Safety Sign Symbol Guide

from Lloyd & Jones- Safety Signs & Solutions Catalogue

Report Books

Health and Safety signs can be broken down into the following categories, as specified by British and European standards.

Mandatory Signs

A blue circle containing a white image denoting that a specific course of action must be taken.

Prohibition Signs

A red circular band with a diagonal bar on a white background. The black symbol behind indicates the prohibited action.

What is BS EN ISO 7010

Safe Condition

A green rectangle or square with a symbol or text in white providing information about first aid, escape or other safe conditions.

Hazard Warning Signs

A yellow triangle with a black border and symbol denoting a hazard in the environment.

Fire Equipment

A red rectangle or square with a symbol or text in white providing information about the location and use of fire fighting equipment.

The BS EN ISO 7010 regulation ensures that all graphical safety symbols are consistent and compliant. It is a design directive and is a list of compliant symbols.

Road Traffic Signage

Road and Traffic signs are commonly erected at the side or above roads to give instructions or provide information to road users. These are generally separated into permanent and temporary categories.

All permanent road signs must be manufactured by an audited and registered company by law, and have the appropriate labelling attached to the reverse. As manufacturers we are fully accredited to the relevant standards.

The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is a new UK product marking that is used for goods being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). It covers most goods which previously required the CE marking.

All permanent roads signs manufactured for installation within Great Britain will be supplied with a UKCA Mark, whereas signs destined for the European market will have the CE Mark.

Class Ref 1

Sometimes referred to as Engineering grade, this has a lower grade of retro-reflectivity and is commonly used on temporary road signage.

Class Ref 2

This is a high intensity prismatic (HIP) retro-reflective sheet, specifically designed for use on permanent road signs. Engineered to give good reflectivity at all angles critical to the driver, it is more durable with a longer lifespan.

Class Ref R3B

This is the highest grade retroreflective sheet available, and is specified for permanent signs where the ultimate visibility and legibility is required such as motorway signs. This material is available on request.

Polypropylene - PP

This fully recyclable plastic is suitable for both internal and external use. Only available without adhesive.

Foamed PVC Board - FMX

A versatile, lightweight rigid PVC foam sheet, durable and with low water absorption making it suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

Rigid PVC - RPVC / PVC

Available with or without adhesive, durable, strong & weather resistant a great option for outdoor or indoor.

Laminated Floor Vinyl - FLR

Permanent vinyl floor graphics with an hard wearing laminate face, rated to R9 grade for its anti-slip properties. Suitable for dry, Indoor sealed surfaces.

Recyclable Polypropylene

Alongside the internal measures we have in place to reduce our environmental impact, we have recently started manufacturing signs on 1.2mm rigid polypropylene. This material is fully recyclable and is suitable for both internal and exterior signage.

Attributes:

Fully recyclable

UV Resistant

Impact and stress crack resistant

Does not fade or yellow over time

Self Adhesive Vinyl - SAV

Thin and flexible, ideal for use and in low traffic areas. Application to clean, smooth surfaces.

Aluminium Composite - ACP

Strong and lightweight, ideal for long term outdoor use. Resistant to inclement weather conditions, it is commonly used for fabrication and road traffic signs.

Stencil - STN

Specially modified flexible polyester which is laser cut for accuracy. Can be reused multiple times.

Photoluminescent - PHS / PHO

This material glows in dark or low light areas in the event of a power failure or fire. Often specified for Fire Exit signs so that the exit route remains visible.

How to choose the right signage

Viewing Distances

These are suggested maximum viewing distances in the latest simplified draft format. This is a guide only and other factors may need to be considered.

Distance Examples of Use

17m

Small offices, small shops and factories.

22m Large offices, large factories, warehouses and shopping centres.

30m

Large warehouses, distribution centres and exhibition halls.

Landscape: 300mm x 100mm

Portrait: 200mm x 300mm

Viewing distance: Up to 9m

Landscape: 400mm x 150mm

Portrait: 300mm x 400mm

Viewing distance: Up to 14m

Smaller or more text characters and symbols(s) in sign will require an increase in size to be legible at distance.

Landscape: 600mm x 200mm

Portrait: 300mm x 400mm

Viewing distance: Up to 21m

NOTE: SIGNS IN POOR LIGHTING CONDITIONS THAT ARE NOT LIKELY TO FALL WITHIN OBSERVER’S LINE OF SIGHT WILL NEED TO

Our products are under continual development and /or are determined by legislation requirements, as such we reserve the right to modify them as we deem necessary. Product sizes, materials and colours are subject to standard commercial tolerances and are shown in nominal form. Where possible all signs are manufactured to the latest symbols detailed in BS ISO EN 7010. In cases where an ISO symbol has not been specified then the sign will be manufactured to BS 5499 standards until one has been published, at which point the stock will be updated and supplied in lieu of the design shown in the catalogue.

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Fire Safety And Safe Condition

What are they

A Safe Condition sign provides vital information about an action to keep you safe. These include signs that indicate escape routes or emergency exits and the location of safety equipment such as first aid kits.

Defining characteristics

A green rectangle or square covering with a white border. A suitable symbol is centrally placed on the sign. Both the symbol and any supplementary text should be in white.

When to use them

Signs for safety equipment should be placed in a visible area to enable someone in need to locate and identify the equipment quickly and correctly.

For Fire Exit signs, these should be placed in a visible location and indicate the safe route to follow in case of a fire or other emergency, with directional arrows in place if the environment dictates extra clarification is necessary.

Things to consider

Some of our signs are available manufactured on a photoluminescent substrate, which (when ‘charged up’ by natural or artificial light) will glow for a length of time. Although there is no legal requirement to use photoluminescent versions of Fire Exit signs, these are often requested as part of a comprehensive safety way guidance system (SWGS). Note that photoluminescent signs are not to be used as a replacement for emergency lighting or luminaires, but rather as a supplementary offering.

Before 2013 the traditional emergency sign used above doorways to identify the escape route, pictured a DOWN arrow. Under BS EN ISO 7010 the DOWN arrow should be used to identify a change of level going down.

Following the introduction of BS EN ISO 7010 the directional arrow above a corridor doorway or exit door, should be the UP arrow. This is to inform the occupants that they need to carry straight on or exit through here.