GB 2894-2025 Safety colours and safety signs English
1 Scope
This document specifies the colour representation for transmitting safety information, the types of safety signs and their setting and usage requirements, as well as the basic identification colours and identification codes for industrial pipelines.
This document is applicable to the design, production and setting of safety signs in production and operation units and public places that have safety risks or need to remind people to pay attention to safety.
This document is not applicable to traffic signs used in railways, highways, inland waterways, sea transportation and air transportation.
2 Normative references
No normative reference is listed in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
safety colour
colour with special properties to which a safety meaning is attributed
Note: It includes four colours, namely yellow, red, blue and green.
3.2
contrast colour
contrasting colour that forms a sharp contrast with the safety colour to make it more eye-catching
Note: It includes two colours, namely black and white.
3.3
safety sign
safety warning sign
signs composed of graphical symbols, safety colours, geometrical shapes (borders) or words to express certain safety information
3.4
safety marking
marking which adopts the use of safety colours and (or) contrast colours to convey a safety message or
render an object or location conspicuous
3.5
warning sign
safety sign that indicates a specific source of potential harm
3.6
prohibition sign
safety sign that indicates that a specific unsafe behaviour or act is forbidden
3.7
direction sign
safety sign that indicates that certain preventive measures must be taken or certain behaviors or actions must be performed
3.8
information sign
safety sign that provides certain information (such as indicating safety facilities or places, etc.)
3.9
identification colour
colour used to identify the types of substances in industrial pipelines
3.10
identification code
marks used to identify the names and states of substances in industrial pipelines
4 Colour representation
4.1 Safety color
4.1.1 Yellow
Conveying messages of attention and warnings.
4.1.2 Red
Conveying messages about prohibiting, stopping or alerting fire-fighting equipment and facilities
4.1.3 Blue
Convey directive messages that regulations shall be followed
4.1.4 Green
Conveying safe and suggestive messages
4.2 Contrast colour
4.2.1 Safety colours and contrast colours shall be used in combination as specified in Table 1.
Table 1 Safety colour and contrast colours
Safety colours Contrast colours
Yellow Black
Red White
Blue White
Green White
Note: The colour limit areas for safety colours and contrast colours are detailed in Annex A, and colour examples are provided in Annex B.
4.2.2 Black is used for the text of safety signs, graphic symbols and the geometric borders of warning signs.
4.2.3 White is used as the background colour for red, blue and green in safety signs, as well as for the text and graphic symbols of safety signs.
4.3 Safety markings
4.3.1 Design of safety markings
The bands of safety colours and contrast colours in the safety markings shall be of equal width inclined at an angle of approximately 45°. There shall be no less than two bands of each colour, as shown in Figure 1.
a) Example of yellow and contrast black
b) Example of red and contrast white
c) Example of blue and contrast white
d) Example of green and contrast white
Figure 1 Safety markings
4.3.2 Yellow and contrast black
Safety marking indicating hazard locations.
4.3.3 Red and contrast white
Safety marking that prohibits or prompts the location of fire-fighting equipment and facilities.
4.3.4 Blue and contrast white
Safety marking indicating a mandatory instruction.
4.3.5 Green and contrast white
Safety marking indicating a safe environment or a safe situation.
5 Safety signs
5.1 Safety sign types
Safety signs are classified into warning signs, prohibition signs, direction signs, and information signs.
5.2 Warning signs
5.2.1 The basic pattern of a warning sign is a regular triangle, as shown in Figure 2.
b is the outer side length of the warning sign; .
Figure 2 Basic type of a warning sign
5.2.2 Warning signs shall comply with the requirements of C.1 in Annex C.
5.3 Prohibition signs
5.3.1 The basic pattern of a prohibition sign is a circle with a diagonal bar, as shown in Figure 3.
d represents the outer diameter of a prohibition sign, and the maximum vertical distances from the diagonal bar to the arc edges on both sides is equal.
Figure 3 Basic type of a prohibition sign
5.3.2 The prohibition signs shall meet the requirements of C.2.
5.4 Direction signs
5.4.1 The basic pattern of a direction sign is round, as shown in Figure 4.
d is the outer diameter of a direction sign.
Figure 4 Basic type of a direction sign
5.4.2 The direction signs shall meet the requirements of C.3.
5.5 Information signs
5.5.1 The basic pattern of an information sign is square, as shown in Figure 5.
a is the side length of an information sign.
Figure 5 Basic type of an information sign
5.5.2 The information signs shall meet the requirements of C.4.
5.5.3 When an information sign indicates the position of the target, auxiliary direction signs shall be added. The auxiliary direction signs of an information sign shall comply with the following regulations:
a) When indicating the left direction as actually needed, the auxiliary sign shall be placed to the left of the graphic sign, as shown in Figure 6a);
b) When indicating the right direction as actually needed, the auxiliary sign shall be placed to the right of the graphic sign, as shown in Figure 6b).
a) Auxiliary sign indicating the left direction
b) Auxiliary sign indicating the right direction
Figure 6 Example of using a directional auxiliary sign
6 Auxiliary text signs
6.1 The basic form of an auxiliary text sign is a rectangular border and shall be used in conjunction with safety signs. An auxiliary text sign can be located above, below, to the left or to the right of a safety sign.
6.2 The standard name shall be used as auxiliary text, and its prominence shall not exceed that of the accompanying safety sign. The background colour shall be the safety colour of the safety sign or white, as shown in Figure 7.
6.3 The fonts of Chinese auxiliary text shall be bold; the first letter of the first word of English auxiliary text shall be uppercase, and the letters of other words shall be lowercase.
a) Auxiliary text sign with safety colour as the background color
b) Auxiliary text sign with white as the background colour
Figure 7 Example of a horizontal auxiliary text sign
Foreword i
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Colour representation
5 Safety signs
6 Auxiliary text signs
7 Usage of safety signboards
8 Basic identification colours and identification codes for industrial pipelines
Annex A (Informative) Colour limit areas of safety colour and contrast colour
Annex B (Informative) Colour examples of safety colour and contrast colour
Annex C (Normative) Safety signs
Annex D (Informative) Dimensions and models of safety signs
Annex E (Informative) Application examples of marking methods of basic identification colours and identification codes for industrial pipelines
Bibliography
GB 2894-2025 Safety colours and safety signs English
1 Scope
This document specifies the colour representation for transmitting safety information, the types of safety signs and their setting and usage requirements, as well as the basic identification colours and identification codes for industrial pipelines.
This document is applicable to the design, production and setting of safety signs in production and operation units and public places that have safety risks or need to remind people to pay attention to safety.
This document is not applicable to traffic signs used in railways, highways, inland waterways, sea transportation and air transportation.
2 Normative references
No normative reference is listed in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
safety colour
colour with special properties to which a safety meaning is attributed
Note: It includes four colours, namely yellow, red, blue and green.
3.2
contrast colour
contrasting colour that forms a sharp contrast with the safety colour to make it more eye-catching
Note: It includes two colours, namely black and white.
3.3
safety sign
safety warning sign
signs composed of graphical symbols, safety colours, geometrical shapes (borders) or words to express certain safety information
3.4
safety marking
marking which adopts the use of safety colours and (or) contrast colours to convey a safety message or
render an object or location conspicuous
3.5
warning sign
safety sign that indicates a specific source of potential harm
3.6
prohibition sign
safety sign that indicates that a specific unsafe behaviour or act is forbidden
3.7
direction sign
safety sign that indicates that certain preventive measures must be taken or certain behaviors or actions must be performed
3.8
information sign
safety sign that provides certain information (such as indicating safety facilities or places, etc.)
3.9
identification colour
colour used to identify the types of substances in industrial pipelines
3.10
identification code
marks used to identify the names and states of substances in industrial pipelines
4 Colour representation
4.1 Safety color
4.1.1 Yellow
Conveying messages of attention and warnings.
4.1.2 Red
Conveying messages about prohibiting, stopping or alerting fire-fighting equipment and facilities
4.1.3 Blue
Convey directive messages that regulations shall be followed
4.1.4 Green
Conveying safe and suggestive messages
4.2 Contrast colour
4.2.1 Safety colours and contrast colours shall be used in combination as specified in Table 1.
Table 1 Safety colour and contrast colours
Safety colours Contrast colours
Yellow Black
Red White
Blue White
Green White
Note: The colour limit areas for safety colours and contrast colours are detailed in Annex A, and colour examples are provided in Annex B.
4.2.2 Black is used for the text of safety signs, graphic symbols and the geometric borders of warning signs.
4.2.3 White is used as the background colour for red, blue and green in safety signs, as well as for the text and graphic symbols of safety signs.
4.3 Safety markings
4.3.1 Design of safety markings
The bands of safety colours and contrast colours in the safety markings shall be of equal width inclined at an angle of approximately 45°. There shall be no less than two bands of each colour, as shown in Figure 1.
a) Example of yellow and contrast black
b) Example of red and contrast white
c) Example of blue and contrast white
d) Example of green and contrast white
Figure 1 Safety markings
4.3.2 Yellow and contrast black
Safety marking indicating hazard locations.
4.3.3 Red and contrast white
Safety marking that prohibits or prompts the location of fire-fighting equipment and facilities.
4.3.4 Blue and contrast white
Safety marking indicating a mandatory instruction.
4.3.5 Green and contrast white
Safety marking indicating a safe environment or a safe situation.
5 Safety signs
5.1 Safety sign types
Safety signs are classified into warning signs, prohibition signs, direction signs, and information signs.
5.2 Warning signs
5.2.1 The basic pattern of a warning sign is a regular triangle, as shown in Figure 2.
b is the outer side length of the warning sign; .
Figure 2 Basic type of a warning sign
5.2.2 Warning signs shall comply with the requirements of C.1 in Annex C.
5.3 Prohibition signs
5.3.1 The basic pattern of a prohibition sign is a circle with a diagonal bar, as shown in Figure 3.
d represents the outer diameter of a prohibition sign, and the maximum vertical distances from the diagonal bar to the arc edges on both sides is equal.
Figure 3 Basic type of a prohibition sign
5.3.2 The prohibition signs shall meet the requirements of C.2.
5.4 Direction signs
5.4.1 The basic pattern of a direction sign is round, as shown in Figure 4.
d is the outer diameter of a direction sign.
Figure 4 Basic type of a direction sign
5.4.2 The direction signs shall meet the requirements of C.3.
5.5 Information signs
5.5.1 The basic pattern of an information sign is square, as shown in Figure 5.
a is the side length of an information sign.
Figure 5 Basic type of an information sign
5.5.2 The information signs shall meet the requirements of C.4.
5.5.3 When an information sign indicates the position of the target, auxiliary direction signs shall be added. The auxiliary direction signs of an information sign shall comply with the following regulations:
a) When indicating the left direction as actually needed, the auxiliary sign shall be placed to the left of the graphic sign, as shown in Figure 6a);
b) When indicating the right direction as actually needed, the auxiliary sign shall be placed to the right of the graphic sign, as shown in Figure 6b).
a) Auxiliary sign indicating the left direction
b) Auxiliary sign indicating the right direction
Figure 6 Example of using a directional auxiliary sign
6 Auxiliary text signs
6.1 The basic form of an auxiliary text sign is a rectangular border and shall be used in conjunction with safety signs. An auxiliary text sign can be located above, below, to the left or to the right of a safety sign.
6.2 The standard name shall be used as auxiliary text, and its prominence shall not exceed that of the accompanying safety sign. The background colour shall be the safety colour of the safety sign or white, as shown in Figure 7.
6.3 The fonts of Chinese auxiliary text shall be bold; the first letter of the first word of English auxiliary text shall be uppercase, and the letters of other words shall be lowercase.
a) Auxiliary text sign with safety colour as the background color
b) Auxiliary text sign with white as the background colour
Figure 7 Example of a horizontal auxiliary text sign
Contents of GB 2894-2025
Foreword i
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Colour representation
5 Safety signs
6 Auxiliary text signs
7 Usage of safety signboards
8 Basic identification colours and identification codes for industrial pipelines
Annex A (Informative) Colour limit areas of safety colour and contrast colour
Annex B (Informative) Colour examples of safety colour and contrast colour
Annex C (Normative) Safety signs
Annex D (Informative) Dimensions and models of safety signs
Annex E (Informative) Application examples of marking methods of basic identification colours and identification codes for industrial pipelines
Bibliography
