Install fire-door notices in the correct location, with the right wording, without confusing them with NSW offence notices or braille exit signs.
This installer-focused guide covers preparation, fixing and final checks. Start with the approved door schedule: the required wording and sign face depend on the door arrangement and the NCC edition adopted for the project.
Identify the door arrangement before choosing a sign
The same notice arrangement does not apply to every fire or smoke door. Under NCC 2022 Volume One, provision D3D28 distinguishes between doors that need a notice on a particular face and arrangements that require notices on both sides.
Access to a fire-isolated exit
Check the side facing a person seeking egress, any applicable exception and whether an automatic hold-open device changes the required location.
Horizontal exit
A fire door forming part of a horizontal exit is treated differently from a typical stair-entry door. Confirm the required notice on each side.
Smoke door
Check its function and swing. A smoke door that swings in both directions is not signed in the same way as every one-way door.
Discharge door
A door leading from a fire-isolated exit to a road or open space has specific wording and sign-face requirements.
Do not assume “both sides” for every door. Read the current provision together with the project’s approved fire-door and signage schedules.
Choose the wording that matches the door
For projects using NCC 2022 D3D28, the prescribed messages are in capital letters at least 20 mm high and in a colour that contrasts with the sign background. Confirm the wording against the edition adopted for your project.
Self-closing fire door
FIRE SAFETY DOOR
DO NOT OBSTRUCT
DO NOT KEEP OPEN
Use where the applicable schedule and code require the door to remain closed except during passage.
View this fire-door signApproved hold-open or discharge arrangement
FIRE SAFETY DOOR
DO NOT OBSTRUCT
This shorter message applies to specified arrangements; it is not an interchangeable alternative for every self-closing door.
View this fire-door signNeed a wider selection? Browse the fire-door signage collection, or send the approved schedule if the project requires a custom material, size or message.
How to install a fire-door notice
Confirm the sign face and wording
Mark the required door, leaf and face directly from the latest approved schedule. Resolve uncertainties before removing backing tape or drilling any surface.
Inspect the mounting surface
Choose a flat, visible area that does not cover glazing, hardware, closer components, door labels, seals or required identification. The notice should remain easy to read when the door is in its normal position.
Clean, dry and test-position
Remove dust, grease and residue with a method suitable for the door finish. Allow the surface to dry, then use low-tack tape to check alignment and clearance before permanent fixing.
Use a suitable fixing method
Use adhesive, tape or mechanical fixings that suit the sign substrate, door finish, environment and project specification. Apply even pressure across adhesive-backed signs and follow the adhesive manufacturer’s curing instructions.
Protect the fire-rated doorset
Do not drill, screw into or otherwise modify a fire-rated door, frame or seal unless the fixing method is approved for that doorset and the project requirements.
Photograph and record the result
Check the wording, door face, visibility, level and adhesion. Record the installed location so it can be reconciled with the schedule before inspection or handover.
The NSW offence notice is a separate sign
The NSW Offence Relating to Fire Exits notice is not a replacement for the fire-door notice. It contains a separate statutory warning about obstructing a fire exit, interfering with a fire door and interfering with the notice itself.
- Confirm the current prescribed NSW artwork and the locations required for the building.
- Position it in accordance with the NSW requirement and project documentation.
- Do not enlarge or rewrite the prescribed wording simply to match another sign.
- Check that both the fire-door notice and the NSW notice remain legible and unobstructed.
Braille and tactile exit signs follow separate placement rules
A braille and tactile Exit or Exit Level 1 sign is a different sign serving a different purpose. Where required, assess it under the applicable accessible-signage provisions, including NCC 2022 D4D7 and Specification 15, or the corresponding provisions adopted for the project.
Height zone
Under NCC 2022 Specification 15, tactile components are generally located between 1200 mm and 1600 mm above finished floor level. For a sign with one line of tactile characters, that line is located between 1250 mm and 1350 mm.
Wall position
Confirm the prescribed position adjacent to the doorway and the side facing a person seeking egress. Do not automatically attach the braille sign to the door leaf because the fire-door notice is installed there.
For standard products, view the Exit Level 1 braille sign or browse the full braille and tactile sign collection.
Common installation mistakes
- Using the same “do not keep open” notice on every door without checking its approved arrangement.
- Putting signs on both faces by default, or missing a second face where it is actually required.
- Treating 1200–1600 mm as a universal mounting-height rule for ordinary fire-door notices.
- Installing the NSW offence notice as a substitute for the fire-door notice.
- Mounting a braille exit sign on the door without checking the prescribed adjacent-wall location.
- Covering a certification label, glazing panel, handle, closer component or seal.
- Drilling into a fire-rated doorset without approval.
- Installing from superseded drawings and leaving schedule reconciliation until handover.
Fire-door sign installer checklist
- Applicable NCC edition and project documentation confirmed
- Door number, type, leaf and sign face checked against the latest schedule
- Correct fire-door wording selected
- Capital lettering, minimum letter height and contrast checked
- Notice visible and clear of glazing, hardware, labels and seals
- Fixing method suitable for the sign, surface and fire-rated doorset
- NSW offence notice checked separately where applicable
- Braille and tactile exit signage checked under its own placement rules
- Installed locations photographed and reconciled with the schedule
Products, project supply and installation
Fire-door signs and packs
Order common Australian fire-door wording in practical stock formats.
Shop the collectionComplete fire-door guide
Read the broader guide to notice selection, related signs and handover planning.
Read the complete guideProfessional installation
Arrange installation support for statutory, braille, wayfinding and project signage.
View installation servicesCustom project schedule
Send quantities, drawings and approved wording for coordinated supply or custom manufacture.
Request a quoteFrequently asked questions
Do all fire doors need signs on both sides?
No. The required sign face depends on the door arrangement. Some doors require a notice on the egress-facing side, while specified arrangements require notices on each side. Check the adopted NCC provision and approved door schedule.
Should an ordinary fire-door notice be installed 1200–1600 mm above the floor?
That range should not be treated as a universal rule for ordinary fire-door notices. It is associated with braille and tactile signage requirements. Position the fire-door notice for clear visibility and in accordance with the approved project documentation.
Can I drill into a fire-rated door to install the sign?
Do not drill into or modify a fire-rated doorset unless the method is approved for that doorset and the project requirements. Use the specified fixing method or seek approval first.
Is the NSW offence notice the same as a fire-door notice?
No. They are separate signs with different wording and purposes. Confirm whether both are required at the location.
Ready to install or order your fire-door signs?
Send the current door schedule, approved wording, quantities, materials and site details. StatutorySigns.au can supply stock or custom signs and assist with coordinated project installation.
