The European Community decided that there should be a fire exit sign or series of fire exit signs that should offer a common language of communication across European Community states. It was decided that a graphical symbol or pictogram should be the main element of the sign design. enabling it to be understood independently of spoken and written language. The EEC Directive (EEC/92/58) was produced to deal with the sign design criteria of prohibition, warning, mandatory; escape routes and finally fire exit signs. It is the criteria specific to the escape routes and exit signs shown in the Directive that has caused the 'Euro-sign' to become so widely used. All the signs in this section conform to the Health & Safety Signs and Signals Regulations - BS 5499-1.