UGANDA STANDARD  
  US 819
First Edition
2008-12-11
 
 
Reference numbe r
US 819: 2008
 © UNBS 2008 
  
General labelling of electrical appliances — Instructions for use 
 US 819: 2008 
ii © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations 
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 2008  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, in cluding photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from UNBS. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to 
The Executive Director 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
P.O. Box 6329 
Kampala  
Uganda 
Tel: 256 414 505 995 
Fax: 256 414 286 123 
E-mail: unbs@infocom.co.ug
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  US 819: 2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  iii
 Contents Page 
Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................iv  
1 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................1  
2 Normative references ............................................................................................................................1  
3 Terms and definitions ...........................................................................................................................1  
4 General requirements ...........................................................................................................................2  
5 Instruction clauses in standards .........................................................................................................3  
6 Location of Instructions ........................................................................................................................3  
7 Availability of information at the point of sale ...................................................................................4  
8 Design and editing of instructions for use .........................................................................................4  
8.1 General ...................................................................................................................................................4  
8.2 Legibility .................................................................................................................................................4  
8.2.1 Type and size .........................................................................................................................................4  
8.2.2 Instructions for safety ...........................................................................................................................5  
8.2.3 Instructions on the product itself ........................................................................................................5  
8.3 Brightness contrast ............................................................................................................................... 5 
8.4 Colour .....................................................................................................................................................6  
8.5 Communication principles ...................................................................................................................6  
8.6 Wording and use of technical terms ...................................................................................................6  
8.7 Language(s) ...........................................................................................................................................7  
8.8 Illustrations ............................................................................................................................................7  
8.9 Graphical symbols ............................................................................................................................... .8 
8.10 Tables .....................................................................................................................................................8  
8.11 Flow-charts ............................................................................................................................................8  
8.12 Table of contents (Index) ......................................................................................................................8  
8.13 Fault diagnosis, troubleshooting and repair ......................................................................................8  
9 Warning notices .....................................................................................................................................8  
12 Durability and availability of the instructions ....................................................................................9  
13 Checklists ...............................................................................................................................................9  
Annex A (normative)  Quantitative checklist .................................................................................................10  
Annex B (informative)  Qualitative checklist .................................................................................................15  
Annex C (informative)  Assessment of instructions for use ........................................................................20  
C.1 General ............................................................................................................................... ..................20  
C.2 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... .........20  
C.3 Desk research ............................................................................................................................... .......20  
C.4 Panel testing ............................................................................................................................... .........20  
C.5 Evaluations ............................................................................................................................... ...........21  
 US 819: 2008 
iv © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 Foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry  of Tourism, Trade and 
Industry established under Cap 327, of the Laws of Uganda.  UNBS is mandated to co-ordinate the 
elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex A limentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT/SPS Agr eements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a gi ven field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academician s, manufacturers, governme nt and other stakeholders. 
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committ ee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
Committee membership 
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee for Electrotechnology standards, 
UNBS/TC 6, in the development of this standard:  
• Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) 
• Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) 
• Hi -Tech Metal Industries Ltd.  
• Electricity Regulatory Authority 
• Ministry Works and Transport 
• Uganda Batteries Limited 
• Uganda Electronics and Technicians Association (UETA) 
• Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS)  
 UGANDA STANDARD US 819: 2008
 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  1
 General labelling of electrical appliances — Instructions for use 
1 Scope 
This standard establishes the principles of, and gi ves recommendations on the design and formulation of 
instructions for the use of consumer products with specif ic reference to electrical appliances. It is intended for 
committees preparing standards for consumer produc ts, and product designers, manufacturers, technical 
writers or other people engaged in the work of conceiving and drafting such instructions. It also guides 
consumers and traders of electrical item s on the instructions used on these items. 
2 Normative references 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies. 
lEC 60417,  Graphical symbols for use on equipment 
ISO/FDIS 3864-2, Safety colours and safety signs - Part 2: Design principles for product safety labels  
ISO 7000, Graphical symbols for use on equipment -Index and synopsis  
ISO 7001, Public information symbols  
ISO/IEC Guide 14, Purchase information on goods and services intended for consumers 
ISO/lEC Guide 50, Safety aspects - Guidelines for child safety 
ISO/lEC Guide 51, Safety aspects - Guidelines for their inclusion in standards 
3 Terms and definitions 
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions shall apply 
3.1 
global brightness 
difference between the percentage of the incident light that is reflected from the total background area, and the percentage of the incident light that is reflected by the total area covered by print 
3.2 
local brightness 
difference between the percentage of light reflected from any area that consists entirely of background, and 
the percentage of light reflected from any area that is entirely covered by print 
3.3  
instructions for use 
communication links such as words, symbols or diagrams,  used separately or in combination, to convey 
information to the user on how to use a product in a correct and safe way. US 819: 2008 
2 © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 4 General requirements 
The principles and practical recommendations given in this standard shall apply in combination with any 
specific requirements concerning instructions for use that are laid down in standards for specific products or 
groups of products. 
4.1 Instructions for use form an integral part of t he delivered product. They can be communicated in the 
form of text, words, signs, symbols, diagrams, illustrations or other visible or audible informatio n, separately or 
in combination. They can be provided on the product itself or on its packa ging, or in the form of accompanying 
materials (for example, leaflets, manuals, computerized information, audio tapes and video tapes). 
4.2 The purpose of instructions for use is to 
a) allow and promote the correct use of a product and help to avoid misuse that could lead to hazards, 
b) reduce the risk of damage to the product and consequent malfunction or inefficient operation, and 
c) provide adequate warning of inherent danger if the pr oduct is used in ways other than described in the 
instructions. 
Instructions for use cannot compensate for design deficiencies. For general principles of preferences of risk 
reduction, see clause 5 of ISO/IEC Guide 51. 
4.3 Instructions should 
a) clearly identify the product (see 8.1.1), 
b) define, if necessary, the intended use of the prod uct in accordance with 3.7 and 3.8 of ISO/IEC Guide 
51, 
c) recognize the type of user, and his capabilities, and  
d) contain all information required for correct and safe use of the product. 
4.4 Instructions for use shall provide for any foreseeable misuse of the product, and adequate warning 
should be given in accordance with 6.4.4 of ISO/lEC Guide 51. 
4.5 Instructions for use shall cover information, separately or in combination, as far as it is relevant, on the 
following aspects: 
a) function and operation; 
b) transportation, assembly and installation; 
c) cleaning, maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair; and 
d) destruction/disposal of the product or of any waste materials (or of both) , with due regard to safety and to 
environmental considerations. 
4.6 Instructions for use shall convey to the user an y important messages about aspects of use that are 
related to 
a) the environment (for example, appropriate  dosage of detergent for a washing machine, 
destruction/disposal of waste, or recycling), and 
b) conservation of energy and other resources. US
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4.7 Attention shall be drawn to the need for special meas ures needed to protect users and bystanders (for 
example, adult supervision or the wearing of special cl othing). Dangers to particular groups such as children, 
elderly people or disabled people should be highlig hted in accordance with ISO/lEC Guide 50. 
4.8 If some of the instructions are directed only at a spec ific group of users (for example, instructions for 
installation, repair or certain kinds of maintenance), t hose instructions shall be given separately and should be 
adequately marked. In some cases they need no t accompany the product (see also 8.13). 
4.9 In the case of products that have a limited safe or effective life, the year of manufacture or the date of 
expiry (or both) shall be clearly indicated. 
4.10 The date of publication of the inst ructions for use shall be given. 
4.11 Instructions for use shall be consistent with all ot her material that the manufacturer or producer has 
issued about the same product, such as advertising or packaging. 
5 Instruction clauses in standards 
5.1 Standards for products of interest to consumers shoul d specify those matters that need to be covered in 
the instructions for use, for instance in the form of a minimum list. This list shall be included in a separate 
section of the product standard, entitled "Instruction s for use, including installation and maintenance". If a 
separate safety standard does not exist, safety aspects should be included in the standard in accordance with 
6.6.4 of ISO/lEC Guide 51. 
5.2 Where specific procedures are necessary for the safe use, operation, assembly, disassembly, cleaning 
or maintenance of the product, or simila rly for its destruction or disposal, or for the disposal of waste materials, 
such procedures shall be specified in the product standard. Amdt 1 
5.3 Where instructions for use are to be given on the produ ct itself, they shall be specified in the section 
dealing with marking and labelling in accordance with Clause 8 (see also Clause 5 of ISO/IEC Guide 51). 
Amdt 1. 
6 Location of Instructions 
6.1 Depending on 
a) the risks (see 3.2 of ISO/IEC Guide 51), 
b) environmental or similar requirements, 
c) the product design, and 
d) when the information is needed by the user, 
it shall be decided whether the instructions for use - or parts of them, and, if so, which parts, are to be given in one or more of the following ways: 
• on the product itself; 
• on the packaging; or 
• in accompanying documents. 
In addition, it shall be decided what means of communication shall be used in each case (see 4.1). 
NOTE Placing of instructions on the pr oduct itself has clear advantages in convenience for the user. But for some US 819: 2008 
4 © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 products, because of their small size or their shape, or the fa ct that instructions are partially obscured from view during the  
product's use, the best or only solution might be to place some or all of the instructions on the packaging or in 
accompanying documents. 
6.2 Where the full instructions for use are complex, important concise messages shall be given or displayed 
on the product in the form of a short referenc e or of reminder cards, stickers or labels. 
6.3 Where safety depends to a considerable degree upon correct installation, use, maintenance, 
destruction or disposal, and correct methods are not self-evident from the product, the product safety standard 
shall specify, as a minimum, a cautionary marking to dr aw the user's attention to the relevant part(s) of the 
instructions. This marking shall be highlighted. 
6.4 If the instructions are given in the form of accompanying documents inside the packaging, the 
instructions shall be readily visible and accessible, and a warning notice shall be placed on the packaging, 
such as: DO NOT USE THE PRODUCT BEF ORE READING THE IN STRUCTION MANUAL. 
7 Availability of information at the point of sale 
Instructions for use are necessary and shall be readily available at the point of sale, to enable a buyer to make a reasoned purchasing decision amongst products
. 
NOTE Product information systems as described in ISO/IEC Guide 14 are the recommended means of providing, at 
the point of sale, all the information necessary for a reaso ned purchasing decision. The information shall include matters 
mentioned in this standard, such  as the need for protective clothing (see 4.7)  or a warning to parents on restrictions on 
use by children (see 9.5). 
8 Design and editing of instructions for use 
8.1 General 
8.1.1 The instructions shall clearly relate to a specific product, for example by stating the model, version or 
type to which they apply. It shall be impossible for produ ct modifications or differences (however small) 
between models or between subgroups within the same model, to lead to a mismatch between the instructions in the hands of the user and the actual product in use (see also 4.10). 
8.1.2 The user of a particular model shall preferably be prov ided with information that refers only to that 
model. However, if instructions for two or more models ar e identical, a single set of instructions is acceptable. 
8.1.3 Instructions concerning optional modules or extras  shall be kept clearly separated from general 
instructions and from instructions for other modules or ex tras (for example, by the use of separate clauses and 
headings), so that users are not  confused by irrelevant m atters. 
8.2 Legibility 
8.2.1 Type and size 
Type and size of on-product information, of printed ma terial and of computerized information shall be clear 
and large enough to ensure legibility. 
8.2.1.1 The x-height of the lower-case characters of t he type face shall always be 2.0 mm or larger: 
x-height 2.0 mm 
type size US
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NOTE 1 In the so-called typographic point systems ( Didot and Pica), the corresponding type size would be 
approximately 5 points [1 point = 0.4 mm (Didot: 0.376 mm; Pica: 0.351 mm)] 
 
NOTE 2 For typefaces other than Roman,  the selection of print and type size should meet the same degree of legibility 
as that indicated above. 
8.2.1.2 In the case of continuous text in printed instru ctions for use (for example, printed leaflets, 
manuals), a type size of between 3.2 mm and 5.6 mm (8 points and 14 points) shall be used. 
8.2.1.3 In the case of headings in printed leaflets, manuals,  etc., for on-product instructions, or for other 
short messages which the user needs to consult often, the type size shall be about 4 mm or even larger (at 
the top of the 10 point scale), depending on the reading distance. 
8.2.1.4 The location of on-product instructions and the angle between their surface and the vertical plane 
shall be such that they can be easily read and understo od by users from their posi tion(s) during use of the 
product. 
8.2.2 Instructions for safety 
Instructions for safety in leaflets and manuals shall be  made conspicuous by means of a different typeface or 
type size, or some other means. In cases of doubt whet her any particular instructions are related primarily to 
safety or to fitness for purpose, safety shall be given precedence. 
8.2.3 Instructions on the product itself 
If instructions are incorporated in the material of the product itself (for exampl e, as engraved or embossed 
lettering, figures or symbols on metal, glass or pl astics), the advantages of such method in durability, 
reduction of numbers of separate parts, etc., shall be weighed against a possible disadvantage in legibility, 
which is generally inferior to that of good printing (see also 12.1). 
8.3 Brightness contrast 
Brightness contrast in printed instructions shall be as high as possible, but at least 70 %. 
NOTE 1 Good quality black print on white pap er provides a contrast of about 80 %. 
NOTE 2 Brightness contrast will be reduced and legibility  impaired if both sides of insufficiently opaque paper are 
printed. 
NOTE 3 The actual composition of the light and its mode of incidence an d reflection are to be specified. 
Subject to the parameters given in 9.1 and 9.2, mini mum type sizes and minimum requirements on brightness 
contrast shall be specified in product standards. US 819: 2008 
6 © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 8.4 Colour 
8.4.1 The use of colour shall be considered as a possibilit y, particularly in relation to controls, components, 
etc., that require clear or quick identification (or both). 
8.4.2 If the use of colour is adopted, it shall be done in a functional, systematic and consistent way  
8.4.3 It shall be borne in mind, however, that many peopl e have some form of colour-deficient vision. 
Different colours should never be the only means of identifying instructions. 
8.5 Communication principles 
8.5.1 When instructions for use are being prepared, the communication process "SEE-THINK-USE" shall 
be followed in order to achieve the maximum effect. 
NOTE In cases where the reader of the instructions needs to react quick ly (for example, when using fire 
extinguishers), only a minimal thought process should be necessary in order to understand the instructions 
8.5.2 Where complex operating procedures must be follow ed for the safe and correct use of a product, the 
instructions shall enable and encourage the user to  follow a continuous learning and understanding process. 
Useful means of promoting this process include illust rations, tables and flow-chart s (see 8.8, 8.10 and 8.11). 
8.5.3 Instructions for use for a product that is inte nded to perform several different and independent 
functions shall start first with the basic or norma l function and then deal with the other functions. 
8.5.4 The questions "How?", "What?", "Who?", "Why?", "When?", "Where"? shall be anticipated and the 
answers provided. 
8.6 Wording and use of technical terms 
8.6.1 Instructions for use shall be as simple and brief as possible, and readily understandable by a lay 
person. Unavoidable technical terms shall be explained. Information shall be presented in consistent terms 
and units. 
8.6.2 The sequence of text in leaflets, manuals, etc., shall follow the communication principles described in 
8.5. Short and meaningful headings or marginal notes might  help the user to locate the information he wants 
(see also 8.12). 
8.6.3 One sentence shall contain only one command, or, at most, a small number of closely related 
commands. For example 
a) use the active voice of verbs (rather than the passive), 
b) be assertive in using command s (rather than weaker forms), 
c) use action verbs (rather than abstract nouns), and 
d) speak to users direct (rathe r than saying what they might do). 
The following examples apply in the first instance to in structions in English, but can also serve as useful 
pointers towards clarity in other languages. 
 
 
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Recommendation  Like this  Not like this  
Use the active voice 
 
Be assertive 
Use action verbs 
Speak direct  Turn off power. 
 
Do not remove tabs. 
Do not remove tabs. 
Pull black lever towards you.  Be sure that the power has been 
disconnected. 
The tabs should not be removed. 
The tabs should not be removed. 
Users will pull the black lever away 
from the machine.  
 
8.7 Language(s) 
8.7.1  Instructions for use should be given at least in English 
8.7.2  If more than one language is used, each language shoul d be readily distinguished from the other(s). It 
is preferable to provide separate instructions (leaflet, manual, etc.) for each language. Where this is not 
practicable, instructions in each language shall be cl early separated. Each page shall have texts in only one 
language (unless the text is short and all languages fit easily on the same page, and are clearly set off from 
one another). 
8.7.3  Limited space often presents problems when instructions on a product are being given in several 
languages. These problems can be solved with the use of  graphical symbols (see 8.9) or certain words or 
abbreviations that are accepted internationally (for ex ample: STOP, MAX., MIN.). Symbols shall be clearly 
understandable by users, or they shall be explained in the appropriate language(s) given in accompanying documents. 
8.7.4  Text and illustrations that need to be read and seen together shall be adjacent to each other. 
Illustrations shall be repro duced in each language text. Captions to illustrations shall be written only in the 
language of the adjacent text (see also 8.8.7). 
8.7.5  Where instructions for use are translated from one language into others, all the necessary steps, 
including checking and proofreading, sha ll be carried out by competent linguists. 
8.8 Illustrations 
8.8.1  The text should, whenever possi ble, be supported by illustrations. 
8.8.2  Photographs, line drawings or other media for illus tration shall be of good quality and clarity, not 
causing any uncertainty of what they represent. The am ount of detail shall be kept as low as possible, to 
emphasize the purpose of the illustration. 
8.8.3  Illustrations should not be separated from the accompanying text and should follow the sequence of 
operations. 
8.8.4  Illustrations should be supplemented with captions that provide written details and locate and identify 
various controls, sub-units, etc. 
8.8.5  An illustration should not give more inform ation than needed for the relevant function. 
8.8.6  Illustrations or detailed part(s) of illustrations shoul d be repeated in the relevant  part(s) of instruction 
material(s), as needed to assist the user. 
8.8.7  Subject to the recommendations in 8.7 to 8.11 (inclusive), illustrations, tables or flow-charts that fold 
out may usefully be placed into the leaflet or manual, so that they can be seen next to different pages of text at different times. US 819: 2008 
8 © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 8.9 Graphical symbols 
8.9.1  Graphical symbols shall be readily understood and unambiguous. Where graphical symbols have 
been standardized by ISO and IEC, they shall be spec ified in accordance with ISO 7000, ISO 7001 and IEC 
60417. 
8.9.2  Instructions for use shall clearly indicate and explai n which of the product functions are covered by the 
symbols that appear on the product 
8.10 Tables 
8.10.1  Information should be presented in tabular form wh ere this will enhance understanding. Tables shall 
be adjacent to the relevant text. 
8.10.2  Tables or parts of tables should be repeated in th e relevant part(s) of instruction material(s), as 
needed to assist the user (see also 8.8.7). 
8.11 Flow-charts 
Where a specific sequence of operations is necessary for the safe and correct use of a product, a flow-chart 
should be presented. Flow-charts shall be adjacent to the text to which they belong (see also 8.8.7). 
8.12 Table of contents (Index) 
8.12.1  When instructions for use are lengthy (more t han four pages), pages should be numbered and a table 
of contents or an index (o r both) should be given. 
8.12.2  When the instructions for use are both lengthy and complex, an index of keywords presented in 
alphabetical order shall be included and s hall be listed in the table of contents. 
8.12.3  In the case of instructions for the use of comple x appliances, a separate list of operator controls and 
indicators (such as dials, gauges or lights) shall be provided. 
8.12.4  Headings that appear in the table of contents shall be the same as those used in the text. 
8.13 Fault diagnosis, troubleshooting and repair 
If the user of the product can perform some fault diagno sis and repair without risk of harm to himself, to other 
people or to the product, the instructions leaflet or manual  shall provide a checklist of possible faults with 
appropriate diagrams, illustrations, etc., and with a clear indication whether the user can attempt the repair 
himself, or should call a qualified person. 
9 Warning notices 
9.1 Warning notices shall be emphasized by the use of la rger or different print (or both) and by the use of 
symbols or colour (or both), in acco rdance with 8.2 and 8.4 respectively. 
9.2 In the formulation and design of warning notices, the following shall be taken into account, in order to 
achieve maximum effectiveness: 
a) limit the text and illustration to the essential; 
b) make the location, content and st yle of the warning conspicuous; 
c) ensure that the user and any other people at risk, can see the warning from their positions during 
 use of the product, and at the right time; US
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d) explain the nature of the hazard (and, if appropriate,  its causes); and 
e) provide clear guidance on w hat to do and what to avoid 
10 Durability and availability of the instructions 
10.1 Instructions printed on the product direct shal l be permanent and remain legible throughout the 
expected life of the product. 
10.2 Instructions for use given on packaging or in accomp anying documents (such as leaflets, manuals, etc.) 
shall be produced in durable form. Instructions shall be designed and made to survive frequent handling by 
users throughout the expec ted life of the product, in the environ ment where the product will be used. 
10.3 Instructions for use that are given in the form of accompanying documents shall be marked "KEEP FOR 
FUTURE REFERENCE", except those need ed only for initial assembly or installation. The producer shall be 
able to provide replacement copies of all such instruct ions for use on demand, throughout the expected life of 
the product. 
10.4 Since packaging is often impermanent and can be destroyed in the unpacking process, the permanent 
placing of instructions on packaging is undesirable. Where the instruct ions are so placed, however, the 
suggestion directive to keep them for future reference shall be prominent. If only a part of the packaging 
needs to be kept (because it contains instructions), that part should be ea sily detachable from the rest of the 
packaging. 
10.5 Should the package contain other smaller parts, adequate notice drawing attention to such inclusion 
shall be clearly printed on the packaging or in a prominent position liable to be seen when the package is 
opened, for example on one of the flaps of a carton. 
11 Checklists 
A quantitative checklist is given in Anne x A. The purpose of this checklist is to assess whether instructions 
contain sufficient information to the consumer on all relevant aspects of a product (such as installation, operation, maintenance, etc.). 
A qualitative checklist is given in Annex B. The purpose of  this checklist is to assess the quality of a set of 
instructions (such as legibility, structur e, language, illustrations, symbols, etc.). US 819: 2008 
10 © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 Annex A 
(normative) 
 
Quantitative checklist 
Use this checklist to establish w hether each listed requirement is 
a) complied with (covered) by t he instructions being assessed,  
b) not complied with (not covered) but should be, or 
c) not applicable. 
 
 
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Annex A (continued) 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Annex A (continued) 
 
 
 
 
 
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Annex A (continued) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The results of the quantitative check should be su mmarized by counting the number of "+" marks (N+) and of 
"-" marks (N-), ignoring the "0" marks and calculating the rating with respect to the quantity of information 
contained in the instructions for use, Q(%) , in terms of the ratio of N+ to (N+ + N.), as follows: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
In addition to the rating, all requirements in the checklist marked "I" or "VI" should be complied with 
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Annex B  
(informative) 
 
Qualitative checklist 
Use this checklist to rate the instru ctions being assessed in relation to each requirement in the checklist, using 
the following marking scheme: 
a) very good/excellent (++); 
b) good (+); 
c) average, just acceptable (#); 
d) poor(-); 
e) very poor (-); and 
f) not applicable/not necessary (0). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
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The results of the qualitative check should be summarized by counting the number of "++" and "+" marks, 
(N+) and "-" marks (N-) and ignoring the (0) and (#) marks. If any item  is rated "-", the instructions as a whole 
shall be assessed unacceptable. All items in the checklist marked "I" or "VI" shall be assessed at least with "+" 
to be acceptable. 
The rating with respect to the quality of the instructions, R(%), shall be as follows: 
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 Annex C  
(informative) 
 
Assessment of instructions for use 
C.1 General 
The purpose of this annex is to introduce a basic as sessment procedure for instructions for use. This 
procedure does not provide for all as pects discussed in the standard and shall be read in conjunction with the 
standard itself. 
Assessment of instructions for use covers instructions  that appear on the product itself, or in accompanying 
material (for example, leaflets, handbooks, audio tapes and video tapes), or both. In accordance with 4.1, 
instructions for use shall be assessed as an integral part of the delivered product. 
C.2 Methodology 
Depending on the complexity of the product and on the importance of conveying re levant information to the 
consumer in order to ensure safe and correct use, assessment should take the form of desk research or 
interactive panel testing of the product by  consumers (see clause C.4), or both. 
C.3 Desk research 
C.3.1  Assessment by desk research should be carried out by suitab ly qualified experts who have no 
previous connection with any aspect of the design, produ ction or marketing of the pr oduct and its instructions. 
C.3.2  It might be necessary for desk research to be su pplemented by independent third-party checking: For 
example, where provision of information at the point of sale is a requirement (see clause 7), the actual 
situation shall be investigated by (or for) the researcher or independent evaluator, rather than relying on any 
statements by the manufacturer or producer. 
C.3.3 Quantitative checks shall be based on the non- comprehensive checklist given in annex A. 
C.3.4  Qualitative checks shall be based on the non-comprehensive ch ecklist given in annex B. 
C.3.5  Since both checklists are non-comprehensive, they need to be supplemented or amended in 
accordance with relevant product standards or (in the absence of su ch standards) in accordance with 
standards that deal with comparable products or  functions, or in any other appropriate way. 
C.4 Panel testing 
C.4.1  Interactive panel testing is a means of finding out how much help the instructions for use of a product 
give the consumer, by answering any queries he might have when he is using the instructions, including queries on safety and environmental aspects. Panel testing shall establish the extent to which the instructions 
are complementary to the design and ergonomics of the product 
C.4.2 The composition of the panel shall be representative of the intended and probable users of a product, 
taking into account 
a) age, US
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  21
  819: 2008 
b) sex, 
c) health, 
d) physical ability/handicaps, 
e) left-handedness or right-handedness, 
f) education/literacy/technical expertise, and 
g) previous acquaintance with, or ignorance of, similar products. 
In many cases a panel of five people is sufficient to obtain reliable results. But if there are considerable 
variations among the people, the num ber of people should be increased. 
Maximum representation of all concerned is  vital to the success of the product. 
C.4.3 The normal method of recording results is to require  the panelists to fill in questionnaires that are 
based on the requirements in the checklists given in annexes A and B. Items from the checklists that would be 
better carried out by desk research should be left out fr om the panel test. Video and audio recording of panel 
tests can help to establish objective ratings of the usefulness of instructions for use. 
C.4.4 Each test shall be supervised by a suitably qualif ied and independent expert (see C.3.1), who shall 
report separately on all own observations, especia lly on any problems encountered by the panelists. 
C.5 Evaluations 
C.5.1 In either desk or panel evaluations, or both, cert ain requirements may be designated "important" (I) or 
"very important" (VI). 
C.5.2 In many cases individual items to be evaluated mi ght have different weights, depending on different 
requirements of products or product groups, wh ich can be defined only for specific purposes. 
C.5.3 For an overall panel assessment, each panelist has to give a final assessment based on his individual 
experience during the test, in accordance with the five point scale (see Annex B). 
C.5.4 The final evaluation of panel tests as described in C.4 should be the responsibility of the supervising 
expert. The expert should take into account the quantity and seriousness of the difficulties experienced by the 
panel in using the product safely and correctly, and t he responses to the questionnaire. Quantitative or 
statistical criteria for evaluating thes e results should include the weighti ng of difficulties and complaints in 
relation to serious matters such as risk of injury to the user or damage to the product. The evaluation of panel 
tests shall include a narrative report by the supervising expert.  
 US 819: 2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  23
 Certification marking 
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be  marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is gove rned by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licens ed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in co njunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and  testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National  Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of  licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 US 819: 2008 
 
ICS nn.nnn.nn 
Price based on 28 pages 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved