Overview
ISO 23120:2022 - Ships and marine technology: Graphical symbols for computer-based incident response systems - specifies a standardized set of graphical symbols and representations for showing onboard incidents, response activities, boundaries and routes on shipborne computer-based incident response systems. It standardizes how incidents (e.g., fire, smoke, flooding, pipe rupture, toxic spill, structural damage) and response actions (e.g., firefighting team, medical team, intentional blocking, isolator) are displayed so crew can interpret incident information quickly and consistently.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and intent: Symbols are intended for use in shipboard computer-based incident response systems to reduce confusion in emergency situations.
- Symbol set: Includes incident symbols (Table 1), response activity symbols (Table 2) and boundary/path representations (Table 3). Examples: fire, smoke, flooding, pipe rupture, toxic spill, structural damage, lost power, rescue alarm, firefighting and medical teams.
- Design principles:
- Symbols are primarily black-and-white (designed per IEC 80416). Coloured versions may be used for more intuitive recognition (e.g., red for flame, blue for water).
- Minimum symbol size: at least 6 mm × 6 mm to ensure legibility under varying ambient light.
- Symbols generally shall not be framed and must avoid confusion with existing symbols. Alternative symbols may be used only if they follow the same shape/colour/state principles.
- State indication:
- Incident lifecycle states are defined (reported, confirmed, engaged, resolved) with explicit visual rules (lines and triangular enclosure shown around the incident symbol as it progresses).
- When an incident is reported or confirmed, the symbol is plotted on the deck plan at or near the incident location and linked clearly to that location.
- Boundaries and routes:
- Graphical representations are provided for marking incident areas, contained areas, closed zones, and entry/exit routes. Contained areas use a solid black outer boundary.
Applications and users
- Who uses it: ship designers, ship operators, emergency response system developers, human–machine interface (HMI) designers, classification societies, naval architects, and onboard emergency teams.
- Typical applications:
- Onboard integrated incident response displays and bridge systems.
- Deck-plan visualizations for firefighting, flooding response, damage-control and medical/rescue coordination.
- Training simulators and emergency procedures documentation that rely on consistent symbol semantics.
Related standards
Using ISO 23120:2022 helps ensure consistent, legible and internationally understood incident symbology on shipborne computer-based incident response systems.