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Safety Signs

This document provides guidelines for standardized symbolic safety signs in South Africa. It discusses the need for consistent safety signs that use recognizable symbols instead of words. The International Organization for Standardization has published recommendations for symbolic safety signs, which the South African Bureau of Standards has used to design a standardized range of safety signs. The signs are divided into four categories based on their color and shape. Guidelines are provided for proper use of colors, positioning of signs, fixing of signs, and lighting of signs.

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105 views3 pages

Safety Signs

This document provides guidelines for standardized symbolic safety signs in South Africa. It discusses the need for consistent safety signs that use recognizable symbols instead of words. The International Organization for Standardization has published recommendations for symbolic safety signs, which the South African Bureau of Standards has used to design a standardized range of safety signs. The signs are divided into four categories based on their color and shape. Guidelines are provided for proper use of colors, positioning of signs, fixing of signs, and lighting of signs.

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colkwang
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SYMBOLIC SAFETY SIGNS

INTRODUCTION Signs are used in buildings for imparting information to the occupants, which is not obvious or apparent in any other way. Safety signs are a particular type of such signs, which are displayed for the purpose of maintaining the well-being of the occupants of the building. It is important, therefore, that occupants are aware of the meaning and purpose of the signs and interpret them consistently. In the past, safety signs designed and produced for each building or building type differed widely. Often signs contained words which some occupants were unable to understand either due to illiteracy or unfamiliarity with the two official languages. There is a need to co-ordinate the design of such signs in the interest of safety and use nationally recognisable, standard symbols. The International Organization for Standardization, of which South Africa is a member, has published recommendations for the use of symbolic safety signs. With this information as the base, the South African Bureau of Standards has designed the range of safety signs that follow. These are recommended for use throughout the Republic. The signs are divided into four categories. Each type is recognisable by colour and also by shape, with one exception.

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Colours The colours shown in this document are only representative. The actual colours of the signs must to conform to SABS 1091 as shown in the table below. COLOUR CATEGORY P M I F W PROHIBITORY MANDATORY INFORMATORY FIRE WARNING BORDER/OBLIQUE DIAGONAL SIGNAL RED (All) BLACK BACKGROUND WHITE ULTRAMARINE(F09) EMERALD GREEN(F14) WHITE GOLDEN YELLOW (B49) SYMBOL BLACK WHITE WHITE SIGNAL RED (All) BLACK

Positioning of Signs All safety signs must be placed where they can be easily seen and provide the best warning of the presence of a hazard. Generally they are best placed above eye level at a height above two metres. Obviously the sign should not be so placed as to create a hazard. To ensure that the sign is easily seen it may be necessary to place it at 90 degrees to the passage or walkway. In atmosphere that contains corrosive chemicals, thermoplastic signs should be used.

Fixing of Signs All signs that are not self-supporting should be attached to flat surfaced or backing plates. The edges of the backing plate should not protrude beyond the edges of the sign. The sign may be framed, but the frame should not dominate the sign and the visible area of the sign should conform to the sizes given above. For attaching the sign, galvanised nuts, bolts and washers should be used. In an atmosphere that contains corrosive chemicals, these nuts, bolts and washers should be coated. The colour of the heads of the rivets or bolts and nuts, should be the same as that part of the sign in which they are placed. Suitable precautions should be taken to prevent the penetration of moisture into the joint between a metal sign and its support. Lighting of Signs If a sign is not illuminated adequately by means of natural lighting or the building is occupied during the hours of darkness, artificial lighting should be provided.

Published by Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa (Incorporated Association not for Gain) (Reg.No. 73/00022/08) P O Box 15467 Impala Park 1472

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