ISO 3864-2:2016

Overview

ISO 3864-2:2016 - "Graphical symbols - Safety colours and safety signs - Part 2: Design principles for product safety labels" provides standardized design principles and label layouts for safety labels applied directly to products. It builds on ISO 3864‑1 and aims to ensure product safety labels effectively alert users to hazards and explain how to avoid them. The standard applies broadly to consumer and industrial products, but excludes labels for chemicals, transport of dangerous goods, and sectors covered by conflicting legal regulations.

Key topics and requirements

• Label purpose and scope: Defines the role of product safety labels versus workplace signs and when labels should supplement product documentation.
• Layout families: Provides standardized layouts for single, combination and multiple product safety labels, including options with or without hazard severity panels and supplementary information panels.
• Hazard severity panels: Specifies how to communicate hazard severity (e.g., use of a general warning sign, associated safety colour and optional signal word).
• Signal words and meanings: Establishes signal-word categories (for example, CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER) to indicate levels of risk and draw attention to critical warnings.
• Safety colours: Requires use of safety colours per ISO 3864‑4 (colorimetric/photometric specifications). Notes that orange is reserved for WARNING hazard severity panels.
• Supplementary information: Defines use of symbols and short text panels to clarify hazard consequences or avoidance measures; includes guidance on translation and cross‑language communication.
• Terminology and criteria: Includes definitions (hazard, risk, residual risk, safe viewing distance, target audience) and decision factors for when to warn on-product versus in manuals.
• Informative annexes: Guidance for recognition, signal‑word translations, examples of labels, development considerations and colour references.

Applications and who uses it

ISO 3864-2:2016 is used by:

• Product designers and manufacturers creating on-product safety labels for consumer goods and industrial equipment
• Safety engineers and risk assessors deciding label content and placement
• Technical committees and standards bodies developing industry-specific label standards
• Regulatory and compliance personnel aligning product markings with international best practice
• Technical writers and documentation teams creating user manuals that complement on-product labels

Practical uses include standardizing label layouts, improving cross‑language hazard communication, supporting training and product documentation, and reducing legal/regulatory risk through consistent hazard presentation.

Related standards

• ISO 3864-1 - Design principles for safety signs and markings (foundation for signs)
• ISO 3864-4 - Colorimetric and photometric properties of safety sign materials (colour specifications)
• ISO 7010 - Graphical symbols - Safety signs (reference for the general warning sign)

Keywords: ISO 3864-2:2016, product safety labels, safety colours, hazard severity panels, safety signs, signal words, label layout, supplementary safety information.