ISO 22578-2022 PDF

Full title and description

Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Natural disaster safety way guidance system. This International Standard specifies principles for the design and application of signs, pictograms and plans used to create an outdoor natural disaster safety way guidance system to help people evacuate to safe areas or places of refuge in the event of natural disasters (e.g. tsunamis, floods, debris flows, landslides, tornados, large-scale fires, active volcanoes).

Abstract

Provides guidance on selection and use of safety signs (in alignment with ISO 7010), public information symbols (ISO 7001) and text for evacuation-route signs, places of refuge signs and evacuation-plan signs related to one or more natural disasters. The document also gives recommendations on design, location, mounting positions and maintenance of the sign components of a natural disaster safety way guidance system. It does not determine whether a guidance system is required (that is assumed to be established by risk assessment or an enforcing authority) and excludes certain hazard types (for example earthquakes and hurricanes are not covered by this particular document).

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (Edition 1, 2022). Superseded by a later revision.
• Publication date: February 2022 (document issued in February 2022; national catalogues record 23 February 2022).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 01.080.10 (Public information symbols; signs; plaques; labels).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2022).
• Number of pages: 32 pages (as published by ISO).

Scope

Specifies principles governing the design and application of signs and plans used to create an outdoor natural disaster safety way guidance system to assist movement from outside buildings to safe areas or places of refuge in the event of natural disasters (for example tsunamis, floods, debris flows, landslides, tornados, large-scale fires, active volcanoes). The standard addresses selection and coordination of symbol types, use of safety colours and text, and guidance on sign placement and maintenance; it is not intended for in‑building emergency exit guidance (see ISO 16069) and does not itself determine whether a guidance system is required.

Key topics and requirements

• Principles for design and layout of evacuation-route signs, places-of-refuge signs and evacuation-plan signs.
• Use and selection of graphical symbols consistent with ISO 7010 (safety signs) and ISO 7001 (public information symbols).
• Specification of safety colours and contrast requirements to maximise legibility in outdoor natural‑disaster contexts.
• Guidance on location, mounting positions, orientation and maintenance of sign components for outdoor evacuation guidance.
• Limitations and exclusions (does not address in‑building emergency exit way guidance; certain hazard types such as earthquakes and hurricanes are excluded from this document’s scope).

Typical use and users

Used by standards committees, signage and wayfinding designers, municipal and regional emergency planners, coastal and flood‑risk authorities, infrastructure and transport planners, manufacturers of safety signage (including phosphorescent/photoluminescent products), facility managers, and organizations responsible for public evacuation planning and public safety communications.

Related standards

Closely related to ISO 7010 (safety signs — graphical symbols), ISO 7001 (public information symbols), ISO 16069 (design of escape and evacuation plans and in‑building safety way guidance), and the companion document ISO 22578‑2 (measurement of photopic luminance of phosphorescent components), which has itself been withdrawn as the series was consolidated into a later revision. The 2022 edition was later revised and a new edition of ISO 22578 was published in 2025.

Keywords

natural disaster, evacuation route, places of refuge, safety signs, safety colours, graphical symbols, ISO 7010, ISO 7001, photopic luminance, phosphorescent components, way guidance system.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: An ISO International Standard that defined principles for outdoor natural disaster safety way guidance systems — the design and application of signs, symbols and plans used to guide people to safe areas or places of refuge during specific natural disasters.

Q: What does it cover?

A: Selection and use of safety and public information symbols (aligned with ISO 7010 and ISO 7001), text for evacuation signage, guidance on sign design, placement, mounting and maintenance for outdoor routes to safe areas; it does not determine whether a system is required and excludes certain hazards and in‑building evacuation guidance.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Signage designers, emergency planners, local and regional authorities, infrastructure and transport planners, manufacturers of safety signage, facility managers and standards bodies involved in public safety and evacuation planning.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2022 edition (Edition 1, published February 2022) has been withdrawn and superseded by a later revision of the standard (ISO 22578:2025). Users should consult the most recent edition (the 2025 revision) for up‑to‑date requirements.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — a Part 2 (ISO 22578‑2:2024) addressed laboratory measurement of photopic luminance for phosphorescent components used in such guidance systems; that part was withdrawn as the series was consolidated and superseded by the 2025 revision of ISO 22578.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Natural disaster, evacuation route, places of refuge, safety signs, safety colours, graphical symbols, ISO 7010, ISO 7001, photopic luminance, phosphorescent, way guidance system.