Safety Exit Down Arrow Sign | ISO 3864 Escape Route

Safety Exit Sign (Down Arrow) is an emergency sign (escape and rescue) in ISO 3864 format. It indicates the emergency exit / escape route, with the arrow pointing downwards. Available in aluminium, rigid PVC, photoluminescent aluminium, photoluminescent rigid PVC, in 6 sizes from 120 × 120 mm to 400 × 400 mm.

Technical specifications

Where to install it

• Above or beside emergency exit doors
• Along escape routes at every change of direction
• At corridor junctions, stairwell entrances and at the end of long corridors

Which size for which viewing distance?

Italian regulations (D.Lgs. 81/2008, Annex XXV, point 1.3) give a practical rule for sign size: A ≥ L² / 2000, where A is the sign area in m² and L the maximum viewing distance in metres (valid up to 50 m). Applied to the formats of this sign:

Materials

• Aluminium: 0.5–1 mm aluminium sheet (thickness depends on the format), printed with solvent-based inks for resistance to weathering, finished with a polyurethane protective varnish and a transparent protective coating. For indoor and outdoor use. Made in Italy under an ISO 9001 quality system. Fixing: screws, rivets or double-sided tape.
• Rigid PVC: 1 mm rigid (hard) PVC sheet, lightweight and impact-resistant, made in Poland. For indoor use and sheltered outdoor positions. Fixing: screws or double-sided tape.
• Photoluminescent aluminium: aluminium sheet with a photoluminescent layer: the pigments absorb ambient or artificial light and release it in the dark, so the sign stays visible during a power failure. Intended for escape routes and fire-fighting equipment in environments with fire risk. Made in Italy. Fixing: screws, rivets or double-sided tape.
• Photoluminescent rigid PVC: 1 mm rigid PVC sheet with photoluminescent pigments that absorb light and glow in the dark, so the sign stays readable if the lighting fails. Made in Poland. For indoor use. Fixing: screws or double-sided tape.

Regulatory context

In the European Union, workplace safety signs are governed by Directive 92/58/EEC, transposed in Italy by Legislative Decree 81/2008 (Title V and Annex XXV) and in the UK by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. The pictograms follow EN ISO 7010, the harmonised standard for registered safety signs, and the shape and colour rules of ISO 3864-1. The employer selects and positions signs on the basis of the risk assessment; a safety sign complements, and never replaces, technical and organisational protective measures.

This pictogram has no registered ISO 7010 code. It is a traditional pictogram widely used in Italian workplaces under D.Lgs. 81/2008, which allows signs that are not listed in the standard provided they use the ISO 3864 format (shape, colour, layout) and convey the same meaning.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Safety Exit Sign (Down Arrow) mean?

It indicates the emergency exit / escape route, with the arrow pointing downwards.

Is the Safety Exit Sign (Down Arrow) compliant with ISO 7010?

This pictogram is not registered in ISO 7010; it is a traditional pictogram in ISO 3864 format, accepted under D.Lgs. 81/2008 Annex XXV because it conveys the meaning unambiguously.

Is this sign mandatory?

Safety signs are required wherever the risk assessment shows a residual risk that workers must be informed about (Directive 92/58/EEC, D.Lgs. 81/2008 art. 163). The employer decides where the sign is needed; the sign itself does not replace protective measures.

Aluminium, rigid PVC or adhesive PVC: which should I choose?

Aluminium for outdoor use, harsh environments and long service life; rigid PVC for indoor walls, doors and machines where a light, economical panel is enough; adhesive PVC for smooth surfaces such as machine guards, cabinets and glass.

When do I need the photoluminescent version?

When the sign must stay visible if the lighting fails: escape routes, emergency exits and fire-fighting equipment. Photoluminescent signs charge in ambient light and glow in the dark; they are typically prescribed by the fire risk assessment and the evacuation plan.

Which size should I order?

Use the rule A ≥ L²/2000 (sign area in m², viewing distance in m): the table above gives the maximum reading distance for each format of this sign.

Delivery and minimum order

StoreForSigns ships free across the EU and the UK with no minimum order quantity; B2B customers can order a single sign.

See the full range in the evacuation and emergency signs collection.