Signs on Doors in the Path of Egress

Q: In our hospital we would like to post signage stating EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY in order to deter non-emergency public traffic through a department identified by EXIT signage as a path of egress. If permitted, are there letter size and wording requirements for the sign? We have been unable to find specific guidance in NFPA 101-2012. Thank you.

A: You have not found specific guidance in the LSC on this issue because there isn’t any. Yes, you may post a sign on a door in the designated path of egress that says EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY. That’s pretty much the only sign you can place on that door. You would not be able to say AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS ONLY because that would deter egress in the event of an emergency. You can’t post a sign that says NO EXIT because it is an exit.

So, you have it correct. Post a sign that says EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY. If the door is a fire-rated door, section 4.1.4.1 of NFPA 80-2010 says you cannot cover more than 5 percent of the total surface area of the door with signage. And only use adhesive to attached the sign.