TS EN ISO 22324

TS EN ISO 22324 provides guidance for using colour-coded alerts in emergency management. Its focus is the communication of danger and the severity of a situation to people at risk and to first response personnel through a clear colour system. In general technical terms, colour coding is a visual communication method used when quick recognition is more important than detailed text, helping different audiences interpret an incident more consistently.

How colour codes support emergency communication

As a general principle, colour is often used to signal urgency, severity, or status when spoken instructions or detailed descriptions may be too slow or too language-dependent. In emergency management, colour codes can help organise attention, prioritise response actions, and create a shared situational picture across agencies and user groups. This makes the subject relevant to public warning systems, incident management arrangements, and other settings where rapid awareness matters.

What this document covers and what it excludes

The standard gives guidance on the use of colour codes for all types of hazard in any location. That means its scope is broad: the same conceptual framework may be applied to natural hazards, technical incidents, operational disruptions, or other danger scenarios. At the same time, it does not specify the method for displaying colour codes, does not deal with detailed ergonomic considerations for viewing displays, and does not cover safety signs addressed by ISO 3864-1. This distinction matters because the meaning of a colour code is separate from the design of the display or sign carrying it.

• The aim is consistent communication of danger and severity.
• The guidance applies across hazard types and locations.
• Display methods are outside the document’s scope.
• Detailed ergonomic issues are not covered here.
• Safety signs under ISO 3864-1 remain a separate subject.