Recognition ranges – don't lose sight of safety
This time it's really happening: the fire alarm sounds and it's not a drill this time. You need to leave the room as quickly as possible and follow the green escape route signs. Did you know that what matters now is how far away the next sign is from you?
Because a safety sign only keeps you safe when you can reliably recognise it, experts have put a lot of effort into examining this topic and defining so-called recognition ranges. The recognition range is the distance of a safety sign from the observer's eyes. Depending on the size and the graphics used on a sign, this distance may be longer or shorter.
An escape route sign with a height of 150 mm is, for example, only easy to recognise up to a distance of approx. 15 metres. If you want good visibility from 20 metres away, then the sign needs to be 200 mm high. Important: the more complicated the graphics on the safety signs are, the shorter the distance to the observer should be.
We have put together the following table to show you which sign can be reliably recognised from which distance. You can use it when planning your signage concept and you can be safe in the knowledge that you are affixing the right number of signs, and signs that are the right size.
Of course, we'll be happy to provide you with further, personal help when you wish to affix signs in your company in compliance with standards. Simply contact us.
Size of characters in millimetres
Distance 0.5 m - characters 2 mm
Distance 1 m - characters 4 mm
Distance 2 m - characters 8 mm
Distance 3 m - characters 10 mm
Distance 4 m - characters 14 mm
Distance 5 m - characters 17 mm
Distance 6 m - characters 20 mm
Distance 7 m - characters 23 mm
Distance 8 m - characters 27 mm
Distance 9 m - characters 30 mm
Distance 10 m - characters 34 mm
Distance 11 m - characters 37 mm
Distance 12 m - characters 40 mm
Distance 13 m - characters 44 mm
Distance 14 m - characters 47 mm
Distance 15 m - characters 50 mm
Distance 16 m - characters 54 mm
Distance 17 m - characters 57 mm
Distance 18 m - characters 60 mm
Distance 19 m - characters 64 mm
Distance 20 m - characters 67 mm
Distance 21 m - characters 70 mm
Distance 22 m - characters 74 mm
Distance 23 m - characters 77 mm
Distance 24 m - characters 80 mm
Distance 25 m - characters 84 mm
Distance 26 m - characters 87 mm
Distance 27 m - characters 90 mm
Distance 28 m - characters 94 mm
Distance 29 m - characters 97 mm
Distance 30 m - characters 100 mm
Prohibition and mandatory signs, diameter in millimetres
Distance 0.5 m - diameter 12.5 mm
Distance 1 m - diameter 25 mm
Distance 2 m - diameter 50 mm
Distance 3 m - diameter 100 mm
Distance 4 m - diameter 100 mm
Distance 5 m - diameter 200 mm
Distance 6 m - diameter 200 mm
Distance 7 m - diameter 200 mm
Distance 8 m - diameter 200 mm
Distance 9 m - diameter 300 mm
Distance 10 m - diameter 300 mm
Distance 11 m - diameter 300 mm
Distance 12 m - diameter 300 mm
Distance 13 m - diameter 400 mm
Distance 14 m - diameter 400 mm
Distance 15 m - diameter 400 mm
Distance 16 m - diameter 400 mm
Distance 17 m - diameter 600 mm
Distance 18 m - diameter 600 mm
Distance 19 m - diameter 600 mm
Distance 20 m - diameter 600 mm
Distance 21 m - diameter 600 mm
Distance 22 m - diameter 600 mm
Distance 23 m - diameter 600 mm
Distance 24 m - diameter 600 mm
Distance 25 m - diameter 900 mm
Distance 26 m - diameter 900 mm
Distance 27 m - diameter 900 mm
Distance 28 m - diameter 900 mm
Distance 29 m - diameter 900 mm
Distance 30 m - diameter 900 mm
Warning signs, base in millimetres
Distance 0.5 m - base 25 mm
Distance 1 m - base 50 mm
Distance 2 m - base 100 mm
Distance 3 m - base 100 mm
Distance 4 m - base 200 mm
Distance 5 m - base 200 mm
Distance 6 m - base 200 mm
Distance 7 m - base 300 mm
Distance 8 m - base 300 mm
Distance 9 m - base 300 mm
Distance 10 m - base 400 mm
Distance 11 m - base 400 mm
Distance 12 m - base 400 mm
Distance 13 m - base 600 mm
Distance 14 m - base 600 mm
Distance 15 m - base 600 mm
Distance 16 m - base 600 mm
Distance 17 m - base 600 mm
Distance 18 m - base 600 mm
Distance 19 m - base 600 mm
Distance 20 m - base 900 mm
Distance 21 m - base 900 mm
Distance 22 m - base 900 mm
Distance 23 m - base 900 mm
Distance 24 m - base 900 mm
Distance 25 m - base 900 mm
Distance 26 m - base 900 mm
Distance 27 m - base 900 mm
Distance 28 m - base 900 mm
Distance 29 m - base 900 mm
Distance 30 m - base 900 mm
Rescue, fire protection and additional signs, height in millimetres
Distance 0.5 m - height 12.5 mm
Distance 1 m - height 25 mm
Distance 2 m - height 25 mm
Distance 3 m - height 50 mm
Distance 4 m - height 50 mm
Distance 5 m - height 50 mm
Distance 6 m - height 100 mm
Distance 7 m - height 100 mm
Distance 8 m - height 100 mm
Distance 9 m - height 100 mm
Distance 10 m - height 100 mm
Distance 11 m - height 150 mm
Distance 12 m - height 150 mm
Distance 13 m - height 150 mm
Distance 14 m - height 150 mm
Distance 15 m - height 150 mm
Distance 16 m - height 200 mm
Distance 17 m - height 200 mm
Distance 18 m - height 200 mm
Distance 19 m - height 200 mm
Distance 20 m - height 200 mm
Distance 21 m - height 300 mm
Distance 22 m - height 300 mm
Distance 23 m - height 300 mm
Distance 24 m - height 300 mm
Distance 25 m - height 300 mm
Distance 26 m - height 300 mm
Distance 27 m - height 300 mm
Distance 28 m - height 300 mm
Distance 29 m - height 300 mm
Distance 30 m - height 300 mm
