ISO 20712-3:2008
(Main)Water safety signs and beach safety flags — Part 3: Guidance for use
Water safety signs and beach safety flags — Part 3: Guidance for use
ISO 20712-3:2008 gives guidance for the selection and use of water safety signs as specified in ISO 20712-1 and beach safety flags as specified in ISO 20712-2, in aquatic environments. It provides guidance on their location, mounting positions, lighting and maintenance. It also provides guidance on the design and location of multiple signs. ISO 20712-3:2008 does not apply to traffic signs for use on the public highway or maritime signalling. It is not applicable to flags for use on firing ranges or to flags used to indicate water quality. It does not cover means of escape signs and their illumination which may be present.
Signaux de sécurité relatifs à l'eau et drapeaux de sécurité pour les plages — Partie 3: Lignes directrices pour l'utilisation
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 20712-3
First edition
2008-08-15
Water safety signs and beach safety
flags —
Part 3:
Guidance for use
Signaux de sécurité relatifs à l'eau et drapeaux de sécurité pour les
plages —
Partie 3: Lignes directrices pour l'utilisation
Reference number
ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
©
ISO 2008
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ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
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ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions. 1
4 Guidance for selection and siting of signs and flags . 2
4.1 Guidance for risk assessment. 2
4.2 Siting . 3
5 Water safety signs . 3
5.1 General requirements for aquatic environments . 3
5.2 Specific requirements for the swimming pool environment. 6
6 Beach safety flags . 7
6.1 General. 7
6.2 Application of specific beach safety flags . 7
6.3 Materials for beach safety flags . 8
6.4 Operation of flags . 8
6.5 Flag-pole . 9
6.6 Inspection and maintenance of flags and flag-poles. 9
6.7 Storage of flags. 9
7 Multiple signs . 9
7.1 General requirements. 9
7.2 Presentation of information. 9
7.3 Types of multiple signs. 11
8 Tsunami signing system. 14
Annex A (informative) Distance factor z. 15
Annex B (informative) Examples of signing swimming pools. 16
Annex C (informative) Examples of positioning beach safety flags . 18
Annex D (informative) Typeface for text . 20
Annex E (informative) Examples of tsunami signing system. 22
Bibliography . 26
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ISO 20712-3:2008(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.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
ISO 20712-3 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 145, Graphical symbols, Subcommittee SC 2,
Safety identification, signs, shapes, symbols and colours.
ISO 20712 consists of the following parts, under the general title Water safety signs and beach safety flags:
⎯ Part 1: Specifications for water safety signs used in workplaces and public areas
⎯ Part 2: Specifications for beach safety flags — Colour, shape, meaning and performance
⎯ Part 3: Guidance for use
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ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
Introduction
This part of ISO 20712 reflects good practice in the use of water safety signs and beach safety flags. The
illustrations show examples of the selection and location of water safety signs and beach safety flags
designed to provide information about aquatic hazards and the action necessary to avoid those hazards.
A standardized method of signing with the use of appropriate supplementary text throughout the working and
public environment assists the process of education and instruction on the meaning of water safety signs and
beach safety flags, and the appropriate actions to take. The intention of this part of ISO 20712 is to ensure a
uniformity of application of water safety signs and beach safety flags which leads to increased familiarity, and
therefore improved safety, for the users including visitors and for the general public.
The illustrations within this part of ISO 20712 are based on assumptions that some of the people may be
unfamiliar with the features of the indoor or outdoor swimming pools or of the beach. The illustrations are not
intended to cover every potentially hazardous situation and they should be interpreted as recommendations
and not as minimum requirements.
The use of water safety signs and beach safety flags does not replace the need for proper working methods
and safety instruction or for training in accident prevention and the actions to be taken in the event of an
emergency, or for the provision of lifeguards.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible
for its correct application.
NOTE 1 Some countries’ statutory regulations may differ in some respect from those given in this part of ISO 20712.
NOTE 2 Some countries may differ in some respect from the requirements given in this part of ISO 20712 where they
use the diamond geometric shape for warning signs.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
Water safety signs and beach safety flags —
Part 3:
Guidance for use
IMPORTANT — The colours represented in the electronic file of this part of ISO 20712 can be neither
viewed on screen nor printed as true representations. Although the copies of this part of ISO 20712
printed by ISO have been produced to correspond (with an acceptable tolerance as judged by the
naked eye) to the requirements of ISO 3864-1, it is not intended that these printed copies be used for
colour matching. Instead, consult ISO 3864-1, which provides colorimetric and photometric properties,
together with, as a guideline, references from colour order systems.
1 Scope
This part of ISO 20712 gives guidance for the selection and use of water safety signs as specified in
ISO 20712-1 and beach safety flags as specified in ISO 20712-2, in aquatic environments. It provides
guidance on their location, mounting positions, lighting and maintenance. It also provides guidance on the
design and location of multiple signs.
This part of ISO 20712 does not apply to traffic signs for use on the public highway or maritime signalling. It is
not applicable to flags for use on firing ranges or to flags used to indicate water quality. It does not cover
means of escape signs and their illumination which may be present.
NOTE The illustrations in this part of ISO 20712 are as accurate as possible within the limitations of the printing
process.
2 Normative references
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.
ISO 7001, Graphical symbols — Public information symbols
ISO 17724, Graphical symbols — Vocabulary
ISO 20712-1, Water safety signs and beach safety signs — Part 1: Specifications for water safety signs used
in workplaces and public areas
ISO 20712-2, Water safety signs and beach safety signs — Part 2: Specifications for beach safety flags —
Colour, shape, meaning and performance
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 17724 and the following apply.
3.1
beach
area forming a shoreline or sloping bank at the edge of the sea or a river estuary or lake
[ISO 20712-2:2007, 3.1]
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ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
3.2
beach safety flag
material that gives a particular safety message by means of a combination of one or more colours and a
geometric shape, and is attached by one end to a pole or rope
NOTE A flag can also have additional support, e.g. a horizontal support.
[ISO 20712-2:2007, 3.2]
3.3
factor of distance
z
relationship between the height (h) of a sign and the observation distance (l), used to determine observation
distances of signs
z = l/h
[ISO 17724:2003, 28]
3.4
multiple sign
two or more safety signs and/or associated supplementary information on the same carrier
3.5
pool basin
water tank where water related activities can take place
3.6
pool surround
area around a pool basin for entry and exit to the pool basin and general circulation space
3.7
safety sign
sign which gives a general safety message, obtained by a combination of a colour and geometric shape and
which, by the addition of a graphical symbol, gives a particular safety message
[ISO 17724:2003, 68]
3.8
sign height
diameter of a circular geometric shape or height of a rectangular or triangular geometric shape of the type of
safety sign
NOTE Any outer border to the safety sign is excluded. See ISO 3864-1.
4 Guidance for selection and siting of signs and flags
4.1 Guidance for risk assessment
Selection and use shall be determined following the results of a risk assessment. The risk assessment should
take into account the following specific issues:
a) hazards and associated risks of the aquatic environment;
b) regulations or legislation;
c) operation and management of the aquatic environment;
d) users and their foreseeable behaviour.
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ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
In specific situations, other issues may have to be considered in a risk assessment.
NOTE The users can be in unfamiliar environments, not wearing their normal sight correction lenses, or in bare feet.
As the result of the risk assessment, a comprehensive statement of requirements should be prepared and
used as the basis for the detailed design and specification for the selection and use of signs and flags.
4.2 Siting
4.2.1 Water safety signs and multiple signs
The siting of water safety signs and multiple signs should allow hazards to be recognized and appropriate
avoiding action to be taken by users.
The following matters (issues, factors) should be considered:
a) location of hazards and their signage;
b) location of entrances/access to facilities;
c) location of any other signs;
d) location of architectural features, décor, structures, vegetation or people that could conceal or divert
attention from signs;
e) lighting level and characteristics under both normal and mains-failure conditions;
f) appropriate supplementary text to water safety signs;
g) appropriate information on multiple signs.
4.2.2 Beach safety flags
The siting of beach safety flags should allow hazards to be recognized and appropriate avoiding action to be
taken by users.
The following matters (issues, factors) should be considered:
a) nature and location of hazards and their relevant signage;
b) zoning or boundaries of aquatic activities;
c) location of structures, beach furniture or vegetation that could conceal or divert attention from flags;
d) location of flag-poles;
e) appropriate information on multiple signs, such as an explanation of meaning of flags and the presence or
otherwise of a lifeguard service.
5 Water safety signs
5.1 General requirements for aquatic environments
5.1.1 General
The system designer should identify the locations of the hazards.
Signs should conform to ISO 20712-1.
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ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
The required sign height of the safety sign should be determined from the maximum viewing distance under
different external illumination conditions and the relevant distance factor z according to Annex A
(see Table A.1).
The following principles should be taken into account when planning water safety signage; signs should:
a) be sited conspicuously within the normal field of vision;
b) contrast to their surroundings;
NOTE The contrast and conspicuity may be increased by the provision of an outer border or by mounting on a
sign board with a colour contrasting to the surroundings.
c) be visible from any place within the vicinity of the hazard;
d) be sited at the same height throughout the aquatic facility, as far as is reasonable;
e) take precedence over all other signs with the exception of escape route signing, if applicable;
f) be placed so that they are not a hazard;
g) be placed at sharp changes in depth, if applicable;
h) be illuminated, if applicable, to ensure that they are visible and legible.
Care should be taken to avoid over-provision of safety signs at one location as this can confuse viewers and
result in individual safety messages not being noticed and understood.
5.1.2 Mounting height
The following principles should be applied to assist users of the facilities to predict the location of successive
signs, whether they are mounted on walls, posts or overhead.
a) Signs should be mounted as close as practicable to the observer’s line of sight in the vertical plane. For a
standing adult, this will be approximately 5° up or down from a point 1 500 mm above ground level in front
of the observer.
b) Signs that are freestanding or mounted overhead should be placed so that they are not a hazard.
c) Where practical, the space in front of the sign should be clear so that people without correction lenses or
with visual impairments are able to approach the sign to reduce their viewing distance.
5.1.3 Lighting
If artificial lighting is provided, effective illumination is required both in normal and in mains-failure conditions, if
applicable.
There are various ways of ensuring the satisfactory illumination of signs.
Some types of lighting, e.g. low pressure sodium, do not enable effective colour recognition and are therefore
unlikely to be suitable for the illumination of water safety signs.
Where a sign is illuminated by an external artificial light source, the vertical illumination should be a minimum
of 100 lx under normal lighting conditions.
5.1.4 Sign height and maximum viewing distance
A sign should be both visible and legible at the maximum viewing distance.
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ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
NOTE 1 The sign height necessary to achieve these criteria will depend upon the viewing distance and the illumination
of the sign. Measurement of sign height is given in Table 1.
NOTE 2 In external environments, a sign may be made more visible by provision of a larger colour contrasting border
or background.
Table 1 — Measurement of sign height
Type of sign
Safe condition Mandatory action Prohibition Warning
Sign
height
h
The required maximum viewing distance of a sign should be determined by its position within the area and
take into account the needs of people with normal sight and people with visual impairments. Distance factors z
for different illumination conditions and visual acuity are given in Table A.1.
The recommended maximum viewing distance for a particular sign height h, in millimetres (mm), can be
calculated from the following equation:
lz=h
where
l is the required viewing distance, in millimetres (mm);
z is the relevant distance factor from Table A.1.
Recommended maximum viewing distances for different minimum sign heights under normal/natural
illumination are given in Table 2.
Table 2 — Recommended maximum viewing distances for different minimum sign heights under
normal/natural illumination
Minimum sign height Maximum viewing distance
mm m
Normal visual acuity Visual acuity 6/60
60 3,6 0,36
80 4,8 0,48
120 7,2 0,72
180 10,8 1,08
240 14,4 1,44
For intermediate viewing distances, the next largest available sign height should be used.
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ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
The maximum viewing distances in Table 2 relate to viewing normal to the sign. When a sign viewed at an
angle of α to the normal, the maximum viewing distances are reduced by the multiplying factor cos α.
The relevant viewing distance should be such that the observer is informed of potential hazards and of the
safety precautions and/or actions required to avoid the hazard(s) before the observer makes any contact with
the hazard(s).
Any variation of the sizes of signs within a facility should be kept to a minimum.
5.1.5 Use of supplementary text
A supplementary text sign will help to ensure that the meaning of the water safety sign is fully understood and
may convey additional information. For guidance on supplementary text, see Annex D.
5.1.6 Construction: durability and suitability
Signs should be selected to be suitable for their operating environment.
NOTE ISO 17398 covers aspects of performance and durability of safety signs.
Factors that should be considered include:
a) durability of base material;
b) durability of graphical content;
c) colour/light fastness;
d) resistance to damage from bather traffic or from cleaning;
e) resistance to exposure to water;
f) resistance to corrosion, such as by sea spray;
g) resistance to graffiti;
h) flame resistance;
i) type and suitability of fixings;
j) resistance to wind loads.
Installed signs should be suitable for the expected environmental conditions.
Installers and designers should seek adequate assurance from suppliers in these aspects.
5.1.7 Servicing and maintenance
Signs should be cleaned and visually inspected at regular intervals, and action should be taken to remedy any
defects. A sign which has been damaged or faded should be replaced.
A sign should be removed when its function is no longer needed.
5.2 Specific requirements for the swimming pool environment
The system designer should identify the locations of the hazards associated with the swimming pool and
equipment.
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ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
The following principles should be taken into account.
⎯ Signs should be placed in a position where they can both be seen by users before entering the water on
the pool surround and also once in the water in the pool basin.
⎯ The number and location of depth markings should vary dependent upon the size and configuration of the
swimming pool. Depth marking should always be provided at the shallow and deep end, and additional
marking along the length of the swimming pool.
⎯ Signs may be floor mounted and their orientation should be for a person at the swimming pool surround
looking towards the water and should be within 0,5 m from the edge of the pool basin.
⎯ All signs used at floor level and on the sides of the pool basin should not cause an abrasive hazard or
obstruction to users.
⎯ Signs may be mounted on the wall between the surface of the water and the edge of the pool basin, and
should be aligned with any floor mounted safety signs on the swimming pool surround.
NOTE For example, the following signs may be used:
⎯ “No running” (ISO 20712-1-WSP001) at the pool surround, including other wet floor areas;
⎯ “No diving” (ISO 20712-1-WSP005) at appropriate locations alongside the swimming pool;
⎯ Water depth: “Warning; Deep water” (ISO 20712-1-WSW005); “Warning; Shallow water (diving)”
(ISO 20712-1-WSW006); “Warning; Sudden drop in swimming or leisure pools”
(ISO 20712-1-WSW008).
Examples of signing swimming pools are given in Annex B.
6 Beach safety flags
6.1 General
Beach safety flags used should conform to ISO 20712-2.
Beach safety flags should be positioned so that all users can view them when they are displayed.
NOTE The distance can vary due to weather and light conditions and the locations of flags may need to be adjusted
accordingly.
To ensure water users and members of the public are aware of the meaning of certain flags, it might be
necessary to use text to explain the meaning. The text should either be fixed to the flag-pole, or given on
multiple signs displayed along the beach and at beach entrances/access points.
Examples of positioning beach safety flags are given in Annex C.
Application and operation of beach safety flags should be carried out by an appropriately qualified person with
knowledge of local conditions.
6.2 Application of specific beach safety flags
6.2.1 Red flag BF.01
Flag BF.01 should be used when there is danger of unsafe water conditions for swimming and other water
activities. Examples of such conditions are rough conditions such as strong surf and/or currents are present.
This flag should be used to designate the area along a beach where swimmers should not enter the water or
conduct other water activities.
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ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
6.2.2 Yellow flag BF.02
Flag BF.02 should be used to designate a general warning. It is essential that a sign be placed in proximity to
the flag to give additional information about the beach and swimming area and any specific updated
information.
6.2.3 Red/yellow flag BF.03
Flag BF.03 should be used in pairs to designate each area along a beach which is most closely supervised or
patrolled, and to which it is intended that swimming and body boarding is to be confined. The positions of
red/yellow flags BF.03, indicating a lifeguard patrolled zone, should be designated by a qualified lifeguard.
Where a lifeguard patrolled zone is not used, a single red/yellow flag BF.03 may be used to indicate that a
lifeguard is on duty. This should only be displayed at the lifeguard station, hut or highchair etc.
6.2.4 Black/white flag BF.04
Flag BF.04 should be used to designate a zone or the boundary of the zone on a beach for use of surfboards
and other water craft. These flags should be positioned outside of the area designated by the red/yellow flag
BF.03 for swimming or body boarding.
6.2.5 Red/white flag BF.05
Flag BF.05 should be used to signify that people leave the water because of an emergency. Examples of
emergencies include dangerous marine creatures, toxic spill causing water pollution and the discovery of an
underwater hazard in the area.
6.2.6 Truncated orange cone BF.06
Windsock BF.06 should be used when there is danger of using inflatable leisure articles in windy or unsafe
water conditions. This flag should be used to designate a beach where no such articles should be used on the
water.
6.3 Materials for beach safety flags
Flags should be made of fabrics which meet the specifications of ISO 20712-2.
6.4 Operation of flags
6.4.1 Mounting position
The minimum height for a limp flag should be 2,1 m to help try and prevent damage to the flag by vandalism
and to help prevent the flag flapping around people’s heads and causing injury.
Each flag should be attached to a pole, and erected such that the lowest point of the flag when it is limp is not
less than 2,1 m above the immediate surrounding ground level. In the case of windsock BF.06, the lowest
point of the flag should be not less than 2,3 m above the immediate surrounding ground level. Flags should be
positioned so that they can be readily seen by persons on the beach and in the water. Flags should be
mounted high enough to be seen above any obstructions.
Flags should be positioned so that they are visible without obstruction by other structures or by any flora and
fauna that might be present.
The locations of flags should be carefully selected to ensure that the flags themselves, in particular the
flag-poles, do not present a hazard.
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ISO 20712-3:2008(E)
6.4.2 Size of flag
The flag should not be smaller than the minimum size specified in ISO 20712-2. The flag size should be
sufficient for the flag to fly in the wind conditions yet not cause a hazard.
6.4.3 Hoisting and taking down of flags
Hoisting and taking down of flags should be carried out by an appropriately qualified person with knowledge of
local conditions.
As the environmental conditions alter from day to day, and in some cases during the course of a day,
conditions should be monitored and flags hoisted or taken down accordingly. In the case of flags used to zone
a section of beach or water activity, conditions should be monitored and these flags moved to suitable
locations as any changes in conditions dictate.
Because of the need for someone to be present to monitor the conditions, and possibly to change flags, flags
should only be operated during a prescribed and well publicized period each day. The presence of flags may
also relate to seasonal activity.
6.5 Flag-pole
The flag-pole should be of appropriate material and be securely anchored so as to be stable under the
prevailing weather conditions in the area and the conditions of the site.
NOTE 1 This may be done,
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