ISO 16069:2017
(Main)Graphical symbols — Safety signs — Safety way guidance systems (SWGS)
Graphical symbols — Safety signs — Safety way guidance systems (SWGS)
ISO 16069:2017 describes the principles governing the design and application of visual components used to create a safety way guidance system (SWGS). ISO 16069:2017 contains general principles valid both for electrically powered and for phosphorescent components. Special information which is related to the type of component is given to assist in defining the environment of use, choice of material, layout, installation and maintenance of SWGS. ISO 16069:2017 does not cover risk assessment. Applications with different risks to the occupants typically require different layouts and types of SWGS. The specific application and exact final design of SWGS is entrusted to those persons responsible for this task. ISO 16069:2017 also does not include the special considerations of possible tactile or audible components of SWGS, nor does it include requirements for high mounted components of the emergency escape route lighting, especially the design and application of emergency escape route lighting. ISO 16069:2017 is intended, by collaboration and coordination, to be used by all other Technical Committees within ISO and IEC charged with developing SWGS for their specific requirements. ISO 16069:2017 is not to be used for ships falling under regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Symboles graphiques — Signaux de sécurité — Systèmes de guidage pour cheminement d'évacuation de sécurité
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 16069
Second edition
2017-11
Graphical symbols — Safety signs —
Safety way guidance systems (SWGS)
Symboles graphiques — Signaux de sécurité — Systèmes de guidage
pour cheminement d'évacuation de sécurité
Reference number
ISO 16069:2017(E)
©
ISO 2017
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ISO 16069:2017(E)
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© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
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ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
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ISO 16069:2017(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Planning a SWGS . 4
5 Basic principles for the design of SWGS . 5
5.1 Design objectives . 5
5.1.1 General. 5
5.1.2 Continuity . 5
5.1.3 Visual reinforcement . 6
5.1.4 Location . 6
5.1.5 Destination . 6
5.1.6 Avoidance of confusion at decision points . 6
5.1.7 Dead ends . 6
5.1.8 Minimization of potentially competing or confusing information in the
visual field on escape routes . 6
5.1.9 Multi-level facilities . 7
5.2 Guidance lines . 7
5.3 Escape route signs . 7
5.3.1 Design . 7
5.3.2 Consistency of use . 9
5.3.3 Installed position . 9
5.4 Signs, markings and plans .10
5.4.1 Marking of stairs, ramps and ladders .10
5.4.2 Marking of emergency exits .10
5.4.3 Marking of fire-fighting, emergency and safety equipment and alarm-
initiating devices .10
5.4.4 Marking of hazards along the escape route .10
5.4.5 Marking of assembly areas and safe areas at the end of the escape route .11
5.4.6 Marking of escape routes for the specific use of disabled persons .11
5.4.7 Escape and evacuation plan signs .11
5.4.8 Access platforms .11
6 Specific requirements for electrically powered components .11
6.1 General .11
6.2 Requirements for guidance lines and escape route signs .12
6.2.1 Escape route sign luminaire .12
6.2.2 Guidance lines made by point sources and accompanying escape route signs .12
6.2.3 Guidance lines made by line sources and accompanying escape route signs .12
6.2.4 Guidance lines made of discrete luminaires .12
6.3 Marking .12
6.3.1 Marking of stairs and ramps .12
6.3.2 Marking of emergency exits .13
6.3.3 Marking of hazards along the escape route .13
6.4 Emergency power supply and operating conditions for the electrical components .13
6.5 Documentation and logbook .13
6.6 Inspection and maintenance .14
7 Specific requirements for phosphorescent components .14
7.1 General .14
7.2 Luminance requirements for phosphorescent components of a SWGS .14
7.2.1 Minimum luminance properties . .14
7.2.2 Minimum luminance required in installed position .15
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ISO 16069:2017(E)
7.3 Guidance lines and escape route signs and their location within a SWGS .15
7.3.1 Guidance lines .15
7.3.2 Escape route signs .15
7.4 Marking .16
7.4.1 Marking of stairs, ramps and ladders .16
7.4.2 Marking of door frames of emergency exits . .16
7.4.3 Marking of hazards along the route .16
7.4.4 Marking of fire-fighting, emergency and safety equipment along the
escape route .16
7.4.5 Floor numbering and stairwell identification for multi-storey building.16
7.5 Illumination requirements .17
7.6 Verification of illumination and luminance .17
7.7 Documentation and logbook .17
7.8 Inspection and maintenance .17
Annex A (normative) Measurement of photopic luminance of phosphorescent components
in the laboratory .19
Annex B (normative) On-site measurement of luminance performance of phosphorescent
components of a SWGS .25
Annex C (informative) Visibility and identifiability of phosphorescent safety way guidance
components and their sizing and location .29
Bibliography .39
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ISO 16069:2017(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see the following
URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 145, Graphical symbols, Subcommittee
SC 2, Safety identifications, signs, shapes, symbols, and colours.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 16069:2004) which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared with the previous edition are as follows:
a) the component luminance requirements of the electrical systems have been updated;
b) the component luminance and dimensions of non-electrical phosphorescent systems have been
updated;
c) the document and its requirements have been simplified to improve ease of use and eliminate
ambiguity;
d) all example figures which by definition could not cover all arrangements have been removed;
e) an informative annex for designers of non-electrical phosphorescent systems regarding observation
distances has been added.
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ISO 16069:2017(E)
Introduction
Safety way guidance systems need to be standardized so that they communicate the information
necessary to allow people to be able to evacuate a building efficiently and, if necessary, to assemble in
designated safe areas in cases of fire or other emergencies.
Through the consistent and uniform international application of common SWGS design principles,
persons in all countries will be better able to recognize and follow the directional information provided
by such systems to assist in providing a safe evacuation. As an additional benefit, a standardized SWGS
will assist fire fighters and other rescue teams to evacuate occupied areas during emergency situations.
In order to communicate safety way guidance information efficiently across language barriers, the
systems defined in this document incorporate the use of graphical symbols and markings such as
arrows, conforming to ISO 7010 and ISO 3864-3.
Illumination of escape routes is not part of the SWGS and is therefore not covered by this document;
a SWGS is not intended to replace emergency escape lighting. There will be certain situations where
emergency escape lighting is not needed, and other situations, for example where smoke is present,
where emergency escape lighting can lose its efficiency and a SWGS will be more effective in assisting
emergency evacuation, but it is generally recommended that SWGS be used in combination with the
illumination of escape routes to provide additional benefits for the whole system.
The principles given in this document are intended to provide consistent design elements irrespective
of whether they use electrically powered or phosphorescent components. Consistent use will improve
public awareness of the systems and assist rapid recognition and effectiveness in the case of an
emergency.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 16069:2017(E)
Graphical symbols — Safety signs — Safety way guidance
systems (SWGS)
IMPORTANT — The colours represented in the electronic file of this document can be neither
viewed on screen nor printed as true representations. For the purposes of colour matching,
see ISO 3864-4 which provides colorimetric and photometric properties together with, as a
guideline, references from colour order systems.
1 Scope
This document describes the principles governing the design and application of visual components
used to create a safety way guidance system (SWGS).
This document contains general principles valid both for electrically powered and for phosphorescent
components. Special information which is related to the type of component is given to assist in defining
the environment of use, choice of material, layout, installation and maintenance of SWGS.
This document does not cover risk assessment. Applications with different risks to the occupants
typically require different layouts and types of SWGS. The specific application and exact final design of
SWGS is entrusted to those persons responsible for this task.
This document also does not include the special considerations of possible tactile or audible components
of SWGS, nor does it include requirements for high mounted components of the emergency escape route
lighting, especially the design and application of emergency escape route lighting.
This document is intended, by collaboration and coordination, to be used by all other Technical Committees
within ISO and IEC charged with developing SWGS for their specific requirements. This document is not to
be used for ships falling under regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements 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.
ISO 3864-1, Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Part 1: Design principles for safety
signs and safety markings
ISO 3864-3, Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Part 3: Design principles for graphical
symbols for use in safety signs
ISO 3864-4:2011, Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Part 4: Colorimetric and
photometric properties of safety sign materials
ISO 7010:2011, Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Registered safety signs
ISO 23601, Safety identification — Escape and evacuation plan signs
IEC 60364-5-56, Low-Voltage electrical Installations — Part 5-56: Selection and erection of electrical
equipment — Safety services
IEC 60598-2-22, Luminaires — Part 2-22: Particular requirements — Luminaires for emergency lighting
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ISO 16069:2017(E)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
assembly area
designated safe area outside the occupied area where occupants are expected to assemble
3.2
dead end
corridor, or part of a corridor whose depth is greater than its width from which there is only one
escape route
[SOURCE: ISO 15370:2010, 3.5]
3.3
emergency escape lighting
that part of emergency lighting (3.4) that provides illumination for the safety of people leaving a location
or attempting to terminate a potentially dangerous process before doing so
3.4
emergency lighting
lighting provided for use when the supply to the normal lighting fails
3.5
factor of distance
z
relationship between the height (h) of a sign and observation distance (l), used to determine observation
distances of signs
l
z =
h
[SOURCE: ISO 3864-1:2011, 3.2]
3.6
guidance line
line of luminous material on or close to the floor provided to clearly delineate an escape route or define
an escape path through an open area
3.7
high location
installation position above doors or at or close to ceiling level for safety signs and other safety way
guidance components
3.8
intermediate location
installation position between a low location (3.9) and a high location (3.7) especially at eye level for
safety signs and other safety way guidance components
3.9
low location
installation position at or close to floor level for safety signs and other safety way guidance components
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ISO 16069:2017(E)
3.10
luminance contrast
luminance of the brightest element of the safety way guidance component divided by the
luminance of the surrounding environment
3.11
marking
method of highlighting and identifying specific building components or equipment
3.12
observation distance
l
distance from which a sign is identifiable and conspicuous
3.13
observation distance
l
distance from which guidance lines (3.6) and door frames are visible
3.14
period of use
time over which the safety way guidance system is expected to be operational
3.15
phosphorescent material
material incorporating phosphors that, if excited by UV or visible radiation, store energy, which is
emitted as light over a period of time
Note 1 to entry: A phosphorescent sign is the same as “photoluminescent” commonly used in the literature of the
photoluminescent safety sign industry.
[SOURCE: ISO 3864-4:2011, 3.12, modified — Note 1 to entry has been added.]
3.16
safety sign
sign which gives a general safety message, obtained by a combination of colour and geometric shape
and which, by the addition of a graphical symbol, gives a particular safety message
[SOURCE: ISO 3864-1:2011, 3.12]
3.17
safety way guidance system
SWGS
system that provides luminous markings and direction information for the safety of people leaving a
location
3.18
sign height
diameter of a circular geometric shape or height of a rectangular or triangular geometric shape
Note 1 to entry: Registered safety sign originals in ISO 7010 are in a uniform 70 mm size with corner marks to
enable accurate enlargement and reduction scaling. A border is not shown.
[SOURCE: ISO 3864-1:2011, 3.13, modified — Note 1 to entry has been added.]
3.19
supplementary sign
sign that is supportive of a safety sign and the main purpose of which is to provide additional
clarification
[SOURCE: ISO 3864-1:2011, 3.14]
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ISO 16069:2017(E)
4 Planning a SWGS
This document provides guidelines for the installation of the guidance system in buildings where it has
been decided as the result of risk assessment to install a luminous safety way guidance system.
Since SWGS can consist of a variety of possible components, steps shall be taken at the planning stage to
determine appropriate designs.
The SWGS shall take into account the following factors:
a) the characteristics of the exit path of the horizontal and stairwell sections of the defined escape
route and exit paths to them, including through open areas;
b) the location of emergency exit doors and how the door frame can be marked and the placement of
escape route signs;
c) the location of assembly stations and refuge areas;
d) the location of all possible escape routes (emergency stairwell, escape windows, ladders);
e) the location of escape and evacuation plan signs at a prominent place;
f) the location of hazards such as machinery, dangerous goods, steps and obstacles;
g) the location of safety equipment and fire equipment;
h) the characteristics of the installed emergency lighting in terms of designed illuminance
performance and duration;
i) the location and type of high mounted emergency exit signs installed as part of the emergency
lighting system;
j) for phosphorescent systems, the type of light source of the normal and emergency lighting and
designed/in situ illuminance at potential placement of guidance lines and safety signs;
k) for phosphorescent systems, the time management of the normal light sources in the location
(occupancy floor and stairwells) for phosphorescent components to be sufficiently exposed to an
illumination source in order to function in dark surroundings;
l) for electrically powered systems, the potential locations for the independent power supply, the
potential locations for routing of the power cables and devices for detection of failure of power
supply and/or smoke;
m) the possible combinations of components in SWGS to assist evacuation under specific risk
conditions such as presence of diffused or stratified smoke, earthquakes, and presence of obstacles
or specific crowding conditions;
n) the fire compartmentalization provisions;
o) the location of opening devices for doors, e.g. sliding doors, door handle, push bars, emergency push
buttons;
p) the design of existing escape route signs.
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ISO 16069:2017(E)
5 Basic principles for the design of SWGS
5.1 Design objectives
5.1.1 General
Safety way guidance systems shall provide the users of the building with consistent, coherent
information so that they can be evacuated efficiently from any occupancy unit to a safe area.
Luminous safety way guidance systems can be installed in addition to high located emergency lighting
and its associated high located escape route signs. Safety way guidance systems shall be installed
and activated in all risk situations that have been defined by risk assessments. Examples of situations
include blackout of the exit path and escape route signs due to potential failure of the power supply to
the escape route lighting or the risk of smoke obscuring the exit path and emergency exit doors.
The approach of both phosphorescent or electrically powered safety way guidance systems is luminous
marking of the exit path and changes of level of the emergency exit path, not the illumination of the
floor or steps. Consequently, for the safety way guidance systems specified in this document there is
not a requirement to specify the horizontal illuminance on the centre line of the escape path or vertical
illuminance at safety equipment.
Activation/charging of phosphorescent components to produce light emission in dark surroundings
requires pre-exposure of the components to the installed light sources. The luminance performance
during the decay mode of the phosphorescent components depends upon the light spectral
characteristics of the light source, the excitation illuminance at the location of the phosphorescent
component and the duration of the excitation.
All the components of an activated safety way guidance system shall have a luminance contrast with
the surroundings of >3 when in use and for at least the time allocated for escape in clear air conditions.
For the same performance of luminous material, the observation distance for visibility of emergency
exit door marking is longer than the distance for identification of the escape route sign at the exit door.
In conditions of smoke on the emergency exit path, the light from luminous way guidance components
is attenuated exponentially with smoke density and light is scattered producing a luminous veil. As
the smoke density increases, an emergency exit door may no longer be visible but the guidance lines
and escape route signs in short distance from the evacuee can be visible to direct evacuees towards an
emer
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