PERUVIAN TECHNICAL STANDARD

NTP 399.010-1
SAFETY SIGNS. Colors,
symbols, shapes, and dimensions of signals
of security. Part 1: Rules for the
design of safety signs

LIMA - PERU

2015

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
TECHNICAL STANDARD NTP 399.010-
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2015
1. OBJECT

The present Peruvian Technical Standard establishes the requirements for design, colors,
symbols, shapes and dimensions of safety signs.

The adopted system tends to make one understand, through the safety signals, with the
as quickly as possible, the information for accident prevention, protection against
fires, health risks or hazards, facilitate emergency evacuation and also the
existence of particular circumstances.

The speed and ease of identifying safety signals is established.

by the combination of the determined colors with a defined geometric shape, symbol
and explanatory legend (see Table 3).

This Peruvian Technical Standard also establishes the identification of colors of

security and contrast (see Annex A).

2. NORMATIVE REFERENCES

The following rules contain provisions that, when cited in this text, constitute
requirements of this Peruvian Technical Standard. The indicated edition was in force in the
moment of this publication. As every regulation is subject to review, it is recommended to
those who make agreements based on them, that analyze the convenience of using the
recent editions of the cited standard below. The Peruvian Agency of
Normalization has, at all times, the information of the Peruvian Technical Standards in
validity.

International Technical Standards

ISO/CIE 10526 CIE standard illuminants for colorimetry

CIE 15.2 Colorimetry, second edition
CIE 54 Retroreflection - definition and measurement
IEC 60050-845:1987 International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) - Chapter
845: Lighting
ISO 3864-2011 Colours and Safety Signs
Part 1: Design Principles for Safety Signs and Safety Markings
Part 4: Colorimetric and Photometric Properties of Safety Sign
Material.
ISO 7010-2011 Graphical Symbols - Safety and Colours and Safety
Signs - Registered Safety Signs
ISO 16069-2004 Graphical Symbols - Safety Signs
Safety Way Guidance Systems (SWGS)
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ABNT NBR 13434-3 Fire and Panic Safety Signaling
2005
Part 3 requirements and testing methods.

3. SCOPE OF APPLICATION

This Peruvian Technical Standard applies to the safety signs that must be used in
all public, private, tourist, recreational establishments, workplaces,
industrial, commercial, meeting centers, entertainment venues, hospitality, establishments
educational, as well as residential places; in order to guide, prevent and reduce
accidents, health risks and facilitating emergency control through colors,
shapes, symbols, and dimensions.

The sectors that have provisions related to safety signals with criteria
different regulations or are not based on technical standards nor are universally applicable
they must comply with the provisions established in this Peruvian Technical Standard.

This Peruvian Technical Standard is not applicable for vehicle traffic signage.
railway, river, maritime and air nor those sectors whose signals are governed by standards
specific.

4. DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Peruvian Technical Standard, the following definitions apply:

Sign: It is a notice that contains the safety signal and additional information related to
the function of said signal.

Coefficient of Retroreflection (R´) (Of a flat surface): The ratio between the
luminous intensity (I) of the retroreflective material, in the direction of observation, and the
product of illuminance (E⊥on the retroreflective surface, on a plane
perpendicular to the direction of the incident light, by the surface (A).

R' = (I / E⊥ * A)
Contrast color: It is the color that complements the safety color, improving the
visibility conditions of the signal and highlights its content.

Safety color: Color of well-defined features, to which is attributed a

determined meaning related to security.

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Critical detail: Element of a graphic symbol without which the graphic symbol cannot exist.
understood.

Luminance factor (at a point on the surface of a non-radiant body by itself)

same, in a given direction, for certain lighting conditions): Relationship
between the luminance of the considered material and that of a perfect reflection diffuser-reflector
illuminated in the same way.

Fluorescence: Photoluminescence in which the emitted optical radiation is the result of the
direct transition from the energy level of photoexcitation to a lower level. That transition
It usually takes place within 10 ns after excitation.

Photoluminescence: Luminescence caused by the absorption of optical radiation.

Phosphorescence: Delayed photoluminescence produced by energy storage in

an intermediate level.

Safety stripes: Stripes that adopt the use of safety colors and/or colors of
contrast security to convey a message of safety or make it appealing or
clearly visible an object or place.

Additional information: It is the text that accompanies the safety sign that guides or
explain the best application of the signal (see Annex B).

Contrast luminance (k): Contrast color luminance of L1divided by

luminance of the safety color L2, where L1is greater than L2.

K = L1/ L2
Luminescence: Emission of optical radiation by atoms, molecules, or ions of a material.
in which certain wavelengths or regions of the spectrum are in excess of radiation
due to the thermal emission of this material at the same temperature, as a result of the
excitation of these particles by another thermal agitation energy.

Combined materials: They are materials that combine the optical characteristics of the
retroreflective and photoluminescent materials.

Ordinary material: Material that is neither retroreflective nor photoluminescent.

Retroreflective material: Material that reflects radiation in the opposite direction to the
address from which it originates.

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Signaling: It is the set of stimuli that condition the individual's behavior.
They are received in the face of circumstances (risks, necessary protections to use, etc.) that are
intends to highlight.

Warning or caution signal: It is the safety signal that warns of a danger or of

a risk.

Emergency signal: It is the safety signal that indicates the location of materials and
emergency equipment.

Evacuation signal: It is the safety sign that indicates the safe way out.
emergency to safety zones.

General information signal: It is the signal that provides information about anything.
topic not related to security.

Mandatory sign: It is the safety sign that requires the use of safety equipment.
personal.

Prohibition sign: It is the safety sign that prohibits a susceptible behavior.

to cause an accident and their mandate is total.

Fire protection signal: It is the safety sign that serves to locate and
identify equipment, materials or substances for fire protection.

Photoluminescent signs: These are signs that emit light as a consequence of

previous absorption of light energy. This effect is temporary, (see appendix A, figure A1).

Retroreflective signs: They are those signs that in the presence of a beam of light
it reflects on its surface, (see annex A, figure A1).

Safety signal: A signal that, by the combination of a geometric shape and a color,
provides a general indication regarding safety and that, if a symbol is added
a graph or text provides a specific indication related to safety.

Symbol (pictogram): It is a drawing or an image that describes a specific situation.

which indicates representative information, prohibition and that is used in the signs of
security.

Security text: These are the words that accompany the security sign and serve to
reinforcement.

5. COLORS OF SAFETY SIGNS

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The safety colors are indicated in Table 1, where the color and its
meaning.

The colorimetric and photometric characteristics of the materials must be in accordance with the
indicated in Annex A.

TABLE 1 - General meaning of safety colors

Color employees in
the signals of Meaning and purpose
security

RED Prohibition, fire prevention and fighting materials

BLUE1 Obligation

YELLOW Risk of danger

GREEN Emergency Information

Blue is considered a safety color only when used in a circular form.

6. CONTRAST COLORS

The contrast colors, used to emphasize the fundamental safety color more (see
Table 2), are the following:

. White, as a contrast to red, blue, and green

. The black, as a contrast to the yellow.

TABLE 2 - Contrast Colors

Color of the safety signal Contrast color

RED WHITE

BLUE WHITE

YELLOW BLACK

GREEN WHITE

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Contrast colors will be applied to the symbols that appear on the signs, in such a way
to achieve a better visual effect.

When photoluminescent signals are used, the color of the photoluminescent material will be its
contrast color.

7. SYMBOLS

As a complement to the safety signals, a series of symbols will be used indoors.

of the defined geometric shapes.

The presentation of the symbols should be as simple as possible and should be eliminated.
non-essential details and their size must be proportional to the size of the signal a
in order to facilitate their perception and understanding.

NOTE: Annex B presents some examples of safety signals, symbols, and signs.
security.

8. GEOMETRIC SHAPES AND MEANING OF SAFETY SIGNS

Geometric shapes, meaning, safety colors, and contrast of signs

security, as well as usage examples for the mentioned colors, are indicated in Table 3.

TABLE 3 - Geometric shape and general meaning

COLOR OF COLOR OF COLOR OF EXAMPLE

GEOMETRIC SHAPE MEANING
SECURITY CONTRAST PICTOGRAM FOR USE

No smoking.

Prohibited to do
PROHIBITION RED WHITEa BLACK fire.
No entry
of pedestrians.

CIRCLE WITH DIAGONAL

Use protection
ocular
OBLIGATION BLUE WHITEa WHITE wear a suit
security.
Wear a mask

CIRCLE

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Electrical risk.

Danger of
WARNING YELLOW BLACK BLACK death.
Acid danger
corrosive

EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE

CONDITION
DE
Address that
SECURITY
must be followed.

SQUARE GREEN WHITEa WHITE Point of

ROUTES OF
meeting.
ESCAPE
Phone of
emergency.
EQUIPMENT OF
SECURITY

RECTANGLE

Fire extinguisher of

fire
SECURITY
SQUARE AGAINST RED WHITEa WHITE Fire hydrant
Fires fire.
Fire hose
fires.

RECTANGLE
INFORMATION WHITE O BLACK OR THE COLOR OF Message
ADDITIONAL THE COLOR COLOR OF SYMBOL OR THE appropriate that
FROM THE CONTRAST FROM THE SIGNAL reflects the
SIGN OF FROM THE DE meaning of the
SECURITY SIGN OF SECURITY graphic symbol.
SECURITY RELEVANT

SQUARE

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RECTANGLE
a
THE WHITE CONTRAST COLOR INCLUDES THE CONTRAST COLOR FOR FLUORESCENT FORESCENT MATERIALS
UNDER DAYLIGHT WITH PROPERTIES DEFINED IN TABLE 4.

9. TYPES OF SIGNALS ACCORDING TO LUMINESCENCE

Signals are classified according to their behavior in the presence of light as follows:

. Conventional signs
. Photoluminescent signs
. Retroreflective signs

10. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DESIGN OF SAFETY SIGNS

11. LOCATION OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SAFETY SIGNS AND

MULTIPLE SIGNALS

12. DESIGN OF SAFETY STRIPS

13. DESIGN AND TYPES OF ARROWS

14. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEASURES OF SAFETY SIGNAL AND THE

OBSERVATION DISTANCE

15. MATERIALS

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16. BASIC SIGNAGE

17. BACKGROUND

18. ANNEXES

18.1. ANNEX A

18.2. APPENDIX B

18.3. ANNEX C

18.4. ANNEX D

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