TSE IEC/TR 60878

TSE IEC/TR 60878 is a technical report concerned with graphical symbols for electrical equipment used in medical practice, with the core idea of creating a common visual language for marking, labelling, and documenting such devices. Symbols of this kind reduce reliance on text, help preserve meaning across languages, and allow users to recognize key functions or warnings more quickly. In medical electrical equipment, symbol consistency is especially important because safety-related information, operating status, and basic handling cues often need to be understood at a glance.

Why graphical symbols matter on medical electrical equipment

In general technical practice, graphical symbols communicate compact meanings such as power, connection, operating state, direction, precautions, or special handling conditions. They support the written instructions rather than replace them entirely, but in complex equipment they are often the fastest route to essential information. For medical devices, where users may include clinicians, technicians, and support staff, a stable symbol vocabulary helps reduce ambiguity and improves day-to-day usability.

What this publication is about in practical terms

From the title, this publication addresses symbol use for electrical equipment in medical practice; however, the official scope text is not available in this record. That means specific mandated symbols, exact acceptance criteria, exclusions, or test methods cannot be inferred here. At a general level, a document in this subject area typically supports consistent labelling, legible user communication, and the same symbol carrying the same meaning across equipment and instructions.

• Focuses on consistent graphical marking for electrical medical equipment.
• Supports a shared symbol language on the device and in accompanying documentation.
• Aims to improve language-independent recognition and quick comprehension.
• Helps align communication between operators, service staff, and users in medical environments.