Firewood

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Firewood Cutting

Category

Services, Tourism, Management

Message / Function

For notice in general and to indicate the location of firewood

	Source	Description
	Parks Canada	Axe, pile of logs inside containment
	U.S. National Park Service	Axe, pile of logs
	U.S. National Park Service	Axe placed diagonally, logs on the right, below
	lastspark	Side view of front ends of pile of logs inside containment
	rdesign	Parallel projection of pile of logs

Discussion

The set of pictograms found for indicating the location of firewood is rather limited, and the second one presented from the U.S. National Park Service in the table above is intended for the message Firewood Cutting. Searching for pictograms online using the search term Firewood yields numerous variants also showing a fire. Such pictograms pose a high risk of being misunderstood.

Research data on comprehensibility of symbols concerning Firewood is rather limited in our database:

Evaluating the Parks Canada’s National Park and National Historic Sites symbols, also guidance and information symbols were examined using a Comprehension Test according to ISO 9186. For pictogram No 6-1-064: Firewood, labeled Parks Canada in the table above, 73 % of the responses were classified as acceptable. Reporting the results the authors state: 'however males more so than females are more likely to provide acceptable responses (82% vs. 64%). The highest mention among those providing unacceptable responses is “chopping wood permitted” (5%). Thirteen percent say “don’t know”, which is especially high among those earning less than $60K per year compared to those earning $60K or more per year (21% vs. 0%).' (Ipsos-Reid Corporation, 2003, page 46).

Recommendations

We suggest to develop additional pictogram variants and to compare all concepts available to identify the best image content. The study design should also include a Comprehension Test to identify possible misinterpretations. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs. Only on such a basis a clear decision concerning a specific recommendation can be reached.

Tests of pictograms of referent Firewood

Ipsos-Reid Corporation (2003): Evaluation of Parks Canada’s National Park and National Historic Sites Symbols – Phase I.