ANSI Z535.6 for the US Market: Safe and Compliant Manuals

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Why Is ANSI Z535.6 Essential for Your Product

If you want to offer your product on the US market, different requirements apply than within the European Union. The United States has its own rules for product safety and user information. The ANSI standard is particularly important.

This American standard defines how safety information must be presented in manuals, instructions and other accompanying documents. Correct application not only improves user safety, but is also an important condition for market access and for reducing liability risks.

European and US Standards: Key Differences

In Europe, product requirements are defined in CE directives. These directives include fundamental obligations regarding safety, health and the environment. Manufacturers demonstrate compliance by applying (harmonised) European standards, such as IEC 82079-1 for drafting user instructions. The use of standards is in principle voluntary, but provides a “presumption of conformity”.

In the United States, the situation is different. There is no central system such as CE marking, and there is no legal obligation to apply national or international standards. Nevertheless, many importers, distributors, insurers and certification bodies use these standards as a baseline or requirement.

In practice, compliance is often contractually or commercially required. This may be included in purchasing conditions or liability insurance policies. Certification bodies typically assess manuals and safety information based on the ANSI series. As a result, compliance is often effectively required, even if not legally mandated.

Failure to follow the ANSI standard can also have consequences in liability cases. In product liability claims, it is often assessed whether you have provided “state-of-the-art” safety information. Applying this American standard can demonstrate that you meet current industry expectations.

Which Standards Are Relevant for User Instructions

Internationally, the following standards are important for drafting user instructions:

• IEC 82079-1: An international standard that provides guidance for preparing instructions for a wide range of products 
• ANSI Z535.6: The US national standard that specifies how safety information must be presented in manuals, instructions and other collateral materials 

For products intended for the US market, applying this standard is necessary to meet the expectations of customers, authorities and end users.

ISO/IEC Guide 37

ISO/IEC Guide 37:2012 (“Instructions for use of products by consumers”) was long used as an international guideline. However, it was formally withdrawn in 2022 and is no longer maintained by ISO and IEC.

In practice, current standards such as IEC 82079-1 are now used. References to Guide 37 in older literature are mainly of historical value and are no longer normatively valid.

ANSI Z535.6: Structure and Core Elements

What Does ANSI Z535.6 Cover

The American standard focuses entirely on the presentation of product safety information in accompanying documents, such as manuals. The aim is to communicate safety information clearly, consistently and effectively.

ANSI Z535.6 distinguishes four types of safety messages, each with its own function:

1. General safety information
   These are general safety instructions placed at the beginning of the document. This information immediately makes the user aware of the main safety aspects and how to correctly handle safety messages in the manual.
2. Grouped safety messages
   A summary of multiple warnings, included in a separate section or as a standalone document. This gives the user an overview of all relevant hazards and measures.
3. Section safety messages
   Warnings at the beginning of a chapter or section, focusing on specific hazards within that part of the product or process.
4. Embedded safety messages
   Warnings placed directly within the instructions in the text, so the user is immediately alerted to a risk during an action.

This structure allows safety information to be presented in a logical, structured and user-friendly way.

Structure of a Safety Message According to ANSI Z535.6

A safety message consists of two elements:

Presentation

The signal word can be presented in two ways:

• Signal word panel
  This is a clearly visible visual frame containing the signal word and— in the case of injury-related warnings—also the safety alert symbol. The signal word panel stands out due to its colour, font size and positioning.
• Signal word with or without safety alert symbol
  For injury-related warnings, you may choose to add the safety alert symbol. This symbol consists of an exclamation mark in a triangle and draws extra attention. For non-injury-related warnings (NOTICE), this symbol is not used.

Requirements for Signal Word Panels and Warning Symbols

The standard links each signal word to a specific colour and meaning. This ensures a consistent and visually recognisable warning.

Signal word	Color signal panel	Explanation
DANGER	red and white	Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
WARNING	black and orange	Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION	black and yellow	Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE	blue and white	Provides information that is important but not directly related to personal injury. For example, warnings about damage to property.

This colour coding makes it possible to visually distinguish between different levels of warnings, allowing users to assess the severity of a situation more quickly. You may also choose to use black and white only, for example in situations where colour is not possible.

In the case of WARNING, the signal word panel appears as follows:

Safety alert symbols
When you do not use a signal word panel but add a safety alert symbol, the ANSI standard also clearly specifies the use of symbols:If no signal word panel is used, the standard also defines the use of symbols:

Symbol	Application
Triangle with exclamation mark (red/white)	For use with the signal word DANGER
Triangle with exclamation mark (black/orange)	For use with the signal word WARNING
Triangle with exclamation mark (black/yellow)	For use with the signal word CAUTION
General safety symbol (black/white or ISO variant)	For use with or without DANGER, WARNING or CAUTION; the yellow variants are designed for consistency with international standards such as ISO 3864-1 and ISO 3864-2.

The use of symbols, in combination with signal words and colour coding, ensures clear and consistent safety information, even for users who do not fully understand the language. 

Content Requirements for Safety Messages

A safety message must always answer three questions:

1. What is the hazard? 
2. How can the hazard be avoided? 
3. What are the consequences if the hazard is not avoided? 

This structure ensures clear and actionable information for users.

Practical Application of ANSI Z535.6 in Your Process

It is clear: ANSI Z535.6 is the standard for safe, clear and accessible user manuals on the US market. By following this standard, you protect users, meet market expectations and reduce legal risks. It provides practical guidance for the structure, content and presentation of safety information, so that every user immediately understands the risks and how to avoid them.

Are you getting started yourself? Integrate the standard efficiently into your development process by following these steps:

Support from an Expert

Prefer expert support? Manualise assists you in drafting, reviewing and optimising ANSI Z535.6-compliant documentation.