Safety signs: meaning of colours and shapes

We encounter safety signs everywhere: in the office, at school, in the warehouse and on the construction site. They warn of hazards, prohibit something or show the way out. Everyone should understand the meaning of safety signs immediately. That is why they follow fixed rules for colour and shape.

Here you can read which types of safety signs exist and what they mean.

Which types of safety signs are there?

The standard EN ISO 7010 and the German workplace rule ASR A1.3 distinguish five groups. Each group has its own colour and shape:

• Warning signs: yellow triangle with a black border. They warn of a hazard.
• Prohibition signs: white circle with a red border and diagonal bar. They prohibit something.
• Mandatory signs: blue circle with a white symbol. They require something.
• Emergency signs: green square or rectangle. They show escape routes and first aid.
• Fire safety signs: red square or rectangle. They show fire extinguishers and fire alarms.

What are warning signs?

Warning signs draw attention to a hazard. They are triangular, yellow and have a black border. The sign says: caution, there is a risk here. It names the hazard, but not what you should do.

• W001 – general warning sign
• W012 – warning of electricity
• W021 – warning of flammable material
• W017 – warning of hot surface
• W011 – warning of slippery surface

What are prohibition signs?

Prohibition signs say what is not allowed. They are round and white, with a red border and a red diagonal bar. Well-known examples are P002 No smoking and P003 No open flame.

What are mandatory signs?

Mandatory signs prescribe a behaviour. They are round and blue with a white symbol. Examples are M004 Wear eye protection or M009 Wear protective gloves. Where this sign is displayed, the rule is mandatory.

What are emergency signs?

Emergency signs are green with a white symbol. They show, for example, emergency exits, escape routes, first aid and assembly points. Read more in the article Emergency signs.

What are fire safety signs?

Fire safety signs are red with a white symbol. They show where fire extinguishers, fire hoses, fire ladders or fire alarm call points are. The most important one is the fire extinguisher sign F001. For an overview, see the article Fire safety signs.

Why fixed colours and shapes?

In an emergency there is no time to read. We understand colour and shape faster than text. That is why the signs look the same throughout Europe. Once you know what a yellow triangle means, you recognise it everywhere.

In Germany, marking is mandatory for employers. ASR A1.3 regulates when which sign must be displayed and how large it must be. The basis is the risk assessment.

Safety signs from FireMat

In our shop you will find fire safety signs, emergency signs, prohibition signs and projecting and corner signs. All signs comply with EN ISO 7010. You can find an overview under Warning signs and safety signs.