ISO 24508:2019 PDF

Ergonomics — Accessible design — Guidelines for designing tactile symbols and characters

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Title (English):

ISO 24508:2019

Ergonomics — Accessible design — Guidelines for designing tactile symbols and characters

Document status:: Active
Format:: Electronic (PDF)
Number of pages:: 13
Publication date:: March 4, 2019
Edition:: ISO IS 24508 edition 1 version 1
ICS:: 11.180.30

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Description (English):

This document provides design guidelines and requirements for tactile symbols and characters used for information and marking for people who need non-visual or non-auditory information. It is applicable to products, facilities and equipment in housing and transportation, services and packaging, where tactile symbols and characters may be used. This document specifies the physical characteristics of tactile symbols and characters for ease of legibility by touch taking into account human abilities of tactile sense and their aging effect. It does not specify semantic characteristics of tactile symbols and characters. This document is applicable to tactile symbols and characters of convex-type touched by fingers. It is not applicable to specifically coded tactile symbols or characters such as those of Braille, nor to those with vibratory or temporal changes.

Technical details

Technical committee: ISO/TC 159/SC 4 - Ergonomics of human-system interaction
SKU: ISO 24508:2019

Abstract

Overview

ISO 24508:2019 - Ergonomics - Accessible design - Guidelines for designing tactile symbols and characters - provides practical, evidence‑based guidance on designing tactile symbols and characters for people who rely on non‑visual or non‑auditory information. The standard covers convex (raised) tactile patterns touched by fingers and is applicable to products, facilities and equipment in housing, transportation, services and packaging. It specifies physical characteristics to maximize tactile legibility but does not prescribe semantic meaning (it excludes Braille and temporally/vibratory coded signals).

Key topics and technical requirements

Scope and definitions: Defines tactile pattern, symbol, character, size, line width, raised height and tactile texture.
Selection: Use simple geometric symbols and plain characters (avoid serif or decorative fonts); use outlined or filled raised patterns; use dotted/broken lines and textures for extended areas.
Size requirements:
- Tactile symbols (except dots/lines): minimum 10 mm.
- Tactile characters: minimum 15 mm.
- Dots/bars sizing follows ISO 24503; when used together, dots < 1.5 mm and bars > 5 mm to avoid confusion.
- For older users not accustomed to tactile patterns, increase size by 1.5×.
Line width: About one‑tenth of the symbol/character size; generally 0.5 mm–3.0 mm.
Raised height: Recommended 0.3 mm–1.5 mm (exceptions allowed for special contexts; e.g., some warnings may use 0.25 mm).
Cross‑section and safety: Prefer semicircular or trapezoidal cross‑sections; avoid sharp edges or rectangular cross‑sections to prevent discomfort or injury.
Spacing and orientation: Provide sufficient spacing to prevent adjacent‑symbol interference; use upright (non‑italic) orientation.
Other considerations: Ensure tactile signs are easy to find and touch, provide associated visual signs of the same meaning, and consider mounting height, angle and material.

Practical applications

ISO 24508 is used to design accessible tactile signage and markings for:

ATMs, ticket machines and control panels
Public transit signage and wayfinding
Product packaging and service counters
Built environment elements in housing and public buildings It helps ensure raised symbols are legible by touch across age groups and sensory abilities, improving inclusive design and regulatory compliance.

Who should use it

Accessibility and ergonomics specialists
Industrial/product designers and UX/HCI professionals
Architects and wayfinding consultants
Manufacturers of tactile signage, controls and packaging
Regulators and procurement teams specifying accessibility requirements

Related standards

ISO 24503 (tactile dots and bars on consumer products)
ISO/IEC Guide 71 and ISO/TR 22411 (accessibility and contrast/legibility)
ISO 9241‑910 and ISO 9241‑920 (haptic and tactile interaction guidance)

Keywords: ISO 24508, tactile symbols, accessible design, tactile characters, tactile legibility, ergonomics, raised symbols, tactile signage.

Related standards

Standards mentioned in the description

Abstract

Overview

Key topics and technical requirements

Scope and definitions: Defines tactile pattern, symbol, character, size, line width, raised height and tactile texture.
Selection: Use simple geometric symbols and plain characters (avoid serif or decorative fonts); use outlined or filled raised patterns; use dotted/broken lines and textures for extended areas.
Size requirements:
- Tactile symbols (except dots/lines): minimum 10 mm.
- Tactile characters: minimum 15 mm.
- Dots/bars sizing follows ISO 24503; when used together, dots < 1.5 mm and bars > 5 mm to avoid confusion.
- For older users not accustomed to tactile patterns, increase size by 1.5×.
Line width: About one‑tenth of the symbol/character size; generally 0.5 mm–3.0 mm.
Raised height: Recommended 0.3 mm–1.5 mm (exceptions allowed for special contexts; e.g., some warnings may use 0.25 mm).
Cross‑section and safety: Prefer semicircular or trapezoidal cross‑sections; avoid sharp edges or rectangular cross‑sections to prevent discomfort or injury.
Spacing and orientation: Provide sufficient spacing to prevent adjacent‑symbol interference; use upright (non‑italic) orientation.
Other considerations: Ensure tactile signs are easy to find and touch, provide associated visual signs of the same meaning, and consider mounting height, angle and material.

Practical applications

ISO 24508 is used to design accessible tactile signage and markings for:

ATMs, ticket machines and control panels
Public transit signage and wayfinding
Product packaging and service counters
Built environment elements in housing and public buildings It helps ensure raised symbols are legible by touch across age groups and sensory abilities, improving inclusive design and regulatory compliance.

Who should use it

Accessibility and ergonomics specialists
Industrial/product designers and UX/HCI professionals
Architects and wayfinding consultants
Manufacturers of tactile signage, controls and packaging
Regulators and procurement teams specifying accessibility requirements

Related standards

ISO 24503 (tactile dots and bars on consumer products)
ISO/IEC Guide 71 and ISO/TR 22411 (accessibility and contrast/legibility)
ISO 9241‑910 and ISO 9241‑920 (haptic and tactile interaction guidance)

Keywords: ISO 24508, tactile symbols, accessible design, tactile characters, tactile legibility, ergonomics, raised symbols, tactile signage.

ISO 24508:2019 PDF

Technical details

Abstract

Overview

Key topics and technical requirements

Practical applications

Who should use it

Related standards

Related standards

Abstract

Overview

Key topics and technical requirements

Practical applications

Who should use it

Related standards

Related standards

Ergonomics - Accessible design - Tactile dots and bars on consumer products (ISO 24503:2011)

Ergonomics. Accessible design. Guidelines for designing tactile symbols and characters.

Ergonomics data for use in the application of ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014 (ISO/TR 22411:2021)

Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 910: Framework for tactile and haptic interaction (ISO 9241-910…

Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 920: Tactile and haptic interactions (ISO 9241-920:2024)