Facts and data on pictograms
The following compilation on standards about pictograms is incomplete and covers primarily standards, which show pictograms selected or developed on the basis of scientific research and testing. It also includes standards on testing procedures.
Other standards on symbols or pictograms such as technical symbols that have not been tested on comprehensibility are not presented here.
| ISO 7001:2007 | Public information symbols
International standard, all symbols are the result of extensive testing in several countries and differing cultures and have met the criteria of comprehensibility set up by ISO. Committee: ISO / TC 145 / SC 1 |
| ISO 7010:2019 | Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Registered safety signs
International standard that prescribes safety signs for the purposes of accident prevention, fire protection, health hazard information and emergency evacuation. Committee: ISO / TC 145 / SC 2 |
| ISO 9186-1:2014 | Graphical symbols — Test methods — Part 1: Method for testing comprehensibility
ISO 9186-1:2014 specifies a method for testing the comprehensibility of graphical symbols. It provides a measure of the extent to which a variant of a graphical symbol communicates its intended message. The purpose is to ensure that graphical symbols and signs using graphical symbols are readily understood. Committee: ISO / TC 145 / SC 1 |
| ISO 9186-2:2008 | Graphical symbols — Test methods — Part 2: Method for testing perceptual quality
ISO 9186-1:2008 describes a test method for assessing the identifiability of symbol elements. The core of this test method is to show a symbol to appropriately representative respondents and have them describe what they see. The respondents' task is to name the elements of the symbol's image content. This procedure will assist in locating those elements within a symbol that may be the source of difficulty. Committee: ISO / TC 145 / SC 1 |
| ISO 9186-3:2014 | Graphical symbols — Test methods — Part 3: Method for testing symbol referent association
ISO 9186-3:2014 specifies a method for testing the referent association of graphical symbols intended to communicate information to users who are familiar with what the symbol is intended to denote or represent (the referent). The referents can be specialized, so that the general public cannot be expected to be familiar with them without familiarity training. The intention is to develop graphical symbols which are correctly recognized by users familiar with the referents when no supplementary (i.e. explanatory) text is presented. When such a graphical symbol cannot be obtained, it might be necessary to present a graphical symbol together with supplementary text explaining its meaning in the language of the intended users. Committee: ISO / TC 145 / SC 1 |
| ISO 22727:2007 | Graphical symbols — Creation and design of public information symbols — Requirements
ISO 22727:2007 specifies requirements for the creation and design of public information symbols. It specifies requirements for the design of public information symbols for submission for registration as approved public information symbols, including line width, the use of graphical symbol elements and how to indicate negation. It also specifies templates to be used in the design of public information symbols.. Committee: ISO / TC 145 / SC 1 |
| ÖNORM A 3011 | Graphische Symbole für die Öffentlichkeitsinformation - Teile 1 bis 11 (Graphic symbols for public information - parts 1 to 11) Austrian standard with a total of 172 graphical symbols, covering a much wider range than ISO 7001, but based on the same kind of research. Parts of the testing has been done just in one country. Committee: FNA 133 |
| ÖNORM A 3012:2021 | Visuelle Leitsysteme für die Öffentlichkeitsinformation (Visual guiding system for public information) Austrian standard with requirements for the design of visual information systems based on readily comprehensible und recognisable visual symbols and texts, also regarding aspects like contrast, illumination etc. Consistency of signs and information along the entire way will be taken into account. Committee: FNA 133 |
| ÖNORM S 4610 | Seilbahnen und Schlepplifte - Grundlegende graphische Symbole und Schilder zur Information der Fahrgäste (Ropeways and ski-lifts; Basic graphic symbols and signs for the information of passengers) Austrian standard, developed in cooperation with other Alpine countries. This standard aims at uniform use of symbols and signs for the information of passengers. Symbol design and selection is based on previous tests on comprehensibility. Committee: FNA 178 |
| ANSI Z535 | Safety Sign and Color Standards
Multipart U.S. standard. Titles of the individual parts: Committee: ANSI Z535 |
| GB/T 10001 | Public Information Graphical Symbols
Multipart Chinese standard. Titles of the individual parts: Committee: National Technical Committee for the Standardization of Graphical Symbols (SAC/TC 59) |
| AS 2786-1985 | Symbols - Health care in hospitals
Australian standard. Committee: Standards Australia MS-003 Public information symbols |
| AS 2899 | Public information symbol signs
Multipart Australian standard. Titles of the individual parts: Currently this standard has the status 'Withdrawn' Committee: Standards Australia MS-003 Public information symbols |