Overview
EN ISO 7010:2020 (adoption of ISO 7010:2019, corrected version 2020‑06) specifies graphical symbols, safety colours and registered safety signs used for accident prevention, fire protection, health‑hazard information and emergency evacuation. The standard defines the approved safety‑sign originals that can be scaled for reproduction, and it harmonizes sign shape, colour and symbol design with the ISO 3864 series. EN ISO 7010:2020 applies to all locations where safety information for people is needed, except for traffic‑guiding signalling (rail, road, maritime, air) and other regulated sectors where different rules may apply.
Key topics and requirements
- Registered safety signs: A single, unambiguous set of symbols for defined safety meanings (referents) with unique functional reference numbers.
- Design rules: Shapes and colours follow ISO 3864‑1; graphical symbol design follows ISO 3864‑3. Colour matching guidance is available in ISO 3864‑4.
- Scope of use: Signs cover prevention, fire protection, health hazards and emergency evacuation and can be applied in workplaces, public areas, product labelling, manuals and evacuation plans.
- Sign originals and scaling: The standard supplies originals suitable for reproduction at different sizes while maintaining legibility and meaning.
- Maintenance and corrections: EN ISO 7010:2020 supersedes the 2012 edition and incorporates amendments; the corrected 2020 version addresses specific mandatory, prohibition and warning sign corrections to ensure consistency and safety.
- Normative referencing: Uses ISO 3864 series as normative references to ensure consistent application of colour, shape and symbol principles.
Applications
- Implementing consistent safety signage in factories, offices, public buildings, hospitals, schools and construction sites.
- Designing and producing compliant safety plates, labels and wayfinding signs for emergency exits, fire equipment, hazardous materials and required actions.
- Including standardized symbols in safety manuals, training materials and evacuation plans to reduce language dependence and improve comprehension.
- Ensuring global or cross‑border installations meet harmonized visual safety requirements.
Who uses this standard
- Safety managers, HSE and facilities teams
- Signage designers and manufacturers
- Product designers and technical writers creating safety labels
- Architects, emergency planners and regulators
- Standards committees and industry technical groups
Related standards
- ISO 3864‑1 - Design principles for safety signs and markings
- ISO 3864‑3 - Design principles for graphical symbols for safety signs
- ISO 3864‑4 - Colourimetric and photometric properties (colour matching)
- Note: ISO 20712‑1 content has been incorporated into this edition
Keywords: EN ISO 7010:2020, ISO 7010, safety signs, graphical symbols, safety colours, ISO 3864, emergency evacuation, accident prevention, fire protection, health hazard information.
