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Facts and data on pictograms Literature

Standards on Pictograms

The following compilation on standards about pictograms is incomplete and covers primarily standards, which show pictograms selected or developed on the basis of scientific research and testing. It also includes standards on testing procedures.

Other standards on symbols or pictograms such as technical symbols that have not been tested on comprehensibility are not presented here.

ISO 7001:2007 Public information symbols

International standard, all symbols are the result of extensive testing in several countries and differing cultures and have met the criteria of comprehensibility set up by ISO.

Committee: ISO / TC 145 / SC 1
Committee Manager: Dr Charles Whitlock, BSI (charles.whitlock@bsigroup.com)


ISO 7010:2019 Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Registered safety signs

International standard that prescribes safety signs for the purposes of accident prevention, fire protection, health hazard information and emergency evacuation.

Committee: ISO / TC 145 / SC 2


ISO 9186-1:2014 Graphical symbols — Test methods — Part 1: Method for testing comprehensibility

ISO 9186-1:2014 specifies a method for testing the comprehensibility of graphical symbols. It provides a measure of the extent to which a variant of a graphical symbol communicates its intended message. The purpose is to ensure that graphical symbols and signs using graphical symbols are readily understood.

Committee: ISO / TC 145 / SC 1
Committee Manager: Dr Charles Whitlock, BSI (charles.whitlock@bsigroup.com)


ISO 22727:2007 Graphical symbols — Creation and design of public information symbols — Requirements

ISO 22727:2007 specifies requirements for the creation and design of public information symbols. It specifies requirements for the design of public information symbols for submission for registration as approved public information symbols, including line width, the use of graphical symbol elements and how to indicate negation. It also specifies templates to be used in the design of public information symbols..

Committee: ISO / TC 145 / SC 1
Committee Manager: Dr Charles Whitlock, BSI (charles.whitlock@bsigroup.com)


ÖNORM A 3011 Graphische Symbole für die Öffentlichkeitsinformation - Teile 1 bis 11
(Graphic symbols for public information - parts 1 to 11)

Austrian standard with a total of 172 graphical symbols, covering a much wider range than ISO 7001, but based on the same kind of research. Parts of the testing has been done just in one country.

Committee: FNA 133
Committee Manager: Martin Lorenz, Deputy Director Austrian Standards Development (m.lorenz@austrian-standards.at)


ÖNORM A 3012:2021 Visuelle Leitsysteme für die Öffentlichkeitsinformation
(Visual guiding system for public information)

Austrian standard with requirements for the design of visual information systems based on readily comprehensible und recognisable visual symbols and texts, also regarding aspects like contrast, illumination etc. Consistency of signs and information along the entire way will be taken into account.

Committee: FNA 133
Committee Manager: Martin Lorenz, Deputy Director Austrian Standards Development (m.lorenz@austrian-standards.at)


ÖNORM S 4610 Seilbahnen und Schlepplifte - Grundlegende graphische Symbole und Schilder zur Information der Fahrgäste 
(Ropeways and ski-lifts; Basic graphic symbols and signs for the information of passengers)

Austrian standard, developed in cooperation with other Alpine countries. This standard aims at uniform use of symbols and signs for the information of passengers. Symbol design and selection is based on previous tests on comprehensibility.

Committee: FNA 178
Committee Manager: Dr. Annette Altenpohl, PhD, Austrian Standards Development (a.altenpohl@austrian-standards.at)


ANSI Z535 Safety Sign and Color Standards

Multipart U.S. standard. Titles of the individual parts:
Z535.1-1998, Safety Color Code
Z535.2-1998, Environmental and Facility Safety Signs
Z535.3-1998, Criteria for Safety Symbols
Z535.4-1998, Product Safety Signs and Labels
Z535.5-1998, Accident Prevention Tags (for Temporary Hazards)

Committee: ANSI Z535
Secretariat: National Electrical Manufacturers Association - NEMA


GB/T 10001 Public Information Graphical Symbols

Multipart Chinese standard. Titles of the individual parts: 
GB/T 10001.1-2012 Public Information Graphical Symbols, Part 1: General Symbols
GB/T 10001.2-2006 Public Information Graphical Symbols for Use on Signs, Part 2:
 Symbols for Tourism and Entertainment
GB/T 10001.3-2011 Public Information Graphical Symbols for Use on Signs, Part 3:
 Symbols for Passenger and Cargo Transport
GB/T 10001.4-2009 Public Information Graphical Symbols for Use on Signs, Part 4:
 Symbols for Recreation and Sport GB/T 10001.5-2006 Public Information Graphical Symbols for Use on Signs, Part 5:
 Symbols for Shopping
GB/T 10001.6-2006 Public Information Graphical Symbols for Use on Signs, Part 6:
 Symbols for Medical Treatment and Health Care

Committee: National Technical Committee for the Standardization of Graphical Symbols (SAC/TC 59) 


AS 2786-1985 Symbols - Health care in hospitals

Australian standard.

Committee: Standards Australia MS-003 Public information symbols 


AS 2899 Public information symbol signs

Multipart Australian standard. Titles of the individual parts: 
AS 2899.0-1986 Public information symbol signs - Consolidated index
AS 2899.1-1986 Public information symbol signs - General information signs
AS 2899.2-1986 Public information symbol signs - Water safety signs
AS 2899.3-1986 Public information symbol signs - Hospital signs

Currently this standard has the status 'Withdrawn'

Committee: Standards Australia MS-003 Public information symbols