Overview
ISO 3864-3:2024 - "Graphical symbols - Safety colours and safety signs - Part 3: Design principles for graphical symbols for use in safety signs" - sets out principles, criteria and guidance for designing graphical symbols used in safety signs and the safety-sign element of product safety labels. It defines how symbols should be conceived, reviewed and prepared for standardization (e.g., inclusion in ISO 7010) to ensure visual clarity, consistency, recognizability and correct assignment of meaning and hazard.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Design process: Develop an unambiguous hazard description, confirm a new symbol is needed (review ISO 7010 and existing registered symbols), define target group characteristics, assign meaning/function, and select the proper sign type (Clause 4–6).
- Templates and geometry: Symbols must be created inside the standard safety-sign templates (circle, triangle, square) and conform to ISO 3864‑1 geometric shapes and colours.
- Size, position and layout: Symbols should use the central area up to the template’s exclusion zone, be centred, and be provided as a 70 mm master artboard with corner marks for scaling (Clause 7.2–7.3).
- Exclusion zones: Defined inner margins prevent symbol elements touching template edges. Examples in the standard include:
- Prohibition signs: exclusion zone = 3.3% of sign outer diameter
- Mandatory and safe-condition/fire signs: exclusion zone = 8% of circle/square
- Warning signs: exclusion zone = 3.3% of sign width
- Visual construction details: Guidance on line width, use of determinants (common elements used across a family of symbols), arrows, characters, and combining symbol elements to retain clarity and single-message use (Clause 7.5–7.10).
- Review & harmonization: Requirement to check ISO 7010 and existing symbols, adapt registered elements only with consistent meanings, and follow Annex A additional guidelines where recommended.
Practical applications and users
Who uses ISO 3864-3:
- Safety sign and graphical symbol designers
- Product designers and label authors creating product safety markings
- Health & safety managers, facilities and operations teams
- Regulatory and compliance officers ensuring signs meet standards
- Manufacturers, OEMs and procurement teams specifying signage
- Standards committees and technical writers preparing symbol registration
Practical uses:
- Creating new safety symbols for facilities, machinery and products
- Preparing master artwork for scaling and registration (ISO 7010)
- Ensuring consistent signage across multinational sites and training materials
- Specifying visual parameters (exclusion zone, line width, layout) for production and procurement
Related standards
- ISO 3864-1: Design principles for safety signs and markings (templates & colours)
- ISO 3864-4: Colorimetric and photometric properties of sign materials
- ISO 7010: Registered safety signs (catalogue of standardized symbols)
Keywords: ISO 3864-3, graphical symbols, safety signs, design principles, exclusion zone, ISO 7010, safety colours, safety sign templates, mandatory signs, prohibition signs, warning signs.
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