Skip to main content
ISO 7010 Reference Guide

ISO 7010 Safety Symbols: Complete Reference

The definitive guide to ISO 7010 safety pictograms — covering all 6 categories, symbol codes, color conventions, and compliance requirements for evacuation plans and fire safety signage.

6 symbol categories
35+ key symbols documented
NFPA 101 & IFC compliant
Use ISO 7010 Symbols Free7-day trialView Sector Examples

What Is ISO 7010?

ISO 7010 is the international standard that specifies graphical symbols used on safety signs — the pictograms you see on exit signs, fire extinguisher markers, hazard warnings, and evacuation maps. Published by the International Organization for Standardization, it covers the design, color coding, and meaning of safety signs used in workplaces, public buildings, transportation systems, and industrial facilities worldwide.

The standard was designed to solve a specific problem: safety signs that rely on text are only useful to people who speak that language. ISO 7010 pictograms use universally understood visual language — a running figure, a flame, a red circle with a diagonal bar — that communicates the same meaning regardless of the reader's native language.

In the United States, ISO 7010 symbols are referenced in NFPA 170 (Standard for Fire Safety and Emergency Symbols) and are increasingly specified in building permits and AHJ plan review requirements. They meet the symbol requirements of NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), the International Fire Code (IFC), and OSHA emergency egress marking requirements.

6
Symbol categories
200+
Total symbols in standard
165+
Countries using ISO 7010
NFPA 170
US reference standard
2003
First published
2023
Latest revision

The ISO 7010 Color & Shape System

Before looking at individual symbols, understanding the color-coding system lets you instantly interpret any ISO 7010 sign without memorizing specific codes.

Green — Safe condition / Emergency egress
Exit signs, assembly points, first-aid kits, AED locations
Red — Fire safety equipment / Prohibition
Fire extinguishers, pull stations, no smoking zones
Blue — Mandatory action
Must wear PPE, keep fire door closed, use marked route
Yellow / Amber — Warning / Caution
Flammable materials, explosive risk, toxic substances

ISO 7010 Symbol Reference by Category

Symbols most relevant to evacuation plans and fire safety compliance.

E

Escape & Emergency Egress

Green background with white symbols. Used for emergency exits, assembly points, and evacuation routes.

E001
Emergency exit (running figure, left)
Main evacuation exit doors — required on every fire exit.
E002
Emergency exit (running figure, right)
Mirror variant for doors opening to the right.
E003
First-aid kit
Location of first-aid boxes or emergency medical supplies.
E004
Stretcher
Location of emergency stretchers or patient transport equipment.
E005
Emergency telephone
Location of dedicated emergency phones (not general office phones).
E006
Direction to emergency exit (arrow variants)
Directional arrows guiding occupants along evacuation routes.
E007
Assembly point
Outdoor muster station where occupants gather after evacuation.
E009
Emergency safety shower
Location of emergency decontamination showers in labs or industrial areas.
E011
Emergency eyewash station
Location of eyewash stations for chemical exposure emergencies.
E012
Automated external defibrillator (AED)
Location of AED devices for cardiac emergencies.
F

Fire Safety Equipment

Red background with white symbols. Used for fire-fighting equipment and alarm systems.

F001
Fire extinguisher
Location of portable fire extinguishers — required on all evacuation plans.
F002
Fire hose reel / standpipe
Location of wall-mounted fire hose cabinets or standpipe connections.
F003
Fire ladder
Location of fixed or portable fire ladders on the building exterior.
F004
Fire alarm manual call point
Location of pull stations — required on evacuation plans for staff identification.
F005
Fire alarm telephone
Dedicated telephone for reporting fires to the fire service.
F006
Fire alarm audible device
Location of alarm sounders, bells, or klaxons.
P

Prohibition

Red circle with diagonal slash. Used to prohibit actions that create fire or safety risks.

P001
No smoking
Prohibited smoking areas — marked on plans near flammable storage zones.
P002
No open flames / no use of open light
Areas where ignition sources are prohibited (fuel storage, spray booths).
P003
No smoking or open flames
Combined prohibition — most commonly used in warehouses with flammable goods.
P006
Do not use water to fight electrical fires
Near electrical panels or server rooms to warn against water extinguisher use.
M

Mandatory Action

Blue circle with white symbols. Used to indicate required actions or PPE in specific zones.

M001
Keep fire door closed
Self-closing fire doors that must remain shut — critical for smoke compartment integrity.
M002
Wear protective gloves
Required hand protection near chemical storage or high-temperature equipment.
M004
Wear protective footwear
Mandatory in industrial areas with falling object or chemical spill risk.
M015
Wear high-visibility vest
Required in vehicle movement areas or construction zones on site.
W

Warning / Hazard

Yellow/amber triangle with black symbols. Used to warn of specific hazards in an area.

W021
Warning: fire hazard
Areas with flammable materials, open flames, or high ignition risk.
W002
Warning: explosive material
Explosive storage or blast risk zones — shown on evacuation plans with exclusion areas.
W001
Warning: flammable material
Flammable liquid or gas storage areas — affects evacuation routing.
W016
Warning: toxic material
Hazardous chemical areas requiring specific evacuation procedures.
W040
Warning: overhead obstacle
Low clearance areas that may affect evacuation routes for tall equipment.
FA

First Aid

Green background with white cross/symbols. Used for medical emergency resources.

E003
First-aid kit
Wall-mounted first-aid boxes — must be marked on evacuation plans per OSHA 1910.151.
E012
AED / defibrillator
Automated external defibrillators — increasingly required in high-occupancy buildings.
E004
Stretcher / spine board
Emergency stretcher or backboard storage location.

ISO 7010 Compliance Requirements by Sector

Offices & Commercial

NFPA 101 Ch. 38/39, IFC Ch. 10

  • E001/E002 (exits)
  • E006 (direction arrows)
  • E007 (assembly point)
  • F001 (extinguishers)
  • F004 (pull stations)

Healthcare Facilities

NFPA 101 Ch. 18/19, CMS §482.41

  • All office symbols +
  • E003/E004 (first aid/stretcher)
  • Medical gas shutoff symbols
  • Smoke compartment markers
  • E012 (AED)

Warehouses & Industrial

OSHA 1910.38, NFPA 1

  • All office symbols +
  • W001/W021 (flammable/fire hazard)
  • W002 (explosive)
  • Emergency stop symbols
  • P001/P003 (no smoking/flames)

Restaurants & Assembly

NFPA 101 Ch. 12/13, NFPA 96

  • All office symbols +
  • F001 Class K (kitchen extinguisher)
  • Hood suppression pull symbol
  • Gas shutoff symbol
  • Max occupancy marker

Put ISO 7010 Symbols on Your Evacuation Plan

Fabrik includes 2,000+ ISO 7010-compliant symbols in its evacuation plan editor. Import your floor plan, drag the right symbols onto the plan, and export a print-ready PDF — all in minutes.

Start Free Trial — No Credit Card

ISO 7010 Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources

Office Evacuation PlansHospital Evacuation PlansWarehouse Evacuation PlansRestaurant Evacuation PlansSchool Evacuation PlansHotel Evacuation Plans