What color should fire cabinets be in Ukraine?

The question of fire cabinet coloring always sparks interest. Should they be painted red or white? Is there a strict standard that dictates the color of such cabinets? Let’s examine what Ukrainian regulations and standards say about this.

Is it mandatory to paint fire cabinets red?

According to current regulations, such as DBN B.2.5-56:2014 "Fire Protection Systems," there is no strict requirement regarding the color of a fire cabinet. The primary requirement is that firefighting equipment must be highly visible and easily accessible. Fire safety signs play a crucial role in helping people quickly locate and properly use the equipment in an emergency.

Therefore, red is a recommended and traditionally used color due to its high visibility. However, other contrasting colors may be used as long as the cabinet remains easily noticeable and its markings comply with standards.

Why is red still the most popular color?

• Red has historically been associated with fire safety.
• It attracts attention and is easy to locate in low-light conditions.
• Manufacturers often choose red because it simplifies mass production, eliminating the need to adjust equipment, change paint, or reconfigure painting systems.
• It is cost-effective and increases production efficiency.

What do Ukrainian regulations and standards say?

DBN B.2.5-56:2014 "Fire Protection Systems" states that fire safety equipment must be easily visible, accessible, and correctly marked. The cabinet's color is not a key criterion. What is far more important is the presence of appropriate fire safety signs that comply with DSTU standards. These signs must be contrasting and easily visible, even in low-light conditions.

Thus, the primary focus is on labeling. Proper signs and inscriptions on fire cabinets ensure their visibility and help people quickly navigate in case of fire. The cabinet color should be chosen to maximize the visibility of the signs.

Advantages of the red color

Although red is not mandatory, it remains the most popular choice due to its high visibility. Red cabinets are easier to find, stand out among other objects and equipment, and are intuitively associated with fire safety, which speeds up reaction times in critical situations.

There is no strict standard in Ukraine requiring fire cabinets to be exclusively red. The key factor is clear labeling that meets DBN and DSTU requirements. Red remains the most popular choice due to its high visibility, but other colors are permissible as long as they do not reduce visibility and comply with safety standards.