ISO 24409-1-2020 PDF

Full title and description

Ships and marine technology — Design, location and use of shipboard safety signs, fire control plan signs, safety notices and safety markings — Part 1: Design principles. This International Standard gives general design principles for safety signs, fire control plan signs, safety notices and markings used on ships to communicate safety-related information effectively to persons on board.

Abstract

ISO 24409-1:2020 specifies the principles to be applied when designing and locating shipboard safety signs, fire control plan signs, safety notices and safety markings. It covers the choice and combination of symbols, colours, shapes and text, recommended relationships to other standards for graphical symbols and sign performance, and guidance on location, sizing, illumination and durability so that safety information is conveyed clearly to crew, passengers and other shipboard users.

General information

• Status: Published (confirmed on 5-year review).
• Publication date: 25 March 2020 (Edition 2).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 47.020.01 (General standards related to shipbuilding and marine structures).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2020).
• Number of pages: 18 pages.

Scope

ISO 24409-1:2020 applies to the general design principles for shipboard safety signs, fire control plan signs, safety notices and safety markings intended to communicate safety-related information to persons on board ships. It defines how sign messages should be structured and combined, refers to applicable graphical symbol standards, and gives guidance on placement, visibility, and durability appropriate for the marine environment.

Key topics and requirements

• Design principles for sign messages: convey a single clear safety message per sign (prohibition, mandatory action, warning, evacuation, emergency equipment, etc.).
• Use of colours, shapes and contrast in accordance with established safety colour standards (alignment with ISO 3864 series and ISO 3864-3 design criteria).
• Preference for standardized graphical symbols (ISO 7010 and other ISO symbol catalogues) before creating new symbols.
• Requirements and guidance for fire control plan signs and for signs used on escape routes, life‑saving appliances and emergency equipment.
• Recommendations for sign size, positioning, mounting height and orientation to ensure visibility and legibility in shipboard conditions.
• Considerations for illumination, photoluminescent materials, contrast under low light, and material durability in a marine environment.
• Guidance on language, supplementary text, and combinations of symbol + text to improve comprehension for diverse shipboard populations.
• Cross-references to relevant catalogues and normative references for symbol specifications and performance.

Typical use and users

Primary users include ship designers and naval architects, shipyards and outfitters, classification societies, flag-state inspectors, maritime safety officers, shipboard safety managers and emergency planners, sign manufacturers and suppliers for the marine market, and regulators who adopt or reference ISO standards in national or regional rules. The standard is used when specifying, producing or auditing shipboard signage and fire control plans.

Related standards

Part of the ISO 24409 series (signage for ships). Key related standards and documents include ISO 24409-2 (catalogue of shipboard safety and fire control plan signs), drafts and work items for Parts 3 and 4 (code of practice and escape plan signs), the ISO 3864 series (safety colours and safety signs), ISO 7010 (graphical symbols — safety signs), ISO 15370 (low-location lighting on passenger ships), ISO 17398 (safety colours and safety signs — classification and durability), and maritime regulations such as SOLAS provisions that address fire control plans and emergency signage.

Keywords

shipboard safety signs; fire control plan signs; safety notices; safety markings; maritime signage; pictograms; ISO 3864; ISO 7010; design principles; emergency signs; photoluminescent signs.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 24409-1:2020 is an international standard that establishes general design principles for safety signage, fire control plan signs, safety notices and markings used on ships.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers how to design and combine symbols, colours, shapes and text, recommendations for sign size and placement, considerations for illumination and material durability, and alignment with other graphical-symbol and safety-colour standards so safety messages are clearly communicated on board ship.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Ship designers, shipyards and outfitters, safety officers, classification societies, maritime regulators, sign manufacturers and anyone specifying or auditing shipboard signage and fire control plans.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: This is Edition 2 published on 25 March 2020. It replaced the 2010 edition. The standard underwent the ISO 5-year review cycle and was confirmed (reviewed) in 2025, and remains current as of 1 March 2026.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 24409 is a multipart series addressing shipboard safety signage. Part 1 is design principles (this document); Part 2 covers a catalogue of standardized shipboard signs; Parts 3 and 4 address code of practice and escape-plan signs (development and revisions of Parts 2–4 have been in progress).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: shipboard safety signs, fire control plan, safety notices, safety markings, pictograms, ISO 3864, ISO 7010, maritime signage, emergency signage.