Graphical Symbols and Color Coding Standards

Colors and graphical symbols are often used to convey specific types of information across various contexts, in a fast and efficient manner, without any translation needed. Colors are commonly combined with symbols to emphase the same message and importance.

• Red: indicates urgency, danger, or importance. It’s commonly used in warning signs, emergency alerts, and to denote critical information
• Yellow: represents caution or a need for attention. It’s frequently used in traffic signals, hazard warnings, and to highlight advisory information.
• Green: signifies safety, permission, or positive status. It’s often seen in indicators for safe conditions, approval statuses, and to convey reassuring information.
• Blue: usually denotes informational content, trustworthiness, or neutrality. It’s widely used in informational signage, corporate branding, and to present general information without urgency.
• Black: associated with authority, formality, or severity. It’s commonly used in legal documents, formal communications, and to convey serious or critical information.
• Road symbols: stop sign, speed limit sign, pedestrian crossing sign, no parking sign …
• Indoors: exit sign, restroom symbols, elevator and staircase symbols, information desk Icon, no smoking sign …

These color associations and signs can vary based on cultural contexts and specific applications, but they generally follow conventions or standards to facilitate effective communication. Find bellow an extensive list of applicable color coding and symbols standards, labelling and packaging requirements for most industrial sectors.

Note: this tree is partially automatically generated and is intended for a first global approach. Do double-check the requirements and completeness (exemple of mistake: listing the rare earth metals standard for an MRI is not appropriate. An MRI has no real magnet.)

Refer to the standards official organisations listed in our tool directory.