Emergency　signage　is　important　for　safe　escape　when　unexpected　events　(such　as　fires)　occur.　However,　there　are　limited　data　on　the　difference　in　the　effect　of　emergency　signage　on　way　finding　processes　between　individual　and　group　conditions.　This　paper　aims　to　reveal　how　participants　alone　or　in　groups　detect　and　accept　the　information　conveyed　by　a　signage　system　through　an　experiment　in　buildings.　One　hundred　nineteen　volunteers　participated　in　the　experiment,　which　included　individual　and　group　evacuation　conditions.　There　were　six　decision　points　along　the　movement　path　where　participants　could　select　egress　routes　according　to　signage.　Posttrial　questionnaires　and　video　recordings　were　used　to　derive　the　number　of　participants　whose　route　choice　was　according　to　signage　and　to　derive　the　decision　time.　Results　demonstrate　that　both　signage　detection　and　acceptance　probabilities　under　individual　conditions　are　larger　than　those　under　group　situations,　because　of　social　influence　in　groups.　High-placed　signs　have　a　positive　effect　on　route　choice,　especially　under　individual　conditions.　Decision　time　for　participants　whose　decisions　are　principally　according　to　signs　is　not　always　smaller　than　that　for　participants　whose　decisions　are　not　according　to　signs,　eg,　in　group　situations.　These　findings　have　implications　for　group　evacuation　modeling　and　signage　design　in　buildings.　©　2018　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.