To reduce risks associated with misinterpretation of visual and auditory danger signals, a system of danger and information signals is specified taking into account the different degrees of urgency. This European Standard is applicable to all danger and information signals which have to be clearly perceived and differentiated as specified in 5.3 of EN 292-2:1991, by other requirements or by the work situation, and to all degrees of urgency - from extreme urgency to an ALL CLEAR situation. Where visual signals are to be complementary to sound signals, the signal character is specified for both. This European Standard does not apply to certain fields covered by specific standards or other conventions in force (international or national); in particular, fire alarms, medical alarms, alarms used in the field of public transport, navigation signals and signals for special fields of activity (for example, military). When new signals are being planned, however, this European Standard should be considered in order to avoid inconsistency. For auditory signals, the system of signal character is a guideline for a signal language based on message categories which are classified according to urgency. Certain characters are specified for purposes which require safe and rapid recognition. Certain categories allow possibilities for variants, e. g. control and warning signals at workplaces where the signalling is intended for personnel with specific training. For visual signals, the established meanings of the safety colours are not affected by this European Standard. For different needs, complementary meanings have been assigned to the signals by timed patterns, and in a very few cases by alternating colours.
EN 981:1996+A1:2008 Referenced Document
EN 457:1992 Safety of machinery; auditory danger signals; general requirements, design and testing (ISO 7731:1986, modified)
EN 60073:2002 Basic and Safety Principles for Man-Machine Interface, Marking and Identification - Coding Principles for Indication Devices and Actuators
EN 842:1996 Safety of machinery - Visual danger signals - General requirements, design and testing (Incorporates Amendment A1: 2008)
ISO 8995:1989 Principles of visual ergonomics; the lighting of indoor work systems
ISO 9921-1:1996 Ergonomic assessment of speech communication - Part 1: Speech interference level and communication distances for persons with normal hearing capacity in direct communication (SIL method)
EN 981:1996+A1:2008 history
2008EN 981:1996+A1:2008 Safety of machinery - System of auditory and visual danger and information signals
1996EN 981:1996 Safety of machinery - System of auditory and visual danger and information signals (Incorporates Amendment A1: 2008)