BRITISH STANDARD BS 5378-2:

1980
(Reprinted,
incorporating
Amendments No. 1 to
No. 2 inclusive)

Safety signs and

colours —
Part 2: Specification for colorimetric
and photometric properties of materials

UDC 003.62:614.8:62-777.6
BS 5378-2:1980

Cooperating organizations

The Personal Safety Equipment Standards Committee, under whose direction

this British Standard was prepared, consists of representatives from the
following Government departments and scientific and industrial
organizations.

British Footwear Manufacturers’ Federation

British Rubber Manufacturers’ Association
British Safety Council
British Steel Industry*
Cement Makers’ Federation
Chemical Industries Association*
Council of Ironfoundry Associations
Department of Industry, National Engineering Laboratory
Electricity Supply Industry in England and Wales*
Engineering Employers’ Federation*
Engineering Equipment Users’ Association
Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors
Glass Manufacturers’ Federation
Health and Safety Executive*
Industrial Safety (Protective Equipment) Manufacturers’ Association*
Institute of British Foundrymen
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of industrial Safety Officers
Institution of Production Engineers
Iron and Steel Trades Confederation
Light Metal Traders Organization
Medical Research Council
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
National Coal Board*
National Joint Council for the Building Industry (Operatives Side)
National Radiological Protection Board
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents*
Trades Union Congress

The organizations marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the
following, were directly represented on the Technical committee entrusted
with the preparation of this British Standard:

British Non-ferrous Metals Federation

British Sign Association
Chartered Institution of Building Services
Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers’ Association
Department of Health and Social Security
Institution of Fire Engineers
Ministry of Defence
Paintmakers Association of Great Britain Ltd.
Individual expert

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Personal
Safety Equipment Standards
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Executive Board and comes
into effect on Amendments issued since publication
29 August 1980
Amd. No. Date of issue Comments
© BSI 12-1998

4188 April 1983

The following BSI references
relate to the work on this 5484 August 1987 Indicated by a side line in the margin
standard:
Committee reference PSM/12
Draft for comment 79/61092 DC

ISBN 0 580 11507 0

 BS 5378-2:1980

Contents

Page
Cooperating organizationsInside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 References 1
3 Definitions 1
4 Colorimetric and photometric properties of the materials 1
Appendix A Preferred dimensions of single safety signs 6
Appendix B Colour references 6

Figure 1 — Boundaries for red, yellow, green, blue, white and

black ordinary surface colours 4
Figure 2 — Boundaries for retroreflecting surface colours and
for fluorescent red and orange-red 5
Figure 3 — Measured dimensions for signs 7
Figure 4 — Boundary for photoluminescent white 8
Table 1 — Chromaticity coordinates and luminance factors for
ordinary and retroreflecting colours 4
Table 2 — Chromaticity coordinates and luminance factors for
fluorescent and photoluminescent materials 2
Table 3 — Coefficient of retroreflection 3
Table 4 — Colour references 6
Table 5 — Preferred sizes of signs 6
Table 6 — Preferred letter sizes 6
Standards publications referred to Inside back cover

© BSI 12-1998 i
BS 5378-2:1980

Foreword

This revision of BS 5378 has been prepared under the direction of the Personal
Safety Equipment Standards Committee and consists of three Parts, which may
be purchased separately. BS 5378:1976 has been withdrawn.
Over many years, widely different codes and systems of safety signs have been
developed.
This British Standard specifies a system for giving health or safety information
that keeps the use of words to a minimum. The need for such a system has arisen
due to the increase in international trade and travel and the development of work
forces that do not share a common language.
Attention is drawn to the fact that education and training is an essential part of
any system for giving health or safety information.
BS 5378 was originally published in 1976 and was based upon the draft
international standard ISO/DIS 3864 issued by the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO). Since publication of that draft, the EEC has issued a
Directive (77/576/EEC) “Council Directive of 25 July 1977 on the Approximation
of the Laws, Regulations and Administrative Provisions of the Member States
relating to the provision of safety signs at places of work”.
The Directive is based upon the ISO work.
The international standard, ISO 3864, was published in 1984 and covers the
same subject matter as Parts 1 and 2 of BS 5378, but it is not identical with them.
Attention is drawn in this Part of BS 5378 to the main differences between the
publications.
BS 5378-1, which deals with basic principles and gives examples of safety signs,
is in line with the EEC Directive (77/576/EEC) and was prepared in anticipation
of the preparation of the Safety Signs Regulations 1980 (Sl 1980 No. 1471).
BS 5378-3 has been produced to cover additional requirements.
This Part of BS 5378 gives guidance on preferred sizes of signs in appendix A and
specifies the colorimetric and photometric properties of materials. These are not
specific requirements of the EEC Directive, but are recommendations
supplementary to it. ISO 3864-1984 includes requirements for colorimetric and
photometric properties which, for blue colours, are more restrictive than the
requirements of this Part of BS 5378. The technical committee responsible for the
preparation of this British Standard, and for monitoring the ISO work, did not
agree with the restriction imposed on blue colours in ISO 3864-1984 but the ISO
limits have been indicated, for information, in this standard.
The colour areas for all other ordinary surface colours, retroreflecting surface
colours and fluorescent red and orange-red are identical with those specified in
ISO 3864-1984.
This Part of BS 5378 allows photoluminescent white to be used as an alternative
to ordinary white or retroreflecting white. The colour area for photoluminescent
white under normal illumination is specified, but the performance characteristics
of this material upon removal of normal illumination are not specified.
NOTE BS 5378-1 is called up in the Safety Signs Regulations 1980 (Sl 1980 No. 1471).
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.
Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 8, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

ii © BSI 12-1998
 BS 5378-2:1980

1 Scope 4 Colorimetric and photometric

This Part of this British Standard specifies the properties of the materials
colorimetric and photometric properties of materials 4.1 Conditions. The physical requirements with
and gives the preferred sizes for safety signs which the materials comply shall be primarily
complying with the requirements of Part 1. related to daytime colour.
Colour measurements shall be made as specified in
2 References CIE Publication No. 152) (reference E.1.3.1).
The titles of the standards publications referred to NOTE For the colorimetric measurements, the material is
in this Part of this standard are listed on the inside considered to be illuminated by daylight as represented by the
back cover. Standard Illuminant D65 (CIE 45-15-1453)) at an angle of 45°
with the normal to the surface and the observation is made in the
direction of the normal (45/0 geometry).
3 Definitions The coefficient of retroreflection shall be measured
For the purposes of this Part of this standard the in accordance with CIE Publication No. 7, 1960
following definitions apply. volume D, pages 566 to 5714) using Standard
Illuminant A, under the condition that the entrance
3.1
and observation angles are in the same plane.
colour boundary
4.2 Requirements. When measured under the
a (straight) line in the CIE chromaticity
conditions specified in 4.1, each colour shall have
diagram (CIE 45-15-2001) separating the area of the
chromaticity coordinates within the colour areas
permitted colours from that of the non-permitted
shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, as appropriate. The x
colours
and y coordinates of the corner points of the colour
3.2 areas, and the luminance factors required, shall be
luminance factor as specified in Table 1 or Table 2, as appropriate.
(at a point on the surface of a non-self-radiating The minimum coefficients of retroreflection for
body, in a given direction, under specified conditions retroreflecting materials shall be as specified in
of illumination.) Ratio of the luminance of the body Table 3.
to that of a perfect reflecting diffuser identically The signs (including the colours) shall maintain the
illuminated (CIE 45-20-200 1)) same meaning under all relevant lighting
3.3 conditions.
coefficient of retroreflection (R1) NOTE 1 Retroreflecting materials: if, in practice, the
photometric values of the retroreflecting materials drop
(of a plane retroreflecting surface). The quotient below 50 % of the required minima given in Table 3, or if the
obtained by dividing the luminous intensity (l) of the chromaticity coordinates fall outside the boundaries in Table 1,
retroreflecting material in the direction of the materials ARE NOT CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR
SAFETY USE.
observation, by the product of the illuminance (E⊥) NOTE 2 Fluorescent materials: if, in practice, the luminance
at the retroreflecting surface on a plane factors of the fluorescent materials fall below 50 % of the required
perpendicular to the direction of the incident light minima given in Table 2, or if the chromaticity coordinates fall
and its area (A) outside the boundaries in Table 2, the materials ARE NOT
CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR SAFETY USE.
1 l NOTE 3 Ordinary coloured materials: if, in practice, the
R = ------------------- chromaticity coordinates and luminance factors fall outside the
E⊥ × A boundaries in Table 1, the materials ARE NOT CONSIDERED
3.4 SUITABLE FOR SAFETY USE.
NOTE 4 Details of colours that are known to comply with the
ordinary colour requirements of this clause are given in appendix B.
a colour that is neither retroreflecting nor NOTE 5 Photoluminescent materials: if, in practice, the
fluorescent luminance factor of the photoluminescent materials falls
below 50 % of the required minimum given in Table 2, or if the
chromaticity coordinates fall outside the boundaries of Table 2,
the materials ARE NOT CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR
SAFETY USE.

1)
CIE (Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage) Vocabulary Publication No. 17, 1970, “International lighting vocabulary”.
CIE publications may be obtained from the National Illumination Committee of Great Britain, c/o The Library, Thorn Lighting
Ltd., Great Cambridge Road, Enfield, Middlesex EN1 1UL. Tel. 01-363 5353.
2)
CIE (Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage) Publication No. 15, 1971, “Colorimetry”.
3)
CIE (Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage) Publication No. 17, 1970, “International lighting vocabulary”.
4)
CIE (Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage) Publication No. 7, 1960, volume D, “Proceedings 14th session, Brussels”.

© BSI 12-1998 1
BS 5378-2:1980

Table 1 — Chromaticity coordinates and luminance factors for ordinary and retroreflecting
coloursa
Colour Chromaticity coordinates of corner points Luminance factor for
determining the permitted colour area b
ordinary retroreflecting colours
colours
Standard illuminant D65 (45/0 geometry) Class 2 Class 1
(high
1 2 3 4
performance)
x 0.690 0.595 0.569 0.655
Red ≥ 0.07 ≥ 0.05 ≥ 0.03
y 0.310 0.315 0.341 0.345
x 0.519 0.468 0.427 0.465
Yellow ≥ 0.45 — —
y 0.480 0.442 0.483 0.534
x 0.545 0.487 0.427 0.465
Retroreflecting yellow — ≥ 0.27 ≥ 0.16
y 0.454 0.423 0.483 0.534
x 0.230 0.291 0.248 0.007
Green ≥ 0.12 — —
y 0.754 0.438 0.409 0.703
x 0.007 0.248 0.177 0.026
Retroreflecting green — ≥ 0.04 ≥ 0.03
y 0.703 0.409 0.362 0.399
x 0.078 0.198 0.240 0.137
Blue ≥ 0.05
y 0.171 0.252 0.210 0.038
x 0.078 0.150 0.210 0.137
Retroreflecting blue — ≥ 0.01 ≥ 0.01
y 0.171 0.220 0.160 0.038
x 0.350 0.300 0.290 0.340
White ≥ 0.75 — —
y 0.360 0.310 0.320 0.370
x 0.350 0.300 0.285 0.335
Retroreflecting white — ≥ 0.35 ≥ 0.27
y 0.360 0.310 0.325 0.375
x 0.385 0.300 0.260 0.345
Black ≤ 0.03 — —
y 0.355 0.270 0.310 0.395
aThe chromaticity coordinates of corner points for ordinary blue colours in ISO 3864-1984 are identical with those for
retroreflecting blue colours in this specification. Other requirements in Table 1 are identical with the ISO 3864-1984 requirements.
bThe designations “class 2” and “class 1 (high performance)” are used for consistency with BS 873. The ISO 3864-1984 designations
are “type 1” (for class 2) and “type 2 (high performance)” for class 1 (high performance).

Table 2 — Chromaticity coordinates and luminance factors for fluorescent and

photoluminescent materials
Colour Chromaticity coordinates of corner points determining Luminance
the permitted colour areas factor
Standard illuminant D65 (45/0 ° Geometry)
1 2 3 4
x 0.690 0.595 0.535 0.610
Fluorescent red and orange-red ≥ 0.25
y 0.310 0.315 0.375 0.390
x 0.320 0.290 0.390 0.360
Photoluminescent white ≥ 0.65
y 0.335 0.365 0.405 0.435

2 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 5378-2:1980

Table 3 — Coefficients of retroreflection

Minimum coefficient of retroreflectiona in cd/(lx m2)
Observation Entrance Standard illuminant A
angle angle b b
Class 2 Class 1 (high performance)
White Yellow Red Green Blue White Yellow Red Green Blue
5° 50 35 10 7 2 180 122 25 21 14
20′ 30° 24 16 4 3 1 100 67 14 11 7
40° 9 6 1.8 1.2 0.4 95 64 13 11 7
5° 5 3 0.8 0.6 0.2 5 3 0.8 0.6 0.2
2° 30° 2.5 1.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 2.5 1.5 0.4 0.3 0.1
40° 1.5 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.06 1.5 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.06
a
For coloured parts of signs which are printed, the coefficient of retroreflection should be not less
than 70 % of the values in Table 3.
b
The designations “class 2” and “class 1 (high performance)” are used for consistency with BS 873. The ISO/DIS 3864.3
designations are “type 1” (for class 2) and “type 2 (high performance)” for class 1 (high performance).

© BSI 12-1998 3
BS 5378-2:1980

Figure 1 — Boundaries for red, yellow, green, blue, white and black ordinary surface colours

4 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 5378-2:1980

Figure 2 — Boundaries for retroreflecting surface colours and for fluorescent red and
orange-red

© BSI 12-1998 5
BS 5378-2:1980

Appendix A Preferred dimensions of Table 5 — Preferred sizes of signs

single safety signs Modular height of Diameter or height of
sign plate, a geometric shape of
The preferred dimensions of safety signs safety sign, b
(see clause 5 of BS 5378-1:1980) and preferred letter mm mm
sizes are given in Table 5 and Table 6 respectively
with reference to Figure 3. 75 60
If lettering is to be used on a supplementary sign, it 100 80
is recommended that the letter size be in accordance 150 120
with Table 6. The values given in the table are the
height of a lower case letter “x”. 225 180

Appendix B Colour references 300 240

600 480
The colours detailed in Table 4 are selected from the
framework for reference colour coordination for 750 600
building purposes given in BS 5252 and are known 900 720
to comply with the requirements of 4.2. In order to
ascertain the availability of the colours in the 1200 960
particular material selected for use in safety signs, NOTE The modular sizes are taken from BS 4011.
reference should be made to relevant standards for
colour ranges for particular materials, i.e. BS 4800, Table 6 — Preferred letter sizes
BS 4900, and BS 4901 (which use the same Diameter or height of Height of letter
identification code as BS 5252). References to the geometric shape of “x”
colours in BS 381C are also given, since this safety sign, b
standard has been in use for many years and mm mm
employs a different identification code. This list is 60 5.0
not intended to imply that the BS 5252 colours and
the BS 381C colours are equivalent, but does 80 6.6
indicate that each of the colours listed satisfies the 120 10.0
requirements of 4.2. 180 15.0
Table 4 — Colour references
240 20.0
Colour BS 5252 reference BS 381C reference
480 40.0
Red 04E53 537 G
600 50.0
539 G
720 60.0
Yellow 08E51 355 G or M
960 80.0
10E51 309 G or M
10E55
Green 14E53 228 G
Blue 18D45 c
104 Gc or Mc
20D44c 107 Gc
20D45c 108 G
18E53 109 Gc
20E53 166 G or Mc
20E56
NOTE G = Gloss, M = Matt.
c
These colours are outside the range of blue colours complying
with (draft) ISO requirements (see foreword and the footnote to
Table 1).

6 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 5378-2:1980

Figure 3 — Measured dimensions for signs

© BSI 12-1998 7
BS 5378-2:1980

Figure 4 — Boundary for photoluminescent

white

8 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 5378-2:1980

Standards publications referred to

BS 381C, Colours for specific purposes.

BS 873, The construction of road traffic signs and internally illuminated bollards.
BS 4011, Recommendations for the co-ordination of dimensions in building. Co-ordinating sizes for
building components and assemblies.
BS 4800, Paint colours for building purposes.
BS 4900, Specification for vitreous enamel colours for building purposes.
BS 4901, Specification for plastics colours for building purposes.
BS 5252, Framework for colour coordination for building purposes.
ISO 3864, Safety colours and safety signs.

© BSI 12-1998
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