Safety signs, also bought as safety stickers and safety labels, tell people in a building where to exit, where to gather, what is prohibited, where the hazards are and where the fire equipment is. ISO 7010 fixes their shape and colour: green for exits and assembly points, red for prohibitions and fire equipment, yellow for warnings and blue for mandatory actions. In Saudi Arabia some signs are also required by specific regulations, notably the no smoking sign and the CCTV surveillance sign.
AZEIDK supplies safety and guidance signs as part of the safety equipment facilities need before opening or inspection. This article covers the sign types and colour meanings, what Saudi regulations say about some of them, and what to check before a Civil Defense visit.
Key takeaways
- ISO 7010 groups safety signs into five categories, each with a fixed shape and colour taken from ISO 3864-1.
- Emergency exit and assembly point signs are green, the no smoking sign is a red circle with a diagonal bar, and warning signs are yellow triangles.
- The Implementing Regulation of the Saudi Anti-Smoking Law requires clear Arabic and English no smoking signs that state the fine.
- The Implementing Regulation of the Security Surveillance Cameras Law requires warning signs at every entrance and exit, following the two approved designs.
- A no parking sign is a traffic sign, and ISO 7010 excludes road traffic signalling from its scope.
In this article
- What are safety signs and what types are there?
- Emergency exit and escape route signs
- Emergency exit symbol and arrows: how to read an exit sign
- Assembly point sign: where does it go?
- No smoking sign: what Saudi law requires
- CCTV surveillance sign
- No parking signs and warning signs
- Occupational safety signs: PPE mandatory signs
- Safety stickers or rigid signs?
- Safety signs before a Civil Defense inspection: checklist
- Common mistakes with safety signs
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary
What are safety signs and what types are there?
The international reference is ISO 7010, “Graphical symbols: Safety colours and safety signs, Registered safety signs”. Its third edition was published in July 2019, amendments have followed up to 2026, and ISO is now working on a new edition. It covers signs for accident prevention, fire protection, health hazard information and emergency evacuation, taking shapes and colours from ISO 3864-1 and symbol design from ISO 3864-3.
Each sign has a reference number whose letter shows its category: E for emergency and escape, F for fire equipment, M for mandatory actions, P for prohibitions and W for warnings.
| Category | Shape | Colours | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibition (P) | Circle | Black symbol on white, red border and diagonal bar | Do not | No smoking (P002) |
| Warning (W) | Triangle | Black symbol on yellow, black border | Take care, hazard present | General warning (W001) |
| Mandatory (M) | Circle | White symbol on blue | You must | General mandatory action (M001), wear PPE |
| Safe condition (E) | Square or rectangle | White symbol on green | Safe route or first aid | Emergency exit (E001, E002), assembly point (E007) |
| Fire equipment (F) | Square or rectangle | White symbol on red | Location of fire equipment | Fire extinguisher (F001), fire alarm call point (F005) |
The pictogram carries the message and any text is supplementary. Where a text panel is added, its background matches the sign colour, so one sign never sends two conflicting messages.
Emergency exit and escape route signs
The emergency exit sign is one of the most important safety signs in any facility, because it leads people out during a fire. In Saudi Arabia, exits, exit signs and egress lighting fall under the means of egress chapter of the Saudi Building Code SBC 201, covered in our article on emergency exits, so we do not repeat it here.
When buying, separate two products:
- Printed guidance sign: a green sign with a direction arrow fixed on walls and columns to lead people to the nearest exit. It supplements, it does not replace.
- Illuminated exit sign (exit light): a battery-backed electrical unit that stays lit during a power failure and forms part of the emergency lighting system.
For illuminated signs AZEIDK supplies KHIND models, including the KHIND EM0730 Arabic and English exit sign, with the rest in the emergency and exit lighting range. Duration and periodic testing are covered in our guides to emergency lighting and emergency lights and exit signs.
Emergency exit symbol and arrows: how to read an exit sign
ISO 7010 has two emergency exit signs: E001 for an exit to the left and E002 for an exit to the right, both a green square with a white figure running towards a door. The standard used to include separate arrow signs (E005 and E006); these were withdrawn, and the direction arrow is now a supplementary sign designed to ISO 3864-3 and fitted next to the exit sign.
When ordering emergency exit arrows or escape route signs, check three points:
- The arrow follows the escape route on the approved drawing, not the nearest door the installer happens to see.
- Every change of direction in a corridor or at a junction is clearly marked, so nobody has to stop and guess.
- A printed sign does not work in the dark. Illuminated exit sign positions come from the means of egress requirements and the drawings, and printed arrows supplement them.
Assembly point sign: where does it go?
The ISO 7010 evacuation assembly point sign is E007, a green square with a white symbol of a group of people. It marks where everyone stops after leaving, so heads can be counted and anyone still inside identified.
Assembly points are recognised in Saudi regulation. The Implementing Regulation of the Security Surveillance Cameras Law lists “emergency assembly points” among the locations cameras must cover, alongside emergency exit doors and fire equipment locations.
Good practice when placing the sign:
- Put it where the facility’s approved evacuation plan says, not on the nearest free wall.
- Keep it away from the building face and clear of Civil Defense vehicle access and set-up areas.
- Make it visible from the exit discharge points, with external direction signs leading to it.
- Large factories and warehouses may need more than one point if exits are far apart.
No smoking sign: what Saudi law requires
The no smoking sign is not optional in Saudi Arabia. The Anti-Smoking Law (Royal Decree M/56 dated 28/7/1436H) bans smoking in places including mosques and their yards, government bodies, workplaces such as companies, factories and banks, petroleum production, transport, distribution and refining sites, fuel and gas stations, food production and packaging facilities, warehouses, lifts and toilets.
Article 12 of the Implementing Regulation requires the bodies responsible for these places to post signs and wording showing the ban on tobacco and its derivatives and stating the fine. They must be clearly written in Arabic and English and distributed throughout the premises. The regulation also requires bilingual notices before the entrance to permitted smoking areas barring anyone under 18.
One sign at the main gate is therefore not enough for a warehouse or factory. At fuel stations and warehouses the ban is tied directly to fire risk, so place signs near filling and storage areas, not only at the offices. The sign uses ISO 7010 P002, a cigarette inside a red circle with a diagonal bar.
CCTV surveillance sign
The “area under CCTV surveillance” sign has a direct Saudi reference. Article 8, paragraph 6 of the Implementing Regulation of the Security Surveillance Cameras Law requires those subject to the law to post warning signs at all entrances and exits of the facility, activity or site, in a visible place, following the two designs in the Security Requirements and Conditions Document.
This sign is not among the common ISO 7010 signs, so its wording and layout come from the official design, not from a generic catalogue. The other obligations on camera locations, retention and hand-over are in our article on the Saudi security surveillance cameras law.
No parking signs and warning signs
No parking signs
A no parking sign is a traffic sign, and ISO 7010 explicitly excludes road traffic signalling. Its design follows the roads authority and municipality requirements, and its location follows the facility’s approved drawings.
On site it keeps critical areas free of cars: Civil Defense vehicle access, the front of fire hydrants and the fire department connection (siamese), external exit doors and the assembly point area.
Warning signs
Warning signs are yellow triangles with a black border and symbol, used where a real hazard exists: electricity, flammable materials, slippery floors or moving machinery. Too many of them dilute the message, so place them where the hazard is and choose the specific hazard symbol over the general one where possible.
Fire equipment signs
F-category signs are red squares marking extinguishers, fire hose cabinets and manual call points. They matter most where equipment is hidden behind a column or in a wall recess.
Occupational safety signs: PPE mandatory signs
Most occupational health and safety signs in factories, workshops and construction sites belong to the ISO 7010 mandatory group: a blue circle with a white symbol, meaning “you must do this”. The most common:
| Code | Meaning | Typical location |
|---|---|---|
| M014 | Wear head protection | Construction site entrances, lifting areas and high-bay storage |
| M008 | Wear safety footwear | Warehouses, workshops and areas with moving equipment |
| M009 | Wear protective gloves | Cutting, handling and chemical areas |
| M004 | Wear eye protection | Grinding, welding and cutting workshops |
| M003 | Wear ear protection | Pump rooms, generator rooms and noisy production lines |
| M017 | Wear respiratory protection | Dusty areas and spraying zones |
| M010 | Wear protective clothing | Areas identified by the risk assessment |
A sign alone is not enough. It belongs at the entrance to the zone where the equipment becomes necessary, and the equipment itself must be available there. Selection and standards for the equipment are covered in our article on occupational safety equipment and PPE.
Safety stickers or rigid signs?
The symbol and colour are the same either way; the difference is the material and fixing. Stickers suit smooth indoor surfaces such as glass or metal doors and equipment cabinets. Rigid signs suit rough walls, columns and outdoor yards exposed to sun, dust and washing. ISO 17398 classifies safety signs by service environment, principal material, photometric properties and fixing method, and sets performance and durability tests, so ask the supplier which environment a sign is designed for before fixing it outdoors.
Written safety instructions go up alongside the signs. Article 122 of the Saudi Labor Law requires the employer to take the precautions needed to protect workers and to post safety instructions in a visible place at the workplace in Arabic, and in another language the workers understand where needed. Related labels include the E003 first aid sign above the first aid box and the F001 extinguisher sign explained in our fire extinguisher sign article.
Safety signs before a Civil Defense inspection: checklist
Before the inspection, walk the facility with the approved drawings and compare each area against the list below. It is a practical checklist; the final reference is the approved drawings and the authority’s requirements.
| Area | Signs to check | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Corridors, stairs and exit doors | Illuminated exit signs, escape direction arrows, signs visible and unobstructed | SBC 201 and approved drawings |
| External yard | Assembly point sign and direction signs to it | Evacuation plan, ISO 7010 E007 |
| Workplaces, warehouses, fuel stations | Arabic and English no smoking signs stating the fine | Anti-Smoking Law Implementing Regulation, Article 12 |
| Facility entrances and exits | CCTV warning sign in the approved design | Security Surveillance Cameras Law Implementing Regulation, Article 8 |
| Electrical, generator and storage rooms | Hazard-specific warning signs, authorised access only signs | ISO 7010 and the facility risk assessment |
| Extinguishers, hose cabinets, call points | Red fire equipment signs | ISO 7010 category F |
| Parking and vehicle access | No parking signs at hydrants, siamese and vehicle routes | Approved drawings and municipality requirements |
If the facility is preparing for a Salamah licence or renewal, AZEIDK’s Civil Defense approval support helps prepare licence requirements and close out inspection notes.
Common mistakes with safety signs
- An exit sign pointing to a locked door or a store, or an arrow that contradicts the escape route on the drawing.
- Printed signs in non-standard colours, such as an exit on a red background, which gets confused with fire equipment signs.
- No smoking signs in Arabic only, without the fine, or a single sign for a large warehouse.
- An assembly point placed in the Civil Defense vehicle route or right against the building.
- A CCTV sign with improvised wording instead of the approved design, or only at the main entrance.
- Signs hidden behind racking or fit-out added after drawing approval.
- A printed exit sign where an illuminated sign that works during a power cut is needed.
Frequently asked questions
What do safety sign colours mean?
Under ISO 7010 and ISO 3864-1: red circle with bar for prohibition, blue circle for mandatory action, yellow triangle for warning, green square for escape and first aid, and red square for fire equipment.
What colour is an assembly point sign?
Green and square with a white symbol of a group of people. Its ISO 7010 number is E007.
Are no smoking signs mandatory in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, where the law bans smoking. The Anti-Smoking Law Implementing Regulation requires clear Arabic and English signs, distributed throughout the place, that state the fine.
Where does the CCTV surveillance sign go?
At every entrance and exit of the facility in a visible place, using the two designs in the Security Requirements and Conditions Document of the cameras law regulation.
Is a printed exit sign enough instead of an illuminated one?
Printed signs supplement direction guidance. Where illuminated exit signs are needed is set by the SBC 201 means of egress requirements and the approved drawings.
Is the no parking sign part of ISO 7010?
No. ISO 7010 excludes road traffic signalling, so no parking signs follow the roads authority and municipality requirements.
Where can I buy safety signs in Saudi Arabia?
AZEIDK supplies safety and guidance signs and illuminated exit signs for projects and for individual buyers through its branches, in quantities based on the facility’s list.
What is the difference between safety stickers and safety signs?
The meaning, symbol and colour are the same under ISO 7010. The difference is the material: stickers for smooth indoor surfaces, rigid signs for rough walls, columns and outdoor areas exposed to sun and dust.
Which safety signs does Civil Defense check?
Signs are checked against the approved drawings and the type of occupancy. The main ones are illuminated exit signs, escape route arrows, fire equipment signs and the assembly point. The checklist in this article helps before the visit, and the approved drawing is the final reference.
Summary
Safety signs work because they speak one language: a fixed ISO 7010 shape and colour, a clear symbol and supplementary text where needed. On top of that, Saudi regulations add their own conditions for two signs in particular: bilingual no smoking signs with the fine, and CCTV signs in the official design. Checking the signs against the approved drawing before inspection is quicker than fixing them after an inspector’s note.
Preparing for a Civil Defense visit? Send us the activity type, the number of entrances and exits and the approved drawing, and we will prepare the sign list with the illuminated exit signs, or visit your nearest AZEIDK branch. Contact the AZEIDK team
AZEIDK provides CCTV camera installation, supply and maintenance for homes and facilities in Saudi Arabia.
