BS ISO 16069:2004

Graphical symbols. Safety signs. Safety way guidance systems (SWGS)

Continued growth in travel and mobility of labour has resulted in a need to standardize safety way guidance systems (SWGS) so that they communicate the information necessary to allow people to evacuate occupied areas efficiently, and, if needed, to assemble in designated safe areas in cases of fire or other emergencies.

Through the consistent and uniform international application of common SWGS design principles, persons in all countries will be better able to recognize and follow the directional information provided by such systems to assist in providing a safe evacuation. As an additional benefit, a standardized SWGS will assist fire fighters and other rescue teams to evacuate areas during emergency situations.

In order to communicate safety way guidance information efficiently across language barriers, the systems defined in this International Standard incorporate the use of graphical symbols and markings such as arrows, conforming to ISO Standards.

Illumination of escape routes is not part of the SWGS and is therefore not covered by this International Standard; a SWGS is not intended to replace emergency escape lighting. There will be certain situations where emergency escape lighting is not needed, and other situations, for example where smoke is present, where emergency escape lighting can lose its efficiency and a SWGS will be more effective in assisting emergency evacuation, but it is generally recommended that SWGS be used in combination with the illumination of escape routes to provide additional benefits for the whole system.

The principles given in this International Standard are intended to provide consistent design elements irrespective of the components used. Consistent use will improve public awareness of the systems and assist rapid recognition and effectiveness in the case of an emergency.