AS2 - Determining the Appropriate Signage

Purpose

To establish guidance as to what signage is required in and around aquatic location.

Description

Determining the most appropriate signage at an aquatic facility is a detailed process that should include assessing the hazards and associated risks which need signage then determining:

1. the classification of sign to be used
2. the location and size of signs
3. the mounting height
4. the sign height and maximum viewing distance
5. the text to support the sign
6. the use of single or multiple signs
7. the lighting and illumination where the signage will be located
8. the environment where the signage will be located
9. the material, construction and physical properties
10. the fixing method of the signs

Risk Assessment

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should conduct a risk assessment in accordance with the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations- Aquatic Risk Management which would determine the needs of signage within an Aquatic Facility

When considering how to provide safety signage at an aquatic facility, an owner or operator (or their delegate) must consider all relevant matters including:

• the history of deaths, serious injuries/illness and accidents/near misses within aquatic facilities
• the size, location and nature of the physical environment of the Aquatic Facility
• the number, characteristics and behaviour of users of the Aquatic Facility
• the type and frequency of activities in the aquatic environment at the Aquatic Facility
• The regulations, standards, guidelines and procedures relevant to the facility
• The extent of safety services such as lifeguards and their equipment
• The extent of training and information provided to staff

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should ensure that the type of sign used is suitable for the intended purpose. The assessment should include consideration of the following:

1. Where there are to be words on a sign, is it likely that the meaning of the sign will need to be conveyed to persons not familiar with the English language? In addition to English, it may be necessary to repeat the message in one or more other languages, particularly if instant recognition of the message may be needed in a critical situation. Translated messages should adhere as closely as practicable to the intent of the English version.
2. If a symbol or symbolic sign is used, does the meaning, as specified in this Standard for that symbol or sign, accurately convey the message which needs to be conveyed by the sign? It may be necessary to add words to qualify or augment the message.

Safety Signage Classification and Use

Safety signs are classified and should be used according to their function as follows:

1. Regulatory signs
2. Hazard signs
3. Emergency information signs
4. Fire signs

Regulatory Signs

Signs containing instructions with which failure to comply constitutes either an offence at law, or a breach of standing orders, safety procedures or other directions, depending on which kind of control has been imposed at the aquatic facility. They are subdivided as follows:

Hazard Signs

These are signs advising of hazards. They are subdivided as follows:

Emergency Information Signs

These are signs indicating the location of, or directions to, emergency related facilities such as exits, safety equipment or first aid facilities.

Fire Signs

These are signs advising the location of fire alarms and fire-fighting facilities.

Information Signage Classification and Use

Separate from safety signage, owners and operators of aquatic facilities may use signs to inform patrons of information and directions within an aquatic facility. These can be classified as follows:

This is known as ‘Directional’ or ‘Information’ signage and includes:

1. Access Signage
2. Public Information Signage

Location and Size of Signs

When planning for the location and size of water safety signs and multiple signs the owner or operator of an Aquatic facility should allow hazards to be recognized and appropriate avoiding action to be taken by users. The following matters (issues, factors) should be considered:

1. Location of hazards and their signage;
2. Location of entrances/access to facilities;
3. Location of any other signs;
4. Location of architectural features, décor, structures, vegetation or people that could conceal or divert attention from signs;
5. Lighting level and characteristics under both normal and mains-failure conditions;
6. Appropriate supplementary text to water safety signs;
7. Appropriate information on multiple signs

The following principles should be taken into account when planning safety signage at an aquatic facility; signs should:

1. Be sited conspicuously within the normal field of vision;
2. Contrast to their surroundings;
   
   NOTE: The contrast and  conspicuity may be increased by the provision of an outer border or by mounting on a sign board with a colour contrasting to the surroundings.
3. Be visible from any place within the vicinity of the hazard;
4. Be sited at the same height throughout the aquatic facility, as far as is reasonable;
5. Take precedence over all other signs with the exception of escape route signing, if applicable;
6. Be placed so that they are not a hazard;
7. Be placed at sharp changes in depth, if applicable;
8. Be illuminated, if applicable, to ensure that they are visible and legible.

Care should be taken to avoid over-provision of safety signs at one location as this can confuse viewers and result in individual safety messages not being noticed and understood.

N.B. Signs should not be placed on moveable objects such as doors or windows where a change of position would void the purpose of the sign or cause it to be out of sight. This does apply to signs that intend to be portable.

Mounting Height

The following principles should be applied to assist users of the facilities to predict the location of successive signs, whether they are mounted on walls, posts or overhead.

1. Signs should be mounted as close as practicable to the observer’s line of sight in the vertical plane. For a standing adult, this will be approximately 5° up or down from a point 1500 mm above ground level in front of the observer.
2. Signs that are freestanding or mounted overhead should be placed so that they are not a hazard and do not enter into the required space for a clear and accessible path (See Pool Concourse Guidelines for more information).
3. Where practical, the space in front of the sign should be clear so that people without correction lenses or with visual impairments are able to approach the sign to reduce their viewing distance.

Sign Height and Maximum Viewing Distance

A sign should be both visible and legible at the maximum viewing distance.

The required maximum viewing distance of a sign should be determined by its position within the area and consider the needs of people with normal sight and people with visual impairments.

The recommended maximum viewing distance for a particular sign height (h) in millimetres (mm) is calculated as follows:

• Distance Factor x Sign Height = Maximum Viewing Distance or;
• Maximum Viewing Distance / Distance Factor = Sign Height

The below table identifies the viewing distance and sign height that may be most useful for an aquatic facility based on the distance factors within AS/NZS 2416.3:2010

The table below identifies how the measurement of height is considered for signs.

A supplementary text sign will help to ensure that the meaning of the safety sign is fully understood and may convey additional information. A summary of meanings and what text should be used with each symbol can be located in the referenced Australian Standards.

Care should be taken that the supplementary text to safety signs does not overpower the graphical symbol. The supplementary text height should not be used to determine the maximum viewing distance.

Type Size

There are several factors which determine the choice of type size on signs. Factors that should be considered include:

1. Intended viewing distance;
2. Speed at which the sign will be read;
3. Sign position;
4. Typeface chosen;
5. Sign colours.

Text to Support Signs

Different types of signs and sections within signs will have different viewing distances; therefore a selection of type sizes is necessary. The minimum height of letters should take into account the needs of people with normal sight and people with visual impairments.

The minimum letter height should be determined by dividing the required maximum viewing distance by the relevant distance factor.

The minimum text height of upper case letters should be 15 mm.

The below table identifies the viewing distance and letter height based on the distance factors within AS/NZS 2416.3:2010

The table below identifies how the measurement of height is considered for letters.

The supplementary text should not be used on its own and may need to be in more than one language.

The layout of supplementary text signs should be in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards.

Lettering Arrangement

The initial letter of the first word should be in upper case and the remainder of the wording should be lower case. Where a signal word is used on a supplementary text sign used with a warning sign, the text after the signal word should start on a new line; the initial letter of the first word should be upper case and the remainder of the wording should be lower case.

No swimming

N.B. For short messages, all capitals may be used.

Typeface (font)

The font used should be either a sans serif typeface, or a typeface with very small serifs with the following characteristics:

1. Widths of strokes throughout the letters constant within 10%;
2. Widths of strokes at least one sixth of the letter height;
3. Width of lower case letter “x” not less than 70 % of the letter height;
4. Not condensed, expanded, italic, script, outline or shaded;
5. Letters individually formed and not joined together.

A typeface for use on multiple signs should be carefully chosen based on the following guidelines:

1. Sans serif typeface or typeface with very small serifs;
2. Large x-height;
3. Consistent stem thickness;
4. Regular or semi-bold weight;
5. Open counters

Multiple Signs

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility or signage designer should identify the types of multiple signs which they want to use and their siting.

The following guidance and principles should be considered when compiling and designing a signing scheme. Multiple signs should conform to the design templates given which can be stylised to suit the needs for national consistency.

Presentation of Information

The presentation of information is very important to how people understand and react to a multiple sign. The layout and presentation of information should be consistent across the family of multiple signs; this will help people to read a sign and make their decision efficiently. Grouping information into categories makes the information easier to understand. The designer should apply a grid structure to the information content within the signs.

Multiple signs should be manufactured and fixed in the most appropriate manner to suit a particular aquatic environment. See Guidelines Signage Construction, installation and maintenance for consideration of factors relevant to the construction of a multiple sign.

Type

The type in a multiple sign should be consistent with the recommendations in Guidelines Sign Height and Maximum Viewing Distance.

Colour

The use of colour in a signing scheme can establish a visual look for the scheme. Colour selection is important as a multiple sign needs to be easy to find in the aquatic environment. It is essential that the colour contrast between the colour of the text and the colour of the sign background should be carefully considered to ensure legibility.

The combination of red and yellow are colours commonly associated with aquatic environments and lifeguards and therefore should be used on multiple signs in and around aquatic environments. Safety symbols and supplementary text should be displayed in a manner which ensures optimum legibility.

Use of Symbols

Water safety signs should conform to ISO 20712-1. Beach safety flags should conform to ISO 20712-2. Public information symbols should conform to ISO 7001.

The positioning of symbols on a multiple sign should be given careful consideration; their positioning will affect how successfully the sign is read and understood. It is advisable to use supplementary text alongside symbols to explain their meaning and this text should clearly relate to the safety sign or beach safety flag symbol which it accompanies.

The minimum height of symbols should consider the needs of people with normal sight and people with visual impairments. Relevant values for distance factor are detailed in Guidelines Sign Height and Maximum Viewing Distance.

Terminology and Language

The scheme designer should consider any terminology issues and policies agreed for aquatic safety signage.

Terms used on multiple signs should be understandable to first time aquatic users through to frequent aquatic users.

Consideration should also be given to whether more than one language needs to be displayed on multiple signs.

Structure

Panels can be single or double and information can be displayed on both sides if appropriate. A hierarchical structure should be created within the sign to group information.

The recommended information content for multiple signs should be consistent and is as follows:

1. Emergency ID/Contact Details
2. Location Name
3. Hazard and Regulatory Signs
4. Emergency (including fire) signs
5. Additional information content may include additional prohibitions, local area

Lighting and Illumination

If artificial lighting is provided, effective illumination is required both in normal and in mains-failure conditions, if applicable.

There are various ways of ensuring the satisfactory illumination of signs.

Some types of lighting, e.g. low-pressure sodium do not enable effective colour recognition and are therefore unlikely to be suitable for the illumination of water safety signs.

Where a sign is illuminated by an external artificial light source, the vertical illumination should be a minimum of 100 lx under normal lighting conditions.

Signage Environment

Signs should be selected to be suitable for their operating environment. Key considerations for an Aquatic Facility that should be considered include:

1. Interior or exterior use
2. Durability of base material;
3. Durability of graphical content;
4. Colour/light fastness;
5. Resistance to damage from bather traffic or from cleaning;
6. Resistance to exposure to water;
7. Resistance to corrosion, such as by Chloramines;
8. Resistance to graffiti;
9. Flame resistance;
10. Type and suitability of fixings;
11. Resistance to wind loads.

Materials, Construction and Physical Properties

Planning for signage should take into consideration the exact nature of the recommended material of manufacture. This may be done by the owner or operator of the aquatic facility, however is most commonly done through advice from an Aquatic Signage Assessor or manufacturer and include:

1. The construction of any material, including multi-layered material, that is of a composite nature.
2. The method used to create layers and adhesion between layers.
3. A description of the surface characteristics and any specific protection afforded to the material shall be given. This may include thickness, dimensions, density and strength.

If the safety sign is classified as phosphorescent (P) or retro reflective (R), the signage plan should include the type of construction of the photometric layer and protection provided to this layer (if any).

Installers and designers should seek adequate assurance from suppliers in these aspects.

References

• Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations- Aquatic Risk Management
• AS 1319-1994 Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment
• AS/NZS 2416.1:2010 Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 Water Safety Signs and beach safety flags
• ISO 7001 Graphic Symbol – Public Information Symbols
• AS 2419 Fire Hydrant Installations
• AS 2293.3 2005 Emergency Escape Lighting and Exit Signs for Buildings
• National Construction Code of Australia 2016 (NCC)
• ISO 17398:2004 Classification, performance and durability of safety signs