Introduction

Graphical symbols are used in many areas of daily life. They give necessary and useful information of many kinds in a visual way. They are used as signals (warning or alarm signals), for general information, as a means of control, for the correct application of machines, instruments, etc. and in may other ways of communication.

Their content of information is very often superior to verbal explanations because their information is visually acknowledged instantly and is often kept in memory easier and longer than terms or phonetic explanations.

Graphical symbols are internationally understandable without sometimes difficult, possibly misleading and costly translations.

Each ISO technical committee is responsible for the selection or creation of graphical symbols within its own field of interest. Graphical symbols may form the main subject of an International Standard, or a single symbol or several symbols may appear as part of a standard covering wider aspects of the subject to which the symbol(s) refer(s).

The ISO Technical Management Board has assigned overall responsibility for standardization in the field of graphical symbols to ISO/TC 145, Graphical symbols, and to ISO/TC 10/SC 10, Technical product documentation (tpd) symbols.

ISO/TC 210, Quality management and corresponding aspects for medical devices, which is responsible for the development of ISO 15233, has prepared an international guide to the development and registration of symbols for use in the labelling of medical devices. This guideline recommends that the proliferation of graphical symbols without international harmonization is undesirable and contrary to these objectives.

There is a need for simple, internationally accepted graphical symbols labelling that provide general and specific information to the user in a manner that overcomes the limitations of languages. It is in the best interests of safety and health of patients, dentists, dental technicians and other persons, to reduce the confusion inherent in the use of multiple language labelling. Both of these objectives can be met by the use of standardized symbols agreed by consensus on an international basis.

The task of determining technical requirements to allow the use of specific symbols is best taken up by bodies expert in the relevant areas. ISO/TC 106/SC 4/WG 5, Number coding system, has taken up this responsibility by developing this International Standard.

This International Standard has been prepared to reduce the need for multiple translations of words into national languages, to simplify labelling whereever possible and to prevent separate development of different symbols to convey the same information.

This International Standard contains a series of symbols (pictograms) for use in dentistry. Their application should be considered in the literature, for the labelling and packaging of devices used in dentistry, on items of dental equipment and instruments. Their use is unlimited and a most helpful means of communication within dentistry.

BS EN ISO 21531:2009

Dentistry. Graphical symbols for dental instruments

Current

Published:

31 Mar 2009