Used to indicate a change in state or a warning condition.
| Color | Meaning and Typical Usage | | :--- | :--- | | 🔴 | Indicates danger , an emergency , or a faulty condition. It demands immediate operator action. | | 🟡 Yellow | Signals a warning or caution for an abnormal condition that is not immediately dangerous. It calls for heightened attention or intervention. | | 🟢 Green | Shows a safe condition where the equipment is functioning normally . It assures the operator that everything is ready for use. | | 🔵 Blue | Indicates a mandatory significance , meaning a specific action is required. It must not be confused with red, yellow, or green meanings. | | ⚪ White | Has no specific meaning assigned and is often used for general information or to confirm that the system is energized. | | ⚫ Black | No specific meaning assigned. It is often used as a neutral color for actuators. | | ⚪ Grey | No specific meaning assigned. It is often used as a neutral color for actuators. |
Color is the most critical visual coding element in IEC 60073. The standard defines specific meanings for colors used in indicator lights and actuators (pushbuttons). 1. Indicator Lights and Displays
The IEC 60073 standard has a long history of development. The current valid edition is , published on May 22, 2002. It superseded earlier editions from 1996, 1991, 1984, 1975, and the original 1955 edition.
Clear, unambiguous indicators help prevent hazardous incidents. iec 60073 pdf
Shapes, textures, and force requirements for pushbuttons and levers. The Core Coding Principles
Operators can understand machine status instantly, regardless of language barriers.
Safety and clarity are critical in industrial automation and electrical engineering. Human operators rely on visual and tactile cues to understand machine states instantly. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) established the standard to unify these cues globally.
Used to initiate normal operation, start a process, or energize a circuit. Used to indicate a change in state or a warning condition
IEC 60073 is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its official title is
Defines for indicators (lights, displays) and actuators (buttons, switches) used in electrical equipment, ensuring safety and consistent interpretation across industries.
Adding universally recognized symbols (like I for ON and O for OFF) onto the actuators. Why Professionals Search for the "IEC 60073 PDF"
| Standard | Relationship | |----------|---------------| | | Machine safety — references 60073 for control coding | | ISO 7010 | Safety signs (complementary color meanings) | | ISO 13850 | Emergency stop — red actuator requirement aligns | | IEC 61310 | Indication, marking, actuation (three-part series) | | | 🟡 Yellow | Signals a warning
When looking for the PDF, you may see an option for a "" version. This premium document contains the full text of the standard with all changes, additions, and deletions from the previous version clearly marked. It is extremely useful for engineers who need to quickly understand what has changed in a new edition.
Indicator lights convey the status of a machine or process. IEC 60073 assigns strict meanings to these colors:
It is designated as a horizontal safety publication , meaning it provides foundational safety rules used by many other technical committees when developing specific product standards. How to Access the PDF