Establishes uniform graphical symbols, their graphic form, meaning and application. These graphical symbols are placed on equipment or parts of equipment of any kind in order to instruct the persons handling the equipment as to its use and operation; they are also placed on sites and ways where people may assemble, or move, giving them instructions, such as prohibitions, warnings, rules or limits, for their behaviour. They are used in pictorial reproductions, such as plans, drawings, maps, diagrams and similar documents. For use in information processing and retrieval systems, a coded designation is applied to each of the symbols in this publication.

This is a loose-leaf publication; supplements, containing new and revised sheets, are issued from time to time (see below).