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Children's Play Area Sign Under 12
No Smoking Or Naked Lights Sign
Children's Play Area Sign Under 7
Petroleum Spirit Flammable Sign
No Smoking Sign Communal Areas
Battery Charging Sign Explosive Gases
No Smoking In Building Sign v2
No Eating Drinking Smoking Sign
No Smoking Smoke Detector Sign
No Smoking Sign Including E-Cigs
Smoking Prohibited Sign Portrait
Children's Play Area Sign Under 4
Play Area Disclaimer Sign Metal Post v2
Please Extinguish Cigarette Sign
No Smoking Beyond This Point Sign
No Smoking Signs for UK Workplaces & Businesses
Clear No Smoking Signs help businesses identify smoke-free areas and communicate where smoking is prohibited.
Our range includes standard No Smoking signs, workplace and entrance signs, No Smoking Beyond This Point notices and combined No Smoking & Vaping signs for businesses, offices, warehouses, factories, shops, schools, healthcare premises and other locations.
Made in Britain, Safety Sheep No Smoking signs are available in a choice of sizes and durable materials for indoor and outdoor use.
What Is a No Smoking Sign?
A No Smoking Sign communicates that smoking is prohibited within a particular building, area or location.
The familiar design combines the cigarette symbol with the red prohibition circle and diagonal bar.
Text such as No Smoking can be added to reinforce the message.
The purpose is to make the restriction immediately clear to employees, visitors, customers, contractors and members of the public.
Why Use No Smoking Signs?
No Smoking signs can help:
- Identify smoke-free premises
- Communicate workplace rules
- Inform visitors and customers
- Reinforce restrictions at entrances
- Identify particular no-smoking areas
- Highlight restrictions around specific hazards
- Reduce uncertainty about where smoking is permitted
The appropriate signage depends on the premises, its location within the UK and the applicable smoke-free legislation.
No Smoking Signs & UK Law
Smoke-free legislation applies across the UK, but the detailed requirements are not identical in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Businesses should therefore avoid treating one country's signage rules as a single UK-wide requirement.
The four nations have their own legislation and guidance covering smoke-free premises and vehicles.
When choosing signs, consider where the premises are located and the requirements that apply there.
No Smoking Signs in England
In England, smoking is prohibited in enclosed or substantially enclosed workplaces and public places covered by smoke-free legislation.
The Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations 2012 simplified the previous signage requirements.
Those responsible for smoke-free premises and vehicles must ensure that at least one legible No Smoking sign is displayed in the premises or vehicle.
The sign should make clear that smoking is prohibited.
Businesses may choose to display additional signs where they help communicate the restriction.
No Smoking Signs in Wales
Wales has its own smoke-free legislation and guidance.
Smoking restrictions cover enclosed and substantially enclosed workplaces and public places, with additional Welsh provisions applying to certain other settings.
Businesses operating in Wales should follow the current Welsh requirements rather than assuming that the rules for England are identical.
Bilingual or Welsh-language signage may also be appropriate depending on the premises and its users.
No Smoking Signs in Scotland
Scotland introduced smoke-free workplace and public-place legislation separately from England.
Businesses and organisations operating in Scotland should follow the Scottish requirements for smoke-free premises and signage.
Do not use England-only legal wording as a blanket statement for premises in Scotland.
No Smoking Signs in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland also has its own smoke-free legislation covering relevant workplaces and public places.
Businesses in Northern Ireland should follow the applicable Northern Irish requirements when determining their smoke-free arrangements and signage.
No Smoking Signs for Workplaces
Workplaces may use No Smoking signs at:
- Main entrances
- Staff entrances
- Reception areas
- Offices
- Warehouses
- Factories
- Workshops
- Welfare areas
- Communal areas
- Company vehicles where applicable
The objective is to make the smoke-free restriction clear without covering the premises in unnecessary duplicate signs.
No Smoking Entrance Signs
Entrances are a logical place to communicate that a building or premises is smoke-free.
A clearly visible No Smoking sign can inform people before they enter.
This can be particularly useful at:
- Offices
- Shops
- Factories
- Warehouses
- Schools
- Healthcare premises
- Leisure facilities
- Public buildings
Choose a sign size and position that remains visible when doors are open and during normal use.
No Smoking Beyond This Point Signs
No Smoking Beyond This Point signs can be useful where a restriction begins at a defined boundary.
Examples can include:
- Site entrances
- Factory production areas
- Warehouse areas
- Storage areas
- Particular outdoor locations
- Controlled work zones
The wording helps communicate exactly where the restriction starts.
No Smoking in This Office Signs
Office-specific signs can reinforce a smoke-free workplace policy and make the restriction clear to employees and visitors.
However, avoid unnecessary duplication where the entire building is already clearly identified as smoke-free.
Use signage where it adds useful information.
No Smoking in This Entrance Signs
Smoking immediately outside entrances can expose people entering or leaving a building to smoke and may conflict with site policies.
Where an organisation has established a no-smoking area around an entrance, appropriate signage can communicate that policy clearly.
Make sure the wording reflects the actual restriction applying at that location.
No Smoking Signs for Warehouses & Factories
Industrial workplaces may have additional reasons for strictly controlling smoking.
Potential hazards can include:
- Flammable materials
- Combustible materials
- Fuels
- Gases
- Chemicals
- Dusts
- Production processes
Where smoking could introduce an ignition source, signage can form part of the wider risk-control arrangements.
A sign should support rather than replace appropriate risk assessment and controls.
No Smoking Signs Around Flammable Materials
Where smoking presents a fire or explosion risk, the restriction may be particularly important.
Appropriate prohibition signage can reinforce controls around:
- Fuel storage
- Flammable liquids
- Gas cylinders
- Chemical stores
- Certain manufacturing processes
- Other hazardous areas
The risk assessment should determine the necessary controls and signage.
No Smoking Signs for Construction Sites
Construction sites can use No Smoking signs to identify site-wide restrictions or particular areas where smoking is prohibited.
Site rules should be communicated during induction and reinforced with appropriate signage.
If designated smoking areas are provided, their location should be managed so that they do not introduce additional risks.
No Smoking Signs for Schools
Schools and educational premises may use No Smoking signs at entrances, boundaries and other relevant locations.
Rules applying to school grounds and outdoor areas can vary according to jurisdiction and the type of premises.
Use wording that accurately reflects the applicable requirements and site policy.
No Smoking Signs for Healthcare Premises
Hospitals, clinics, care facilities and other healthcare premises may operate wider smoke-free policies covering outdoor areas as well as buildings.
Where the organisation prohibits smoking throughout the site, signs at boundaries, entrances and key pedestrian routes can make that policy clearer.
Again, the exact legal framework varies across the UK.
No Smoking Signs for Company Vehicles
Smoke-free rules also apply to certain work vehicles.
The detailed requirements vary across the UK and according to how a vehicle is used.
Where a vehicle is required to be smoke-free, appropriate signage can help communicate the restriction to drivers and passengers.
Check the rules applicable in the part of the UK where you operate.
No Smoking & Vaping Signs
Combined No Smoking & Vaping Signs communicate an organisation's rules covering both conventional cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
They can be useful where a business has decided that neither activity is permitted.
However, smoking and vaping should not automatically be described as having identical legal status.
Smoke-free legislation generally regulates tobacco smoking, while restrictions on vaping are often determined separately by the organisation, property owner, operator or sector-specific rules.
Is Vaping Covered by No Smoking Law?
Not generally in the same way as smoking tobacco.
E-cigarettes do not involve burning tobacco, so UK smoke-free legislation should not automatically be described as prohibiting vaping everywhere smoking is prohibited.
Businesses can establish their own vaping policies and prohibit e-cigarette use on their premises.
Where both are prohibited, combined No Smoking & Vaping signage can communicate that policy clearly.
No Smoking vs No Smoking & Vaping
Choose the sign according to the restriction you actually need to communicate.
If the message concerns a statutory smoke-free restriction:
No Smoking
may be appropriate.
If your organisation also prohibits vaping:
No Smoking or Vaping
can communicate the wider site policy.
Avoid implying that vaping is prohibited by smoke-free legislation where that is not the legal basis for the restriction.
What Colour Is a No Smoking Sign?
No Smoking signs use the familiar red prohibition format.
The graphical symbol normally shows a cigarette crossed by a red circle and diagonal bar.
Red prohibition signs communicate that an activity is not permitted.
This visual format helps people recognise the message quickly.
No Smoking Signs & BS EN ISO 7010
BS EN ISO 7010 provides standardised graphical safety symbols, including the recognised No Smoking prohibition symbol.
Using a recognised symbol helps create consistent visual safety communication.
However, BS EN ISO 7010 is a standard rather than smoke-free legislation itself.
A correctly designed No Smoking symbol does not automatically mean that every legal signage requirement for every part of the UK has been satisfied.
The applicable legislation and premises still need to be considered.
Do No Smoking Signs Need Text?
A recognised graphical symbol communicates the prohibition visually.
Text such as No Smoking can reinforce the message and remove ambiguity.
Some signs also include more specific wording, such as:
- No Smoking Beyond This Point
- No Smoking in This Office
- No Smoking at This Entrance
- No Smoking or Vaping
- Thank You for Not Smoking
Choose wording that accurately describes the restriction.
What Size No Smoking Sign Do I Need?
Choose a sign size appropriate to its viewing distance and location.
Consider:
- Entrance width
- Viewing distance
- Mounting height
- Indoor or outdoor use
- Lighting
- Other signs
- Potential obstructions
A small sign may be adequate on an office door but difficult to identify at a large warehouse or site entrance.
Where Should No Smoking Signs Be Positioned?
The appropriate positions depend on the premises and the applicable requirements.
Common locations include:
- Main entrances
- Staff entrances
- Reception areas
- Work areas
- Site boundaries
- Vehicles
- Hazardous areas
- Areas where the restriction changes
Signs should be clearly visible and legible.
Avoid positioning them where doors, posters, vegetation, stock or other objects obscure the message.
Avoid Too Many No Smoking Signs
More signs do not necessarily mean clearer communication.
Once the smoke-free restriction is obvious, excessive duplicate signage can contribute to visual clutter.
Use signs strategically at entrances, relevant boundaries and locations where additional clarification is useful.
No Smoking Signs for Outdoor Areas
Smoke-free legislation does not automatically make every outdoor area in every part of the UK smoke-free.
However, some outdoor locations may be covered by specific legislation, while businesses can also establish wider site policies.
Where smoking is prohibited outdoors, clearly identify the affected area.
Examples might include:
- Entrances
- Courtyards
- School grounds
- Healthcare sites
- Fuel storage areas
- Outdoor work zones
Check the legal and policy basis for the restriction.
Designated Smoking Areas
Where a business provides a designated smoking area, its location should be considered carefully.
It should not undermine fire-safety arrangements or expose people to avoidable risks.
Consider:
- Distance from hazardous materials
- Building entrances
- Air intakes
- Fire exits
- Emergency routes
- Waste disposal
- Site traffic
The appropriate arrangements depend on the premises and applicable smoke-free rules.
Keep No Smoking Signs Up to Date
Review signage when:
- Premises change
- Entrances move
- Site policies change
- Smoking areas move
- Vaping policies change
- Buildings are extended
- New work areas are introduced
- Applicable requirements change
Remove obsolete or contradictory signs.
Common No Smoking Sign Mistakes
Assuming the Same Rules Apply Across the UK
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate smoke-free legislation.
Saying Vaping Is Automatically Illegal Wherever Smoking Is Banned
Smoking and vaping do not generally have identical legal treatment.
Using the Wrong Sign for the Policy
If both smoking and vaping are prohibited, consider communicating both restrictions.
Hiding Signs Among Other Notices
Keep important prohibition messages readily visible.
Using Signs That Are Too Small
Consider the actual viewing distance.
Treating ISO 7010 as Smoke-Free Legislation
It standardises graphical symbols; it does not replace the applicable law.
Putting Up Signs Instead of Managing a Hazard
Where smoking creates a serious fire or explosion risk, signage is only one part of the required control measures.
Leaving Old Signs After a Policy Change
Make sure signage reflects the current rules.
No Smoking Sign Checklist
When reviewing No Smoking signage, ask:
- Which UK jurisdiction are the premises in?
- What smoke-free rules apply?
- Is the premises clearly identified as smoke-free where required?
- Are signs legible?
- Are entrances appropriately covered?
- Are particular hazardous areas clearly identified?
- Does the organisation also prohibit vaping?
- If so, is that policy communicated accurately?
- Are outdoor restrictions clear?
- Are signs large enough for the viewing distance?
- Are signs obscured by other objects?
- Are vehicle signs required?
- Are designated smoking arrangements appropriate?
- Are obsolete signs removed?
- Does staff information match the signage?
Made in Britain No Smoking Signs
Safety Sheep offers a wide range of No Smoking Signs for workplaces, businesses and other premises.
Choose from standard No Smoking signs, entrance and workplace notices, No Smoking Beyond This Point signs and combined No Smoking & Vaping designs in a selection of sizes and durable materials.
Choose signage that clearly communicates the smoking or vaping restriction applying at the location.
No Smoking Signs FAQs
Are No Smoking Signs required by law in the UK?
Smoke-free legislation exists throughout the UK, but the detailed signage requirements differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Businesses should follow the requirements applying in the jurisdiction where their premises or vehicles are located.
What are the rules for No Smoking Signs in England?
For premises and vehicles covered by England's smoke-free legislation, those responsible must ensure that at least one legible No Smoking sign is displayed.
Businesses can use additional signs where they help communicate the restriction clearly.
Do No Smoking Signs need to be displayed at every entrance?
Not under the current rules in England.
Requirements differ across the UK, so check the applicable legislation for your location.
Additional entrance signs can still be useful where they make the restriction clearer.
What colour should a No Smoking Sign be?
No Smoking signs use the recognised red prohibition format, normally showing a cigarette crossed by a red circle and diagonal bar.
What is the ISO 7010 No Smoking symbol?
BS EN ISO 7010 provides a standardised No Smoking prohibition symbol.
Using a recognised symbol supports consistent safety communication, but ISO 7010 is a standard rather than smoke-free legislation itself.
Does a No Smoking Sign also prohibit vaping?
Not automatically.
Smoking and vaping generally have different legal treatment. If your organisation prohibits both, use appropriate wording or a combined No Smoking & Vaping sign.
Is vaping illegal inside a workplace?
UK smoke-free legislation should not automatically be interpreted as banning e-cigarette use in the same way as tobacco smoking.
Employers and premises operators can establish policies prohibiting vaping.
Can I display No Smoking & Vaping Signs?
Yes.
Combined signs are useful where your organisation prohibits both activities. Make clear that the vaping restriction may be a site or workplace policy rather than a tobacco smoke-free law requirement.
Where should No Smoking Signs be displayed?
Suitable positions depend on the premises and applicable requirements. Entrances and other prominent locations are commonly used so that people can readily understand the restriction.
Do workplaces need No Smoking Signs?
Workplaces covered by smoke-free legislation need to follow the signage requirements applying in their part of the UK.
The exact requirements should not be generalised from one UK nation to another.
Do company vehicles need No Smoking Signs?
Certain work vehicles are covered by smoke-free requirements. The detailed rules vary across the UK and according to the vehicle's use.
Check the requirements applying to your circumstances.
Do outdoor areas need No Smoking Signs?
Some locations are covered by specific requirements, while businesses can also establish wider smoke-free site policies.
Where smoking is prohibited outdoors, appropriate signage can help communicate the boundary.
From The Safety Sheep Blog
