Stairs

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Stair, Steps, Stairway, Staircase

Category

Public Facilities, Guidance & Information, Travel

Message / Function

To indicate the location of stairs. Shall not be used to indicate or identify an escalator.

	Source	Description
	ISO 7001	Stair profile with two human figures, one walking up, one walking down
	CNIS	Stair profile with two human figures, one walking up, one walking down
	Eco-Mo Foundation	Stair profile with two human figures, one walking up, one walking down
1)	ON Testdesign	Stair profile with two human figures, one walking up, one walking down
2)	ON Testdesign	Stair profile with two human figures, one walking up, one walking down
	Dreyfuss	Two human figures on stair profile with floor transitions ending in arrows
	CHBA	Human figure on stair profile walking upwards
	TC	Human figure with case on stair profile walking upwards
	PC	Human figure on stair profile walking upwards
	O'72	Human figure on stair profile walking upwards
	MTA	Human figure on stair profile walking upwards
	BS 8501:2002	Human figure approaching stair profile
	Signbox	Human figure approaching stair profile
	Schweiz-Mobil	Human figure approaching stair profile from floor transition
	Zurich Airport	Human figure approaching stair profile from floor transition
	Wiener Linien	Stair profile with floor transitions
	Schiphol	Stair profile
	AIGA	Stair profile
	Picto'grafics	Stair profile
	S/TA	Stair profile
	D/FW	Stair profile ending in floor transition with arrow head
	UIC	Stair profile with floor transitions, arrow head at top
	Sekta	Stair profile with hand rails
	Smitshuijzen	Stair profile, slanted line

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

The range of pictograms shown in the table above gives a good impression on typical images used to indicate the location of stairs. Basically all renderings display some kind of stair profile, but often specific details were added: floor transitions, hand rails, and in many cases human figures walking up or down or in both directions. For unidirectional stairs usually only one figure walking up or walking down, as appropriate, is shown.

A number of studies examined several aspects regarding this referent:

In the ISO 1975 Test Series, an international study conducted in Argentinia, Australia, Canada, India, The Netherlands, and Spain (Easterby & Zwaga 1976), the AIGA variant dropped out already at a preliminary stage of research, as it was not among the top six pictograms based on the results of the Appropriateness Ranking Test conducted. Pictogram variants ranked best all included representations of persons on stairs.

Looking at the primary misinterpretations revealed in the Comprehension Test conducted in this study, it becomes obvious that they are based on displaying just one person moving into a specific direction (responses like Upstairs, Up, Downstairs, etc.).

In a follow-up Matching Test (Easterby & Zwaga 1976) the three pictogram variants examined all reached about 90 % correct responses.

On basis of these results the AG 133.06 Working Group Pictogram Design created several test designs. Two of them - marked with 1) and 2) in the table above - then were examined applying a Comprehension Test conducted in Austria (Brugger, 1979). Both variants exceeded minimum requirements defined by ISO, but with 82 % correct responses variant 1) seemed to be a slightly better solution. After a further redesign this concept finally was used as ISO guideline example.

In a Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation proved to be well comprehensible with a comprehension score of 89.7 (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001). The positive results for this variant, which corresponds to ISO Public Information Symbol PI PF 021 concerning the verbal description of the image content, confirm the work of ISO/TC 145/SC 1.

The AIGA pictogram shown in the table above was one of the general purpose symbols examined in a study of way-finding symbols for healthcare facilities conducted in the United Arab Emirates. With 96 % of the answers classified as correct it was excellently understood in a Comprehension Test carried out with a sample consisting mostly of young and well educated respondents (Hashim et al., 2014).

Recommendation

PI PF 021 (formerly pictogram 011) of ISO 7001: Stairs

We recommend using Public Information Symbol PI PF 021 (formerly pictogram 011) of ISO 7001, which was developed to eliminate the aspect of direction by displaying two persons with differing walking direction. Where the stairs are unidirectional, the figure walking up or the figure walking down should be omitted, as appropriate.

Tests of pictograms of referent Stairs

Brugger, Ch. (1979): Abschlußbericht über den Erkennungstest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated 09/79, Vienna.

Easterby, R.S. & Zwaga, H.J.G. (1976): Evaluation of Public Information Symbols, ISO Tests: 1975 Series. AP Report 60, Department of Applied Psychology, University of Aston, Birmingham, March 1976.

Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.

Hashim, M. J., Alkaabi, M. S., & Bharwani, S. (2014): Interpretation of way-finding healthcare symbols by a multicultural population: navigation signage design for global health. Applied ergonomics, 45(3), 503–509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2013.07.002