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BS EN ISO 7010 explained

The unified British, European, and international standard for UK safety signage. Why it matters and how to specify to it.

By Direct Signs Team · ISO 9001 certified UK manufacturer · Updated April 2026

The short answer

BS EN ISO 7010 is the unified British, European, and international standard for safety signs and signals. It defines the precise colour, shape, and pictogram for every safety sign category — prohibition (red circle with diagonal line), warning (yellow triangle), mandatory (blue circle), safe condition (green rectangle), and fire-fighting equipment (red square or rectangle). It superseded the older BS 5499-1 in 2013 and is the standard required by the UK Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.

What BS EN ISO 7010 covers

The standard specifies:

  • Colour — exact RAL/Pantone references for the red, yellow, blue, and green used in safety signs
  • Shape — precise geometry for circles, triangles, rectangles, and the diagonal-line prohibition mark
  • Pictogram — the specific symbols inside each shape (running man for fire exit, hard hat for mandatory, etc.)
  • Identifier system — every pictogram has a unique code (P001, M001, W001, E001, F001) for unambiguous specification
  • Sizing principles — character height ratios for legibility at viewing distance (the 1-in-200 rule)

The five categories

BS EN ISO 7010 organises all workplace safety signs into five categories, each with a distinct colour-and-shape combination:

  1. Prohibition (P-prefix) — red circle with diagonal line. "Must not." P002 No smoking, P003 No naked flame.
  2. Mandatory (M-prefix) — solid blue circle. "Must do." M001 Wear hard hat, M008 Wear safety footwear.
  3. Warning (W-prefix) — yellow triangle with black border. "Be aware of hazard." W001 General hazard, W012 Electricity hazard.
  4. Safe condition (E-prefix) — green rectangle. "Safe option here." E001 Emergency exit, E003 First aid, E007 Emergency shower.
  5. Fire-fighting equipment (F-prefix) — red square or rectangle. "Equipment here." F001 Fire extinguisher, F004 Fire hose reel.

See our colours explained guide and shapes explained guide for full breakdown of each.

The shift from BS 5499-1 to BS EN ISO 7010

BS 5499-1 was the previous UK standard for safety signs, in force until 2013. It used different pictograms in some categories — notably, the running-man fire exit pictogram in BS 5499-1 was different from the more universally-recognised running-man in BS EN ISO 7010.

The shift to BS EN ISO 7010 in 2013 unified UK practice with European and international standards, making cross-border signage consistency much easier for multinational employers and reducing confusion for international visitors and workers in UK premises.

How BS EN ISO 7010 fits with UK regulation

Several UK regulations reference or rely on BS EN ISO 7010:

  • Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 — requires compliant safety signage where risks cannot be eliminated; "compliant" means BS EN ISO 7010
  • Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 — fire safety signage including escape routes and fire equipment must follow BS EN ISO 7010 pictograms
  • Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 — general workplace signage
  • Health Act 2006 — no-smoking signage uses the BS EN ISO 7010 P002 pictogram

See our UK safety sign regulations guide for the full mapping.

Specifying BS EN ISO 7010 signage

For procurement specifications, contracts, and audit documentation, the unambiguous reference is the BS EN ISO 7010 identifier (e.g. "P002, A4 size, photoluminescent specification, on rigid PVC substrate"). Direct Signs supplies signage with full BS EN ISO 7010 traceability — the identifier is shown on every product page, and we maintain BS EN ISO 7010 compliance documentation for audit purposes.

Updates and revisions

BS EN ISO 7010 is periodically updated as new pictograms are added or existing ones revised. The current version is BS EN ISO 7010:2020+A1:2024. Recent additions include:

  • AED / defibrillator pictogram (E024)
  • Drone no-fly zone signage
  • Updated photoluminescent technical references
  • Cyber-security and information-security signage

Direct Signs maintains current revision compliance — newly manufactured signs reference the latest BS EN ISO 7010 version.

Browse BS EN ISO 7010 compliant signage

Quick answers

BS EN ISO 7010 FAQs

What is BS EN ISO 7010?
BS EN ISO 7010 is the unified British, European, and international standard for safety signs and signals. It defines the precise colour, shape, and pictogram for every safety sign category — prohibition, mandatory, warning, safe condition, and fire-fighting equipment. The standard ensures consistent visual communication across the UK, EU, and most of the world.

When did BS EN ISO 7010 come into force?
BS EN ISO 7010 was published in 2003 internationally and adopted in the UK as BS EN ISO 7010:2003. Subsequent revisions added new pictograms. It superseded the older BS 5499-1 in 2013, and BS 5499-1 was withdrawn from active use. New UK installations from 2013 onward should specify BS EN ISO 7010 compliant signage.

Is BS EN ISO 7010 the same as ISO 7010?
Yes — BS EN ISO 7010 is the British adoption of the international standard ISO 7010. The "BS EN" prefix indicates it has been formally adopted as a British and European standard. The technical content is identical to ISO 7010. The unified prefix makes it citable in UK regulation and contracts.

Do my old BS 5499-1 signs need to be replaced?
BS EN ISO 7010 superseded BS 5499-1 in 2013. New installations should use BS EN ISO 7010. Existing pre-2013 signs can typically remain in place until they need replacement — but if a fire risk assessment or workplace inspection identifies the older signs as inadequate, they must be replaced. Refurbishments and extensions should always specify BS EN ISO 7010.

Does BS EN ISO 7010 apply to non-UK workplaces?
Yes — that's the whole point. ISO 7010 is the unified international standard, adopted across the UK, EU, and most of the world. A "no smoking" sign manufactured to BS EN ISO 7010 in the UK is the same as one made in Germany, Spain, Singapore, or Brazil. This was deliberate — it ensures workers and visitors recognise sign meanings regardless of language.

What does each pictogram identifier (P002, M001, etc) mean?
BS EN ISO 7010 assigns each pictogram a unique identifier. P-prefix = Prohibition (P001 No smoking, P003 No naked flame, etc). M-prefix = Mandatory (M001 Wear hard hat, M008 Wear safety footwear). W-prefix = Warning (W001 General hazard). E-prefix = Emergency / safe condition (E003 First aid, E007 Emergency shower). F-prefix = Fire equipment (F001 Fire extinguisher, F004 Fire hose reel).

Are new pictograms added to BS EN ISO 7010?
Yes. The ISO 7010 working group periodically adds new pictograms as technology and workplaces evolve. Recent additions include AED (defibrillator), drone-no-fly, and Wi-Fi-related signs. Updates are reflected in revised versions of BS EN ISO 7010 — currently BS EN ISO 7010:2020+A1:2024.

Specifying to BS EN ISO 7010?

Every Direct Signs safety product is BS EN ISO 7010 compliant. Compliance documentation available for tendered and audited contracts.

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