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

ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026 is an ISO amendment to ISO 20712-3:2024, Water safety signs and beach safety flags - Part 3: Guidance for use. It adds guidance for a UV index-based warning and information system for aquatic environments, including how to show UV risk and the protective measures that go with it. The amendment is for people who design, place, or manage beach and water-access signage.

What does ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026 specify?

ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026 specifies added guidance for warning of ultraviolet (UV) risk and recommending protective measures. The amendment focuses on signage at entrances to aquatic environments, and on how to link the displayed message to the day’s UV risk.

Part of the amendment	What it covers
7.3.5	New guidance for signs warning of UV risk and recommended protective measures
Annex E	Informative comparison of UV index values with the document’s risk levels
Figures 5 and 6	Example layouts for a standalone UV warning sign and for UV warnings integrated into beach safety signs

The new subclause is placed after 7.3.4 and before Annex A in the amended text. That matters in practice because the UV message is treated as part of the sign system already used for access and beach safety.

What are the key requirements of ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026?

ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026 gives a practical sign concept rather than a technical measurement method. The main point is that people entering an aquatic environment should see the UV warning where they are making the access decision.

Placement and integration

The amendment says UV warning signs should be placed at every main entrance to an aquatic environment and used at pedestrian entrances. It also says they can be part of the access signage described in 7.3.2 and 7.3.3. In practice, that means the UV message can stand alone or be built into the normal beach or access sign set.

What the sign should communicate

The amendment recommends three pieces of information:

• the optical radiation warning sign ISO 7010-W027 with supplementary text for UV radiation
• the daily UV risk, shown by a digital display, a changeable physical sign, or a reference to an internet source via QR code
• a three-part colour-coded scale with Roman numerals I to III and matching protective advice

This gives users a quick warning, a current risk value, and a direct action message.

Risk levels and protective advice

The amendment uses three risk levels:

• Level I - green, white contrast, “No protection required”
• Level II - yellow, black contrast, “Protection required”, with symbols such as umbrella, hat, sunglasses, outerwear, and sunscreen
• Level III - red, white contrast, “Stay indoors”, with a building symbol

In practice, the sign does not just say “UV risk” - it tells people what to do.

Colour and appearance

The amendment says the colours green, yellow, red, white and black should conform to the colorimetric and photometric requirements in ISO 3864-4. That matters because the sign needs to look consistent and remain readable in real outdoor conditions.

UV index linkage

Annex E compares the WHO UV index values with the document’s risk levels I, II and III. This helps organizations convert a UV forecast into the simplified sign message used in the standard.

What terms does ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026 define?

• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation - radiation from the sun in the UV range, which the signs are meant to warn about.
• UV index - a worldwide measure of solar UV radiation at the earth’s surface, used here to guide protection advice.
• Risk level I, II, III - the document’s simplified exposure categories for sign messages and protective measures.
• Optical radiation - the broader radiation category named by ISO 7010-W027 for the warning symbol.
• ISO 7010-W027 - the warning sign for optical radiation, used with supplementary text for UV radiation.
• ISO 3864-4 - the standard that sets the colour and contrast requirements for the sign colours.

Who uses ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026?

ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026 is used by people responsible for safety communication at aquatic environments. That includes beach operators, public-access site managers, sign designers, and safety coordinators who need to place entrance signage and choose the right UV warning message for the day’s conditions.

What changed in ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026 from the previous edition?

ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026 amends ISO 20712-3:2024 by adding a new UV warning and information system. The amendment inserts subclause 7.3.5, adds Annex E with the UV index comparison, and adds a bibliography entry for a practical guide to the Global Solar UV Index.

Which standards are used with ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026?

The amendment names two ISO standards that support the UV sign system:

• ISO 7010-W027 - provides the optical radiation warning symbol used on the sign.
• ISO 3864-4 - provides the colorimetric and photometric requirements for the sign colours.

What does the ISO 20712-3:2024/Amd 1:2026 document contain?

The amendment contains one new subclause, one informative annex, two example figures, and one bibliography addition. Figure 5 shows a standalone UV warning sign, while Figure 6 shows UV warnings integrated into beach safety signs. Annex E adds the UV index comparison table and an illustrative UV index figure, which are used to translate forecast UV information into the document’s risk levels and protective advice.

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.
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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
...