standard, titled "Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking and identification – Coding principles for indicators and actuators," establishes the global rules for how machines communicate with people through visual, acoustic, and tactile signals. IEC Webstore Core Purpose of IEC 60073
The primary goal is to ensure safety and clarity by standardizing the meanings of colors and signals across industrial equipment. This prevents operator confusion, which is critical in emergency situations. IEC Webstore Key Coding Principles
The standard defines specific meanings for visual indicators (lights and buttons) based on color: : Denotes a
condition. It requires immediate action, such as an emergency stop. : Indicates conditions or a
. It signals that a situation is approaching a critical limit and requires monitoring. : Represents
conditions. It indicates that the machine is ready to operate or is running within parameters. : Used for iec 60073 pdf
actions. It signals that an operator must perform a specific task (e.g., reset). WHITE/GREY/BLACK : General purpose or
colors for functions that do not have a specific safety implication. IEC Webstore Types of Indications Covered : Use of colors, shapes, and flashing frequencies.
: Use of tone, frequency, and duration of sound signals to convey urgency.
: Use of physical textures or vibrations, often for buttons or actuators to assist operators without looking. IEC Webstore Where to Access the Document
As an international standard, the official version is a protected document: Official Purchase : The full text is available through the IEC Webstore or national standards bodies like the ANSI Webstore Q3: The PDF is expensive
: Most stores provide a free "preview" PDF containing the table of contents and scope to help you confirm it meets your needs before buying. ANSI Webstore tactile patterns recommended for emergency versus non-emergency signals?
IEC: International Electrotechnical Commission - ANSI Webstore
standard (latest version IEC 60073:2002 ) provides the basic safety principles for human-machine interfaces, specifically the coding of indicators and actuators
. Its primary goal is to increase the safety of personnel and equipment by standardizing how visual, acoustic, and tactile signals are used. iTeh Standards Summary of IEC 60073 Coding Principles
Standardization ensures that operators can rapidly recognize conditions and actuator positions across different systems. iTeh Standards Visual Indicators (Color Coding): Emergency, Danger, or Fault (e.g., DC supply failure). 🟡 Amber/Yellow: Abnormal condition or Warning. 🟢 Green: Safe, Normal, or "Go" (indicates the system is ready). 🔵 Blue: Mandatory action (e.g., "reset required"). ⚪ White: General information or auxiliary status. Flashing Rates: Standardizes attention-grabbing signals. Normal Flashing: 1.4 Hz to 2.8 Hz (used for immediate attention). Slow Flashing: or Fault (e.g.
0.4 Hz to 0.8 Hz (used for non-power-state info like communication). Physical Layout:
To assist color-blind individuals, it recommends placing Red at the top, Amber in the middle, and Green at the bottom. Developing a Compliance Report If you are developing a technical report based on a PDF version of IEC 60073 , use the following structure based on standard industrial Test Report Form (TRF) templates
IEC 60073: Red for DC Fail Indicators | PDF | Color - Scribd
The print version costs roughly the same as the PDF. Consider sharing a multi-user license within a small team.
Full Title: IEC 60073: Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking and identification — Coding principles for indicators and actuators