ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 22-Sep-2026
• ICS: 01.080.10 - Public information symbols. Signs. Plates. Labels
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 145/SC 2 - Safety identification, signs, shapes, symbols and colours
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 145/SC 2 - Safety identification, signs, shapes, symbols and colours
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 23-Sep-2026
• Due Date: 17-Jun-2027
• Completion Date: 23-Sep-2026

• Amends: ISO 20712-3:2024 - Water safety signs and beach safety flags — Part 3: Guidance for use
• Effective Date: 22-Jun-2024

Overview

ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1 is an amendment to the international standard ISO 20712-3, focusing specifically on the integration of a UV index-based warning and information system into water safety signs and beach safety flags. Developed by ISO/TC 145/SC 2, this amendment reflects updated guidance on warning of ultraviolet (UV) radiation risks in aquatic environments through standardized graphical symbols, color-coded risk levels, and clear protective recommendations. The guideline aims to improve public awareness and personal safety measures regarding sun exposure at beaches, pools, and other aquatic sites.

Key Topics

• UV Radiation Risk Communication: The amendment establishes a clear structure for conveying UV risk through signage, utilizing internationally recognized symbology and straightforward language.
• Color-Coded Risk Levels: UV index categories are assigned three risk levels (I, II, III), each with distinct colors and protective guidance:
  • Level I (Green): No protection required
  • Level II (Yellow): Protection required; recommends use of umbrella, hat, sunglasses, outerwear, and sunscreen
  • Level III (Red): Stay indoors; graphical symbol of a building
• Sign Placement and Integration: Guidance for installing UV warnings at main and pedestrian entrances to aquatic environments, either as standalone signs or integrated components of existing water safety signage.
• Alignment with Global UV Index: The system references the WHO’s UV index scale (1 to 11+), translating scientific UV index measurements into public-facing guidance for immediate action.
• Color and Symbol Standardization: The amendment specifies colorimetric and photometric parameters in accordance with ISO 3864-4, ensuring high visibility and consistency across contexts.

Applications

• Public Beaches and Swimming Pools: Operators and local authorities can deploy signs that visually communicate daily UV risk and corresponding protective measures at access points and high-traffic areas.
• Recreational Facilities: Pools, water parks, and lakeside resorts benefit from standardized UV risk signage, enhancing guest safety and promoting compliance with international standards.
• Event Venues and Tourist Destinations: Locations with significant outdoor foot traffic can use these guidelines to protect visitors from harmful UV exposure, reducing health incidents related to sunburn or heatstroke.
• Health Campaigns: Public health agencies can reference these standardized measures in educational materials, integrating recognized symbols and risk scales to reinforce sun protection messaging.

Related Standards

• ISO 20712-1 - Covers water safety signs and flags: specifications for their shapes, symbols, and colors.
• ISO 20712-2 - Details requirements for the design, positioning, and durability of beach safety flags.
• ISO 3864-4 - Specifies colorimetric and photometric properties for safety signage, ensuring consistency and high legibility.
• ISO 7010-W027 - Defines the graphical symbol for optical radiation warning, forming the basis for the UV warning sign.
• WHO Global Solar UV Index - Provides the reference scale and public health recommendations adopted by this standard.

By adopting and implementing ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1, organizations and authorities can provide clear, actionable UV safety information at aquatic venues, supporting prevention of UV-related health risks and promoting responsible sun protection behavior. This amendment harmonizes UV risk communication in line with global public health recommendations, making water safety signage more comprehensive and responsive to contemporary environmental challenges.

International
Standard
ISO 20712-3
Fourth edition
Water safety signs and beach safety
2024-05
flags —
AMENDMENT 1
Part 3:
2026-09
Guidance for use
AMENDMENT 1: UV index-based
warning and information system
Reference number
ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd.1:2026(en) © ISO 2026

ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd.1:2026(en)
© ISO 2026
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ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd.1:2026(en)
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 145, Graphical symbols, Subcommittee SC 2,
Safety identification, signs, shapes, symbols and colours.
A list of all parts in the ISO 20712 series can be found on the ISO website.
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ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd.1:2026(en)
Water safety signs and beach safety flags —
Part 3:
Guidance for use
AMENDMENT 1: UV index-based warning and information system

7.3.5
Add the following new subclause after 7.3.4, before Annex A.
7.3.5  Signs for warning of UV risk and recommended protective measures
Signs for warning of risk from ultraviolet (UV) radiation and recommended protective measures should be
placed at every main entrance to an aquatic environment and should be used at pedestrian e
...