air Supply Point10.114
	Smoke Reservoir10.105		Pressurizing Air Intake 10.115
	Pressure Differential Point10.106		Smoke Curtain Fixed10.116
	Smoke Vent Manually Actuated10.107		Smoke Curtain Automatically Actuated10.117
	Smoke Vent Automatically Actuated10.108		Smoke Extraction Fan10.118
	Smoke Extract Point10.109		Pressurizing Air Supply Fan10.119
	Smoke Discharge Point10.110

Categories:Miscellaneous Fire Safety Issues

May 31, 2011[Last updated: February 10, 2022]