Overview
EN ISO 11064-5:2008 / ISO 11064-5:2008 specifies ergonomic principles, requirements and recommendations for the design of displays and controls in control centres. It addresses the human–system interface for operators, supervisors and maintainers and aims to maximize safe, reliable, efficient and comfortable use of hardware and software interfaces in control-room environments.
Key topics and requirements
- Display and control selection - Guidance for choosing appropriate display types (overview displays, soft displays, CCTV) and physical or “hard” controls based on task needs and ergonomics.
- Information structure and presentation - Principles for structuring on‑screen information, page/format design, network boundaries and layout to support situational awareness and decision making.
- Human‑system interaction and dialogues - Requirements for operator interaction, page management, response times and dialogue types to ensure timely, correct operator actions.
- Alarm systems - High‑level requirements and recommendations for alarm structuring, prioritization, presentation, handling, documentation and alarm‑management processes.
- Control selection and coding - Guidance on matching control types to functions, coding/labeling of controls and consistency to reduce operator error.
- Design process and evaluation - Advice on a human‑centred design process: design team competencies, iterative design, evaluation and verification of interfaces.
- Performance and management - Recommendations on alarm metrics, roles/responsibilities, management of change and continuous improvement.
Note: ISO 11064-5 emphasizes general ergonomic principles rather than prescribing detailed technical measurements; it should be used with human factors literature and related standards where necessary.
Practical applications and users
ISO 11064-5 is directly applicable to organizations designing or procuring control-room systems in industries such as:
- Process industries (chemical, oil & gas, petrochemical)
- Power generation and utilities
- Transportation and traffic management
- Emergency response and security operations
Typical users:
- Project managers and system integrators
- Human factors and ergonomics specialists
- User-interface designers and software developers
- Control-room operators, supervisors and maintainers
- Procurement officers and equipment manufacturers
Related standards
- ISO 11064 (series) - Parts 1–7 (Principles, layout, workstation dimensions, environmental requirements, evaluation)
- ISO 9241 (ergonomics of human‑system interaction) - complementary guidance for office and interactive systems
Using EN ISO 11064-5:2008 helps organizations design operator interfaces and alarm systems that improve safety, reduce human error, and support effective monitoring and control in high‑risk, real‑time environments.
