ASTM F1749-15(2020)

Standard Specification for Fitness Equipment and Fitness Facility Safety Signage and Labels

ABSTRACT
This specification establishes requirements for safety signage and labels for fitness equipment and fitness facilities. Product safety signs and labels shall be classified according to the relative seriousness of the potential hazards. The classifications shall be noted by the signal words danger, warning and caution. Fitness facility signs are classified as general safety signs and shall use signal words such as safety first, be careful and think. The label design for fitness equipment and fitness facility safety sign design are presented in details.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification establishes requirements for safety signage and labels for fitness equipment as defined in 3.1.3 and fitness facilities as defined in 3.1.4. It provides for the design, placement, and minimum wording required.  
1.2 It is the intent of this specification to set guidelines for warnings and signage to be placed on fitness equipment and in fitness facilities where the intended users are 13 years old and older.  
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2020
• ICS: 97.220.30 - Indoor sports equipment
• Technical Committee: F08 - Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities
• Drafting Committee: F08.30 - Fitness Products

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F1749-15 - Standard Specification for Fitness Equipment and Fitness Facility Safety Signage and Labels
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F2216-17a - Standard Specification for Selectorized Strength Equipment
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F2106-18 - Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Design and Performance Characteristics of Motorized Treadmills
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F2811-15(2020) - Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Design and Performance Characteristics of Elliptical Trainers
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F2276-23 - Standard Specification for Fitness Equipment
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F1250-20 - Standard Specification for Stationary Upright and Recumbent Exercise Bicycles and Upper and Total Body Ergometers
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F3105-20 - Standard Specification for Externally Loaded Strength Training Equipment, Strength Training Benches and External Weight Storage Equipment
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F3021-17 - Standard Specification for Universal Design of Fitness Equipment for Inclusive Use by Persons with Functional Limitations and Impairments
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F2571-15(2020) - Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Design and Performance Characteristics of Fitness Equipment
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F3023-18 - Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Design and Performance Characteristics of Stationary Upright and Recumbent Exercise Bicycles and Upper and Total Body Ergometers
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F2115-19 - Standard Specification for Motorized Treadmills
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F3101-21a - Standard Specification for Unsupervised Public Use Outdoor Fitness Equipment
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F2810-15(2020) - Standard Specification for Elliptical Trainers
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F3104-21 - Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Design and Performance Characteristics of Externally Loaded Strength Training Equipment, Strength Training Benches and External Weight Storage Equipment
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F2277-17a - Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Design and Performance Characteristics of Selectorized Strength Equipment
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020

Overview

ASTM F1749-15(2020): Standard Specification for Fitness Equipment and Fitness Facility Safety Signage and Labels establishes key requirements for safety signage and labels used in both fitness equipment and fitness facilities. Published by ASTM International, this standard supports manufacturers, facility operators, and safety professionals in promoting safe exercise environments by mandating clear visual communication of hazards, risk awareness, and user responsibilities. The specification details the design, placement, and minimum wording for warning labels, instructional signage, and facility signs, following internationally accepted principles and ANSI standards for safety communication.

Key Topics

• Classification of Hazards

  • Safety signs and labels are classified based on the seriousness of potential hazards:
    • DANGER: Imminent risk resulting in death or serious injury-reserved for most extreme cases.
    • WARNING: Potential for death or serious injury if not avoided.
    • CAUTION: Risk of minor or moderate injury; also alerts against unsafe practices.
  • Facility signs use general safety signal words such as Safety First, Be Careful, and Think.

• Label and Sign Design

  • Labels and signage must comply with ANSI Z535 color and symbol standards:
    • Danger: Red background with white letters.
    • Warning: Orange background with black letters.
    • Caution: Yellow background with black letters.
    • General safety: Green background with white letters.
  • Include appropriate pictorials, signal words, and statements of hazard.
  • Lettering must be clear, with specified minimum heights and high contrast for visibility.

• Placement and Content Requirements

  • General warning labels must be positioned where users will see them before using equipment.
  • Site specific labels must be affixed at hazard locations (e.g., pinch points, electrical areas).
  • Facility safety signs must be placed prominently (e.g., at entrance doors or locker rooms).
  • Labels must address risk to children, need for reading instructions, contact information, and more.

Applications

• Fitness Equipment Manufacturers

  • Ensure all products feature compliant general and site-specific safety labels.
  • Provide facility safety signs with equipment, packaged and clearly identified, to help facilities meet signage requirements.

• Fitness Facility Operators

  • Install prominent facility safety signage to alert users about potential hazards and reinforce proper behavior.
  • Regularly check equipment labels for legibility and damage, replacing as needed to maintain ongoing compliance and user safety.

• Regulatory and Compliance Officers

  • Use the standard as a benchmark for safety inspections and audits in fitness environments.
  • Guide facility renovations and new installations to ensure signage meets ASTM F1749-15(2020) and referenced ANSI standards.

• Design and Engineering Professionals

  • Integrate standardized label and signage requirements into equipment development and facility design.
  • Test pictorials and warning graphics for effectiveness and user comprehension.

Related Standards

• ANSI Z535 Standards:

  • Z535.1: Safety Color Code
  • Z535.2: Environmental and Facility Safety Signs
  • Z535.3: Criteria for Safety Symbols
  • Z535.4: Product Safety Signs and Labels

• Other ASTM Standards: Additional ASTM standards may apply to specific types of fitness equipment or further define maintenance and inspection protocols.

Keywords: fitness equipment safety, fitness facility signage, warning labels, ASTM F1749, ANSI safety standards, facility safety sign, hazard classification, site specific label, equipment compliance, user safety

ASTM F1749-15(2020) provides practical guidance to foster injury prevention and build safer fitness environments through standardized safety signage and labeling. Ensuring compliance delivers value for manufacturers, facility managers, and end-users alike.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:F1749 −15 (Reapproved 2020) An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
Fitness Equipment and Fitness Facility Safety Signage and
Labels
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1749; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This specification sets forth guidelines for signage and labels associated with fitness equipment and
fitness facilities. Its goal is to help alert and remind users of safe practices in utilizing fitness
equipment. Like any other physical activity, exercise involving fitness equipment presents a potential
for injury. No label or sign alone can prevent all injuries, especially when fitness equipment is used
improperly. The ultimate responsibility for preventing injury lies with the equipment owner or
equipment user, or both. This specification, however, intends to promote proper fitness equipment
practices through standardization of signage and label requirements.
1. Scope 3.1.1 consumer fitness equipment, n—fitness equipment in-
tended for use by one person or one family unit.
1.1 This specification establishes requirements for safety
signage and labels for fitness equipment as defined in 3.1.3 and
3.1.2 control panel, n—the console on fitness equipment
fitness facilities as defined in 3.1.4. It provides for the design,
where the user chooses/enters an exercise routine, resistance
placement, and minimum wording required.
level, or otherwise interacts with the machine settings.
1.2 It is the intent of this specification to set guidelines for
3.1.3 fitness equipment, n—a product designed for use in
warnings and signage to be placed on fitness equipment and in
exercising specific or multiple muscles of the body.
fitness facilities where the intended users are 13 years old and
3.1.4 fitness facility, n—a location where people go to use
older.
institutional fitness equipment.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1.5 fitness facility equipment sign, n— a general safety
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the sign designed within the scope of this specification and
complying with all applicable ANSI standards that is posted
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical within a fitness facility and alerts users to potential hazards
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. associated with institutional fitness equipment.
3.1.6 general safety sign, n—a sign addressing safe exercise
2. Referenced Documents
practices, proper safety procedures, and the location of safety
2.1 ANSI Standards
equipment.
Z 535.1 Safety Color Code
Z 535.2 Environmental and Facility Safety Signs
3.1.7 general safety sign signal word, n— brief word(s) at
Z 535.3 Criteria for Safety Symbols
the top of a general safety sign designed to draw attention to
Z 535.4 Product Safety Signs and Labels
the sign.
3.1.7.1 Discussion—Examplesofthesewordsinclude safety
3. Terminology
first, be careful and think. The words danger, warning and
3.1 Definitions:
caution shall not be used (see also signal word).
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F08 on Sports 3.1.8 general warning label, n—a label designed in accor-
Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of
dance with this specification that is affixed to a portion of the
Subcommittee F08.30 on Fitness Products.
fitness equipment and draws attention to potential hazards
Current edition approved May 1, 2020. Published May 2020. Originally
associated with the use of that fitness equipment.
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as F1749 – 15. DOI:
10.1520/F1749-15R20.
2 3.1.9 hazard classification, n—choice of a signal word
Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
Floor, New York, NY 10036. based on the seriousness of the related potential hazard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1749−15 (2020)
3.1.10 institutional fitness equipment, n— fitness equipment 4.2.1 DANGER—The signal word DANGER shall be in
intended for use by numerous persons in a commercial or whitelettersonasafetyredbackground.ThePMScolorforthe
institutional, as opposed to a home, environment. background shall be Pantone 179C.
4.2.2 WARNING—The signal word WARNING shall be in
3.1.11 instruction plate, n— a placard on fitness equipment
blacklettersonasafetyorangebackground.ThePMScolorfor
that describes how to use the equipment properly.
the background shall be Pantone 152C.
3.1.11.1 Discussion—The instruction plate, may, but is not
4.2.3 CAUTION—The signal word CAUTION shall be in
required to, be part of the control panel.
blacklettersonasafetyyellowbackground.ThePMScolorfor
3.1.12 message panel, n—the area of a warning label where
the background shall be Pantone 108C.
the statement of hazard is placed.
4.2.4 General Safety Sign Signal Word(s)—The signal
3.1.13 pictorial, n—graphic representation that depicts or
word(s) for this type of sign or label shall be in white letters on
illustrates a potential hazard without the use of words.
a safety green background. The PMS color for the background
shall be Pantone 3415C.
3.1.14 signal icon, n—the symbol that precedes the signal
word in the signal word panel.
4.3 Multiple Hazard Identification:
3.1.14.1 Discussion—This symbol is a solid black triangle
4.3.1 One Sign or Label—When more than one hazard
with an exclamation point.
situation exists in close proximity to one another, they may be
addressed on the same label or sign providing that the
3.1.15 signal word, n—brief word at the top of a label
information for each hazard is presented effectively.
designed to draw attention to that label.
4.3.2 Level of Seriousness—When multiple hazards are
3.1.15.1 Discussion—The word(s) convey(s) the degree or
addressed on one label, the hazard with the greatest level of
level of seriousness of a potential hazard. Examples of signal
severityshallbeaddressedfirst.Theremaininghazardsshallbe
words are DANGER, WARNING, and CAUTION (see also
presented in order according to their relative levels of severity.
general safety sign signal word).
3.1.16 signal word panel, n—the location in which the
5. Label Design
signal word is placed.
5.1 General Warning Label:
3.1.16.1 Discussion—The color and placement of the signal
5.1.1 Hazard Classification—Fitness equipment shall be
word panel shall comply with all applicable ANSI standards
classified as potentially hazardous. If attention is not paid to
and 4.2.
the conditions of equipment usage, death or serious injury
3.1.17 site specific label, n—a label designed within the
could occur.
scope of this specification affixed to fitness equipment that
5.1.2 Signal Word—The signal word for this label shall be
draws attention to a potential hazard in the immediate area of
WARNING.
the label.
5.1.3 Label Design—Design of the label shall comply with
3.1.18 statement of hazard, n—the words that describe the
thefollowingrecommendationsforsignalwordandsignalicon
hazard(s) or the potential consequences, or both, of not
placement, signal word panel design and color, message style
avoiding the hazard(s).
and content, and letter size and placement (see Fig. 1).
5.1.3.1 Label Orientation—Vertical or horizontal label ori-
3.1.19 surround shape, n—the geometric configuration sur-
entation may be used (see Fig. 1).
rounding a pictorial.
5.1.3.2 Pictorial Panel—Pictorials may be used provided
they have been tested in accordance with ANSI Z535 for user
4. Label and Sign Classifications
acceptance and understandability and give the user immediate
4.1 Hazard Classification—Product safety signs and labels
recognition of the applicable hazard(s).
shall be classified according to the relative seriousness of the
5.1.3.3 Border—Acontrast shall exist between the label and
potential hazards. The classifications shall be noted by the
the mounting location on the fitness equipment. It is preferable
signal words DANGER, WARNING, and CAUTION. Fitness
that a border measuring at least 1.5 mm (0.06 in.) surround the
facility signs are classified as general safety signs and shall use
entirelabel.Whenthisisnotpossible,suchaswhenthegeneral
signal words such as safety first, be careful and think.
warning label is incorporated into an instruction plate or
4.1.1 DANGER—Indicates an imminently hazardous situa-
control panel, a contrast shall exist between the warnings and
tion which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
the remainder of the words or instructions present on the
Thissignalwordistobelimitedtothemostextremesituations.
control panel or instruction panel. This contrast shall be
4.1.2 WARNING—Indicates a potentially hazardous
achieved by making the background of the warning a different
situation, which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious
color or shade than the remainder of the instruction/control
injury.
panel.
4.1.3 CAUTION—Indicates a potentially hazardous
5.1.3.4 Color—When the general label is to be applied to
situation, which, if not avoided, may result in minor or
thefitnessequipment,anditisnottobeincorporatedwithinthe
moderate injury. It may also be used to alert against unsafe
instructionplateorcontrolpanel,thesignalwordpanelshallbe
practices.
safety orange. The remainder of the label shall be white, or
4.2 Signal Word Panel Color—The signal word panel color possess a significant contrast with the black sans serif text of
shall comply with ANSI Z535.1 as follows: the message panel. A border as defined in 5.1.3.3 shall be
F1749−15 (2020)
FIG. 1 Horizontal and Vertical General Warning Label Layout
present. When the general warning is incorporated within an sig
...