ANSI Z535.6-2011 (2017) PDF

Full title and description

ANSI/NEMA Z535.6-2011 (R2017) — American National Standard for Product Safety Information in Product Manuals, Instructions, and Other Collateral Materials. This standard specifies formatting, placement, and content requirements for safety messages that appear in product manuals, instructions and other printed collateral accompanying products.

Abstract

Z535.6 provides guidance and minimum requirements for the composition, hierarchy and presentation of product safety information in collateral materials to help ensure that hazard messages are legible, consistent and effective at reducing risk to users. Topics include signal words and the safety-alert symbol, message components, grouping and placement of warnings and instructions, translations, and a risk-estimation framework to support signal-word selection.

General information

• Status: Originally published 2011; edition designated ANSI/NEMA Z535.6-2011 and formally reaffirmed/issued as Z535.6-2011 (R2017); later revised by ANSI/NEMA Z535.6-2023 (current edition).
• Publication date: 2011 (reaffirmed 2017).
• Publisher: American National Standards Institute (ANSI) / National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).
• ICS / categories: Safety engineering / product safety information / technical documentation — part of the ANSI Z535 safety-alerting series.
• Edition / version: ANSI/NEMA Z535.6-2011 (R2017) — superseded by ANSI/NEMA Z535.6-2023.
• Number of pages: Approximately 39 pages (typical published length cited in standards catalogs for the 2011 edition).

Scope

Applies to printed collateral materials that accompany products (manuals, instructions, quick-start guides, installation sheets and similar documents). The standard addresses when and how to present safety messages, defines message components (signal word, hazard statement, consequence, avoidance instructions), and gives guidance for grouped, section and embedded messages as well as property-damage notices and translated material. It does not mandate that any specific product include a particular message, but provides a consistent format and selection criteria for effective safety communication.

Key topics and requirements

• Signal words and hierarchy (DANGER, WARNING, CAUTION, NOTICE, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS) and appropriate selection based on risk estimation.
• Use and placement of the safety-alert symbol and criteria for combining symbols with text.
• Message component structure: hazard statement, consequence, avoidance instructions, and formatting recommendations for clarity and emphasis.
• Grouping, section-level and embedded safety messages: when to use each approach to avoid overload and ensure discoverability.
• Guidance on translations and multilingual presentations of safety information.
• Relationship to other Z535 series standards (signs/labels, symbols, colors) and alignment with recognized best practices for product safety communications.

Typical use and users

Used by product manufacturers, technical writers, safety engineers, regulatory and compliance staff, design and documentation teams, and legal/product-liability specialists to create consistent, defensible safety information in manuals and other collateral. It is commonly referenced during product development, technical documentation reviews, and safety compliance assessments.

Related standards

Closely related to other ANSI Z535 series documents: Z535.1 (safety colors), Z535.2 (environmental/facility signs), Z535.3 (criteria for safety symbols), Z535.4 (product safety signs and labels), Z535.5 (safety tags), and Z535.7 (electronic media). Internationally, it aligns with ISO 3864 and ISO 7010 guidance on graphical symbols and safety colors; OSHA guidance on signage (29 CFR 1910.145) also references ANSI practices.

Keywords

product safety information, safety messages, manuals, instructions, signal words, safety-alert symbol, grouped messages, ANSI Z535, NEMA, product labels, technical documentation

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ANSI/NEMA Z535.6-2011 (R2017) is the American National Standard that sets forth requirements and guidance for presenting product-safety messages in printed collateral materials such as user manuals and installation guides.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers message components (signal word, hazard statement, consequences, avoidance instructions), formatting and placement of safety messages, the use of the safety-alert symbol, grouped/section/embedded message approaches, translations, and guidance for selecting appropriate signal words using a risk-estimation approach.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, documentation/technical-writing teams, safety and compliance professionals, product designers, and legal or product-liability teams use this standard to create consistent, effective safety information that reduces risk and supports regulatory and legal defensibility.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2011 edition was reaffirmed in 2017 (ANSI/NEMA Z535.6-2011 (R2017)). This edition has subsequently been revised and superseded by ANSI/NEMA Z535.6-2023; users creating new documentation should refer to the 2023 edition for the most current guidance.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ANSI Z535 family of safety-alerting standards, which together address safety colors, symbols, signs/labels, tags, and product safety information across printed and electronic media.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Product safety information; signal word; safety-alert symbol; warnings; manuals; instructions; ANSI Z535; NEMA; technical documentation; risk estimation.