Signage Guides
What Statutory Signs Does Your Business Actually Need? (NCC 2022 Guide)
If you’re a builder, facility manager, or property developer, you already know the pain: you get to handover, the building inspector walks through, and they flag a list of missing or non-compliant signs. Defects hold up occupation certificates. They cost time and money to fix. And they’re almost entirely preventable.
This guide breaks down the statutory signs required for commercial buildings under the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022, in plain English. No jargon, no reading the full standard — just a clear picture of what you need and where.
What Are Statutory Signs?
Statutory signs are signs required by law — specifically by the National Construction Code (NCC), Australian Standards, and state/territory building regulations. Unlike optional or decorative signage, statutory signs must be present, must meet specific size and content requirements, and must be correctly located on the building.
Failure to install correct statutory signs is a building defect under most state building codes, and can result in:
- Occupation Certificate not being issued
- Building not passing final inspection
- Rectification costs at the builder’s expense
- Liability exposure if an incident occurs in an unsigned area
The Main Categories of Statutory Signs
1. Fire Safety Signs
Required under NCC Part E4 and AS2293. These are the most commonly flagged in defect reports.
- Fire Exit signs — illuminated or self-luminous exit signs at every required exit point
- Directional exit signs — arrows leading to exits; required when the exit isn’t directly visible
- Fire door signs — “FIRE DOOR — KEEP CLOSED” and “FIRE DOOR — DO NOT OBSTRUCT” on all fire doors
- Fire indicator panel (FIP) signs — identifying FIP location and zone mapping
- Hose reel and extinguisher signs — identifying fire equipment locations
2. Electrical Signs
Required by the Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000) and state electrical authorities.
- Electrical switchboard/distribution board — identifying board locations, voltage, and emergency shutdown
- Electrical room signs — “ELECTRICAL ROOM — AUTHORISED PERSONNEL ONLY”
- High voltage warning signs — required near any high voltage equipment
- Communication room signs — identifying ICT/comms room locations
3. Braille and Tactile Signs
Required under NCC Part D3 and AS1428.1 for all Class 5–9 buildings (commercial, office, retail, industrial, public assembly).
- Toilet signs — unisex, male, female, accessible, ambulant. Must include braille and tactile text.
- Lift signs — floor level indicators in each lift car (braille + tactile floor numbers)
- Accessible entry signs — identifying accessible entry points
- Wayfinding signs — braille and tactile directional signs at decision points throughout the building
Note: Braille signs must comply with AS1428.1:2021. Signs manufactured to the old standard may not pass inspection on new buildings.
4. Access and Egress Signs
- Stairwell level indicators — required in all multi-storey buildings
- Evacuation assembly point — identifying the muster point for emergency evacuation
- Evacuation floor plan signs — required in all Class 5–9 buildings with occupant loads over 50
- Disabled parking signs — AS2890.6 compliant parking identification
5. Storage and Services Signs
- Gas meter/stopcock signs — identifying gas isolation points
- Water main/stopcock signs — isolation valve locations
- Garbage/waste room signs — identifying waste storage areas
- Storage room signs — hazardous materials storage, chemical storage
How Many Signs Does a Typical Building Need?
As a rough guide for a mid-rise commercial building:
| Building Type | Floors | Typical Sign Count |
|---|---|---|
| Residential apartment block | 4–8 floors | 80–160 signs |
| Commercial office building | 4–10 floors | 120–280 signs |
| Retail/mixed use | 2–4 floors | 60–120 signs |
| Industrial/warehouse | Single storey | 20–45 signs |
The Easiest Way to Get It Right
The most reliable approach is to have a specialist review your floor plans and produce a Sign Schedule (Bill of Quantities) before you order — or even before your building inspector does their walk-through.
At Statutory Signs, we offer a free floor plan review service for builders and developers. Upload your plans and we’ll return a full sign schedule within 24 hours, specifying every mandatory sign by type, size, substrate and location. You can then order the complete package and have it delivered to site in one shipment.
Upload your floor plans for a free sign schedule →
