Overview
EN ISO 9687:2015 - Dentistry: Graphical symbols for dental equipment specifies standardized graphical symbols (pictograms) for use on dental equipment and in related documentation (instructions for use, marking, labelling, technical product documentation). Adopted by CEN as EN ISO 9687:2015, this international second edition updates earlier versions and expands symbol sets to cover cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and miscellaneous functions.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose: Provides a harmonized set of symbols intended to replace or reduce language-dependent text on dental devices and packaging, improving clarity and reducing translation needs.
- Symbol content: Includes symbols for patient chairs, operator stools, dental units, assistant units, spittoons (cuspidors), sinks, handpieces (air turbine, electric motor, with/without illumination), operating lights and more. New tables were added for cleaning/disinfection/sterilization and disinfectant symbols.
- Legibility requirement: Symbols and accompanying information must be legible under an illumination of 215 lx using normal vision at a distance appropriate for the device or package. Colours and minimum dimensions are not specified in this standard.
- Use and application: Symbols are intended to be used without further explanatory text; manufacturers may choose which symbols to apply. Care must be taken with symbol orientation (rotation, mirroring) to avoid ambiguity.
- Representation conventions: Language names use the ISO 639-1 two-letter codes; date formats follow ISO 8601.
- Normative references: The standard builds on ISO 1942 (dentistry vocabulary), ISO 15223-1 (medical device symbols), ISO 17724 (graphical symbols vocabulary) and related ISO/IEC registrations.
Practical applications
- Standardizes labelling on dental chairs, handpieces, units, and accessories for global distribution.
- Used in product manuals, packaging, catalogues, service and maintenance documentation.
- Helps manufacturers, regulatory affairs teams, and technical writers produce consistent, language-independent markings that support compliance and user safety.
- Facilitates clearer communication for clinicians, dental technicians, procurement specialists and service engineers across different countries.
Who should use this standard
- Dental equipment manufacturers and designers
- Regulatory and compliance professionals in medical device companies
- Technical writers and documentation teams producing instructions for use and labelling
- Importers, distributors, and testing laboratories involved with dental devices
Related standards
Keywords: EN ISO 9687:2015, ISO 9687, graphical symbols for dental equipment, dental equipment symbols, dental labelling, dental device symbols, instructions for use.
