EN 80416-3:2002/A1:2011

Basic principles for graphical symbols for use on equipment - Part 3: Guidelines for the application of graphical symbols

International Standard 80416 is a multi-part standard which provides principles and guidelines for the creation and application of graphical symbols for use on equipment. This part of IEC 80416 provides guidelines for the application of graphical symbols for use on equipment in order to maintain visual clarity and overall consistency when such graphical symbols are applied. It stipulates the permissible extent by which a symbol original may be modified in reproduction for actual use on equipment.

Allgemeine Grundlagen für Graphische Symbole auf Geräten und Einrichtungen - Teil 3: Leitfaden zur Anwendung Graphischer Symbole

Principes élémentaires pour les symboles graphiques utilisables sur le matériel - Partie 3: Guide pour l'application des symboles graphiques

Osnovna načela za grafične simbole za uporabo na opremi - 3. del: Smernice za uporabo grafičnih simbolov (IEC 80416-3:2002/A1:2011)

Mednarodni standard 80416 je večdelni standard, ki podaja načela in smernice za oblikovanje in uporabo grafičnih simbolov za uporabo na opremi. Ta del IEC 80416 podaja smernice za uveljavitev grafičnih simbolov za uporabo na opremi za ohranitev vizualne jasnosti in splošne doslednosti, ko se uporabljajo taki grafični simboli. Določa dovoljeni obseg, do katerega se originalni simbol lahko spremeni pri reprodukciji za dejansko uporabo na opremi.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 18-Aug-2011
• Withdrawal Date: 15-Aug-2014
• ICS: 01.080.20 - Graphical symbols for use on specific equipment
• Technical Committee: CLC/SR 3C - Graphical symbols for use on equipment
• Drafting Committee: IEC/SC 3C - IEC_SC_3C
• Parallel Committee: IEC/SC 3C - IEC_SC_3C
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 19-Aug-2011
• Completion Date: 19-Aug-2011
• Ref Project: SIST EN 80416-3:2003/A1:2011 - Basic principles for graphical symbols for use on equipment - Part 3: Guidelines for the application of graphical symbols (IEC 80416-3:2002/A1:2011)

Relations

• Amends: EN 80416-3:2002 - Basic principles for graphical symbols for use on equipment - Part 3: Guidelines for the application of graphical symbols
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

Overview

EN 80416-3:2002/A1:2011 (IEC 80416-3:2002/A1:2011) is the CLC/CENELEC amendment that provides guidelines for the application of graphical symbols on equipment. Adopted as a European Standard, this document amplifies the IEC 80416 series by focusing on practical application: how to place, adapt and present registered graphical symbols so they remain clear, consistent and legible in real-world equipment contexts.

The amendment is aligned with related standards (IEC 80416-1, ISO 80416-4, IEC 60417, ISO 7000, ISO 3864 and ISO 7010) and clarifies permitted modifications, orientation rules, negation methods and considerations for screens and displays.

Key Topics

• Permitted modifications: Allowed design adaptations include changing line width, rounding corners, filling areas, interrupting crossing lines, adapting distances and relative proportions, and modifying arrow types. These changes must preserve the symbol's basic communicative characteristics.
• Arrows and arrow types: The standard permits modification of arrow styles (examples provided in the amendment) when required by equipment design, while maintaining meaning and recognizability.
• Negation and prohibition: Use of negation (for example, a circle with a diagonal bar for prohibition) must follow IEC 80416-1 and ISO 3864-1. A circle with a diagonal bar denotes 'prohibition' only and shall not be repurposed for other meanings.
• Orientation and mirroring: Symbols may be mirrored or rotated when there is no conflict of meaning; however, orientation can be application-dependent, and designers must avoid ambiguity where meaning changes with orientation.
• Screens and displays: For adaptation of symbols to screens and icons, ISO 80416-4 should be consulted to ensure clarity and usability in digital contexts.

Applications

This amendment is practical for professionals who implement or manage graphical symbols on:

• Industrial and consumer equipment panels
• Control interfaces and operator consoles
• Product labeling and product safety markings
• Human-machine interfaces and embedded displays

Benefits include:

• Improved legibility through permitted, controlled adaptations
• Consistent family appearance when multiple symbols are used together
• Reduced ambiguity via clear rules on negation, orientation and colour referencing

Related Standards

Key referenced documents include:

• IEC 80416-1:2008 - Creation of graphical symbols for registration
• ISO 80416-4 - Adaptation for screens and displays (icons)
• IEC 60417 / ISO 7000 - Collections of graphical symbols for equipment
• ISO 3864-1 / ISO 3864-2 / ISO 7010 - Safety colours and signs guidance
• IEC 60073 - Coding principles for indicators and actuators

For implementers, cross-referencing these standards ensures compliant symbol design, application and consistent user interpretation across devices and markets.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2011
2VQRYQDQDþHOD]DJUDILþQHVLPEROH]DXSRUDERQDRSUHPLGHO6PHUQLFH]D
XSRUDERJUDILþQLKVLPERORY,(&$
Basic principles for graphical symbols for use on equipment - Part 3: Guidelines for the
application of graphical symbols (IEC 80416-3:2002/A1:2011)
Allgemeine Grundlagen für Graphische Symbole auf Einrichtungen - Teil 3: Leitfaden zur
Anwendung Graphischer Symbole (IEC 80416-3:2002/A1:2011)
Principes élémentaires pour les symboles graphiques utilisables sur le matériel - Partie
3: Guide pour l'application des symboles graphiques (CEI 80416-3:2002/A1:2011)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 80416-3:2002/A1:2011
ICS:
01.080.20 *UDILþQLVLPEROL]DSRVHEQR Graphical symbols for use on
RSUHPR specific equipment
29.020 Elektrotehnika na splošno Electrical engineering in
general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 80416-3/A1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
August 2011
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 01.080.20
English version
Basic principles for graphical symbols for use on equipment -
Part 3: Guidelines for the application of graphical symbols
(IEC 80416-3:2002/A1:2011)
Principes élémentaires pour les symboles Allgemeine Grundlagen für Graphische
graphiques utilisables sur le matériel - Symbole auf Geräten und Einrichtungen -
Partie 3: Guide pour l'application des Teil 3: Leitfaden zur Anwendung
symboles graphiques Graphischer Symbole
(CEI 80416-3:2002/A1:2011) (IEC 80416-3:2002/A1:2011)

This amendment A1 modifies the European Standard EN 80416-3:2002; it was approved by CENELEC on 2011-
08-16. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate
the conditions for giving this amendment the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.

This amendment exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language
made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the
Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B - 1000 Brussels

© 2011 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 80416-3:2002/A1:2011 E

Foreword
The text of document 3C/1687/CDV, future edition 1 of IEC 80416-3:2002/A1:2011, prepared by SC 3C,
Graphical symbols for use on equipment, of IEC TC 3, Information structures, documentation and
graphical symbols was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2012-05-16
• latest date by which the document has
to be implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
(dow) 2014-08-16
• latest date by which the national
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 80416-3:2002/A1:2011 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.

- 3 - EN 80416-3:2002/A1:2011
Replace the entire Annex ZA by the following:
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.

NOTE  When an international publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant EN/HD
applies.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year

IEC 60073 - Basic and safety principles for man-machine EN 60073 -
interface, marking and identification - Coding
principles for indicators and actuators

IEC 60417 Data- Graphical symbols for use on equipment - -
base
IEC 80416-1 2008 Basic principles for graphical symbols for use EN 80416-1 2009
on equipment -
Part 1: Creation of graphical symbols for
registration
ISO/IEC 80416-2 - Basic principles for graphical symbols for use EN 80416-2 -
on equipment -
Part 2: Form and use of arrows

ISO 3864-1 - Graphical symbols - Safety colours and safety - -
signs -
Part 1: Design principles for safety signs in
workplaces and public areas
ISO 3864-2 - Graphical symbols - Safety colours and safety - -
signs -
Part 2: Design principles for product safety
labels
ISO 7000 - Graphical symbols for use on equipment - - -
Index and synopsis
ISO 7010 - Graphical symbols - Safety colours and safety - -
signs - Safety signs used in workplaces and
public areas
ISO 80416-4 - Basic principles for graphical symbols for use - -
on equipment -
Part 4: Guidelines for the adaptation of
graphical symbols for use on screens and
displays (icons)
IEC 80416-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2011-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
Basic principles for graphical symbols for use on equipment –
Part 3: Guidelines for the application of graphical symbols

Principes élémentaires pour les symboles graphiques utilisables sur le matériel –
Partie 3: Guide pour l’application des symboles graphiques

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE PRICE CODE
F
CODE PRIX
ICS 01.080.20 ISBN 978-2-88912-579-1

SIST EN 80416-3
...