Similarly, restroom, elevator and handicap access symbols seen in malls and airports are instantly recognizable and understood regardless of language or background. Electrical, mechanical and architectural symbols have been standardized for many years, and those who commonly read plans, elevations, riser diagrams and detail drawings rarely need constant reference to a symbols list. The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that many readers of technical security documents do not have, or need, a technical background. However, we have had the opportunity to start with a clean slate to develop a standard for the security industry, by the security industry. The Need For Symbols Plan drawings often are cluttered with legends depicting wall types, lighting and furniture, leaving little white space to identify and locate a security device.
Pictorial shorthand is much more easily, quickly and accurately identified.
Symbol Application Traditionally, symbols are applied with a pen or dark pencil either freehand or assisted by a ruler or template. With a CAD system, once a symbol has been defined, it can be scaled up or down, drawn with thicker or thinner lines, rotated and reproduced anywhere on any drawing with a minimum of effort. This is an important concept since a geometrically complex, e.g., handicap, symbol is simple to produce once designed for CAD application, but very time consuming for a manual draftsperson. A symbol list or key, complete with a description of each symbol, is added to each drawing sheet, to the first drawing sheet or as a separate sheet. Symbol Design Criteria Having identified the many people within the security industry involved in the production, interpretation and application of security symbols, the committee developed the design criteria for symbol design.