 
  SZNS 044-5:201 4 
  
ICS 01.080.10           Edition 1  
            
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SWAZILAND NATIONAL STANDARD  
 
 
 
Symbolic safety signs  
 
Part 5: Photoluminescent signs   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Published by: Swaziland Standards Authority  
SmithCo Building, 2nd Floor, 11th Street King Mswati III Avenue West  
P. O. Box 1399, Matsapha, Kingdom of Swaziland  
Telephone: +268 2518 4633, Facsimile: +268 2518 4526  
Website: www.swasa.co.sz  
E-mail: info@swa sa.co.sz   
©Swaziland Standards Authority 201 4 
 SZNS 044 -5:201 4 
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ii  ©SWASA 20 14 – All rights reserved  
 COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
 
This Swaziland Standards Authority (SWASA) document is a Swaziland National Standard  and is 
copyright -protected by SWASA. Neither this SWASA  document  nor any extract from it may be 
reproduced , stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, 
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission being secured.  
 
Requests for permission to r eproduce should be addressed to:  
 
The Information Off icer 
Swaziland Standards Authority  
P.O. Box 1399, Matsapha  
Tel. + 268 2518 4633  
Fax: + 268 2518 4526  
E-mail: info@swasa.co.sz   
Website: www.swasa.co.sz  
 
Reproduction may be subj ect to royalty payments or a licensing agreement.  
Violators may be prosecuted.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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©SWASA 20 14 – All rights reserved   iii 
 Table of changes  
Clause Changed  Date  Change  
 
   
NATIONAL FOREWORD  
This Swaziland National  Standard was prepared by Technical Committee SWASA/TC 10 
Occupatio nal health and safety in accordance with procedures of the Swaziland Standards Authority, 
in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT Agreement. This national  standard is an identical 
implementation  of SANS 1186 -5:2013, Edition 1.3 . 
 
This text is a Southern African Development Community Draft Harmonized Text (SADCSTAN 
DHT). The harmonization of standards and technical regulations in the SADC region is an obligation 
under the SADC Trade Protocol which is aimed at elimination of non -tariff barriers to trade wit hin the 
region to enhance economic development and establishment of a free trading bloc . 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Contents                      Page  
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
3 Definitions ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 1 
4.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  1 
4.2 Colour  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  1 
4.3 Luminance decay of photoluminescent materials  ................................ ................................ .........  2 
5 Inspection and methods of test  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  4 
5.1 Inspection ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 4 
5.2 Test for chromaticity co-ordinates and luminance factor  ................................ .............................  4 
5.3 Test for luminance decay of photoluminescent materials  ................................ ............................  4 
6 Packing and marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  4 
6.1 Packing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  4 
6.2 Marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  5 
Annex A  Notes to purchasers  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  6 
Annex B  Quality verification of symbolic safety signs  ................................ ................................ ..........  7 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  8 
 
 
 
 
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©SWASA 201 4 – All rights reserved    1 
 Symbolic safety  signs  
Part 5: Photoluminescent  signs  
1 Scope  
This part of SZNS 044  specifies the particular requirements for photoluminescent safety signs . 
2 Normative references  
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions 
of this part of SZNS 044  All standards are subject to revision and, since any reference to a standard is 
deemed to be a reference to the latest edition of that standard, parties to agreements based on this part 
of SZNS 044  are encouraged to take  steps to ensure the use of the most recent editions of the 
standards indicated below. Information on currently valid national and international standards can be 
obtained from Swaziland Standards Authority (SWASA).  
CIE publication 15.2, Colorimetry . 
CIE pu blication 54.2, Retroreflection – Definition and measurement.  
SANS 1041, Tubular fluorescent lamps for general service.  
SANS 1186 -1, Symbolic safety signs – Part 1: Standard signs and general requirements . 
3 Definitions  
For the purposes of this part of SZNS 044 , the definitions given in SANS 1186 -1 and the following 
definition apply:  
photoluminescent sign  
a sign that is visible due to energy radiated as visible light, the energy being derived from incident  
visible light and ultraviolet radiation  
4 Requirem ents 
4.1 General  
A photoluminescent sign shall comply with the requirements of 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 of  SANS 1186 -1. 
4.2 Colour  
4.2.1 Colour of sign  
The colour of the sign shall be as given in SANS 1186 -1, except that the colour white of  SANS 1186 -
1 shall be replaced by photoluminescent white.  
4.2.2 Colour and luminance factor of photoluminescent materials  
When determined in accordance with 5.2, the chromaticity co -ordinates of the photoluminescent  
material used on a sign shall be within the relevant region  in the chromaticity diagram (see figure 1)  
and the chromaticity co -ordinates and the luminance factor of the other colours shall comply with  the 
requirements of 4.6.2 of SANS 1186 -1. The chromaticity co -ordinates of the corners (points of  
intersection) of  the regions in the diagram for photoluminescent material are given in table 1.  
The luminance factor of the luminescent material shall be at least 0,65.  
 
 
 
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 Table 1 — Chromaticity co -ordinates for photoluminescent materials  
 
4.3 Luminance decay of photolu minescent materials  
When a sign is tested in accordance with 5.3, the luminance of the material shall be not less than  the 
values given in table 2.  
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Figure 1 — Chromaticity co -ordinates — Boundaries for  
photoluminescent white (see table 1)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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4  ©SWASA 201 4 – All rights reserved  
 Tabl e 2 — Minimum values of luminance  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5 Inspection and methods of test  
5.1 Inspection  
Visually examine and then measure each sign in the sample for compliance with all the  requirements 
for which tests to assess compliance are not given in 5.2 and 5.3.  
5.2 Test for chromaticity co -ordinates and luminance factor  
Use a spectrophotometer or another equally suitable colour measuring device to determine the  
chromaticity co -ordinate s and the luminance factor of each colour on the sign in accordance with  the 
method given in CIE publication 15.2 (E -1.3.1) and in CIE publication 54.2, using standard  illuminant 
D65 and 45/0 geometry. Check for compliance with 4.2.1 and 4.2.2.  
5.3 Test f or luminance decay of photoluminescent materials  
5.3.1 Apparatus  
5.3.1.1 Non-diffusing, unfiltered, continuous short xenon -arc source  of light of 500 W.  
5.3.1.2 Suitable luminance meter . 
5.3.2 Procedure  
5.3.2.1 Keep a specimen of the sign in total darknes s for at least 48 h.  
5.3.2.2 Using the xenon -arc light source and while providing an illuminance of 1 000 lx on the  surface 
of the test specimen, illuminate the specimen for a period of 5 min.  
5.3.2.3 Switch off the light source and measure the luminance  values immediately, after 10 min,  after 
60 min, and again after 340 min.  
5.3.2.4 Check for compliance with 4.3.  
5.3.2.5 If it is not possible to measure the luminance values immediately, at 10 min, at 60 min, and  at 
340 min after the lamp has been switch ed off, the values may be determined by using the  
extrapolation method. Measurements may then be taken at more convenient intervals which will  make 
allowance for accurate extrapolation.  
6 Packing and marking  
6.1 Packing  
Only signs of the same type designa tion, materials and size shall be packed together. The front of  each 
sign shall be covered with a suitable material and the signs shall be so packed as to ensure  that they 
are not damaged during normal handling, transportation and storage.  
 
 1 2 
Time elapsed  
min Minimum luminance  
mcd/m2 
0,5 
10 
60 
340 200 
20 
2,8 
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©SWASA 20 14 – All rights  reserved   5 
 6.2 Marking  
The following information shall be legibly and permanently marked on the front of each sign:  
a) the manufacturer’s name, trade name or trade mark.  
b) deleted by amendment No. 2.  
The space occupied by the marking shall not exceed 12 mm in height and 25 mm in  width.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Annex A  
(normative)  
Notes to purchasers  
The following requirements shall be specified in tender invitations and in each order or contract:  
a) the type designation (see 4.2 of SANS 1186 -1); 
b) the overall dimensions o f the sign (see 4.3.1 of SANS 1186 -1); 
c) the material of the backing sheet (see 4.4 of SANS 1186 -1); and  
d) whether a sign is to be in the form of a decal (see 3.2 of SANS 1186 -1). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Annex B  
(informative)  
Quality verification of  symbolic safety signs  
B.1 Quality verification  
When a purchaser requires ongoing verification of the quality of photoluminescent safety signs, it is  
suggested that, instead of concentrating solely on evaluation of the final product, he also direct his  
attention to the manufacturer's quality system. In this connection it should be noted that SZNS ISO 
9001covers the provision of an integrated quality system . 
B.2 Definitions  
The definitions given in B.2 of SANS 1186 -1 are applicable to this part of SZNS 044 . 
B.3 Sampling and compliance with this part of SZNS 044 
The sampling and acceptance procedures given in B.3 and B.4 of SANS 1186 -1 are applicable to  this 
part of SZNS 044. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Bibliography  
SZNS ISO 9001, Quality management systems – Requirements.                                     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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ICS 01.080.10  
Price  based  on 8 pages.  