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RECORD OF AMENDMENTS

No. Reference/date of Date Signature

Amendment entered

EXPLANATORY NOTES

AGREEMENT

1. This NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) is promulgated by the Director

NATO Standardization Agency under the authority vested in him by the NATO Standardization
Organisation Charter.

2. No departure may be made from the agreement without informing the tasking authority
in the form of a reservation. Nations may propose changes at any time to the tasking authority
where they will be processed in the same manner as the original agreement.

3. Ratifying nations have agreed that national orders, manuals and instructions
implementing this STANAG will include a reference to the STANAG number for purposes of
identification.

RATIFICATION, IMPLEMENTATION AND RESERVATIONS

3. Ratification, implementation and reservation details are available on request or through

the NSA websites
(internet http://nsa.nato.int/ ; NATO Secure WAN http://nsa.hq.nato.int).

FEEDBACK

5. Any comments concerning this publication should be directed to NATO HQ NSA – Bvd
Leopold III - 1110 Brussels - BEL.

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STANAG 2002
(Edition 10)

NATO STANDARDIZATION AGREEMENT

(STANAG)

WARNING SIGNS FOR THE MARKING OF NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND

CHEMICAL CONTAMINATIONS

Annex: A. International Edition Symbol Seeker (IESS)

Related documents:
APP-6 - Military Symbols for Land Based Systems
STANAG 2036 ENGR - Land Mine Laying, Marking, Recording and Reporting
Procedures
STANAG 2473 NBC Commanders Guide to Radiation Exposure in Non-
Article 5 Crisis Response Operations
STANAG 2909 NBC - Commanders Guidance on Defensive Measures
against Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC)

AIM

1. The aim of this agreement is to standardise those signs, which are to be used by
the NATO Forces to mark nuclear, biological and chemical contaminations of land areas,
complete equipments, supplies and stores.

AGREEMENT

2. Participating nations agree that the signs contained herein for marking nuclear,
biological and chemical contaminations of land areas, complete equipments, supplies and
stores will be used by NATO Forces.

GENERAL

3. For the purpose of this STANAG, contaminations will be restricted to such dangers
as nuclear contamination, biological contamination and chemical contamination. These
dangers will be marked using warning signs (right-angled isosceles triangles) unless the
area is to be abandoned to the enemy. The marking of chemical minefields are in
STANAG 2036.

4. The procedures and signs in this agreement are designed both for the protection of
personnel of the units responsible for the areas, complete equipments, supplies and
stores concerned and for the prevention of casualties or unnecessary exposures among
individuals or units.

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5. The provisions of this agreement do not preclude additional marking or sign posting
over and above that is required by this STANAG when the commander concerned
believes it is necessary.

COLOUR OF SIGNS

6. The nature of the contamination is to be indicated by the colours of the signs.

These include:

a. The primary colour, which should be used for the background of the front
surface of the sign.

b. A secondary colour, used for additional markings and/or inscriptions,

preferably on the front surface of the sign.

These colours are:

DANGER PRIMARY SECONDARY COLOURS

COLOUR MARKINGS INSCRIPTIONS
Radiological contamination WHITE NONE BLACK

Biological contamination BLUE NONE RED

Chemical contamination YELLOW NONE RED

NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CONTAMINATIONS

7. In the case of danger due to nuclear, biological and chemical contamination, the
primary colour and the pattern of the signs by themselves will be the principal means of
recognising the type of contamination. As a safeguard, the words “ATOM” (for nuclear
contamination), "BIO" (for biological contamination) or "GAS" (for chemical contamination),
with the optional addition of a symbol where required by national authorities, will be
painted or written with the secondary colour on the front surface. The language to be used
for these inscriptions will be selected by the forces erecting the sign. During joint
operations (e.g. RF-Ops) the language should be English. The inscriptions will be written
parallel to the longer side of the sign, for example:

ATOM BIO GAS

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INSCRIPTION OF SIGNS

8. In addition, details, if known, of nuclear, biological and chemical contaminations are

to be written on each sign, preferably on the front surface1. The extra required details
depend on the kind of contamination:

a. Biological agents, persistent chemical agents and toxic industrial chemicals:

(1) name/symbol of the agent/chemical used (if known),

or "TIC" (in the case of an unknown Toxic Industrial Chemical),
(2) date-time group of detection,
(3) date-time group of detonation/release (if known),
(4) concentration (if known).

b. Radiological contaminations:

(1) substance/emitter (if known),

or "TIR" (in the case of unknown Toxic Industrial Radiologicals),
(2) dose rate and date-time group of detection,
(3) date-time group of detonation/release (if known).

MULTIPLE CONTAMINATIONS

9. Areas, which contain more than one type of contamination, will be marked with the
relevant signs placed near to each other.

SPECIAL BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL MARKING PROCEDURES

10. The signs marking areas contaminated by biological or chemical agents, are to be
placed on all probable routes leading into the contaminated area at a minimum of 20 m
(60 ft), preferably 50 m (150 ft) before the point where the presence of the contamination
is detected.

11. For areas of confirmed or suspected contamination or release of Toxic Industrial

Materials (TIMs), mark the boundaries of the exclusion or isolation zones, as identified in
STANAGs 2473 and 2909.

12. Signs should be corrected or moved periodically as biological or chemical

contamination decays.

SPECIAL RADIOLOGICAL MARKING PROCEDURES

13. The marking of radiological contaminations merely indicates the presence of a

hazard, the extent of which must be determined by newly arrived troops by means of
instrument readings, surveys, or information from other units.

1
In case of limited space on the front surface of the sign, as a minimum the name/symbol of the
agent (if known) and/or the dose rate/concentration (if known) is to be written on the front
surface. Any other details may be written on the back surface.

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14. At the discretion of the commander, a radiological contaminated area need not be
marked when a military advantage would be obtained by not doing so. In such cases
positive measures will be taken to warn other friendly forces of the existence of the
radiological contaminated area.

15. In the case of nuclear fallout signs are to be placed on all probable routes leading
into contaminated areas at the points where the dose rate reaches 1 centiGray per hour (1
cGy/h) measured at 1 meter above the ground and on supplies and stores within these
areas. When the dose rate is above 1 centiGray per hour, signs showing the actual dose
rate are to be placed on all probable routes leading into the contaminated area at the
boundary. Lower levels normally are not marked even though long stays in areas of old
contamination might produce significant doses. Units planning prolonged stays in an area
during a nuclear war should check the area with radiac instruments regardless of whether
it is marked.

16. In the case of Toxic Industrial Radiologicals signs are to be placed on all probable
routes leading into contaminated areas at the points where the dose rate reaches 2
microGray per hour (2 µGy/h/0,002mGy/h) measured at 1 meter above the ground. When
the dose rate is above 2 microGray per hour, signs showing the actual dose rate are to be
placed.

17. Signs should be corrected or moved periodically as radioactivity decays.

18. Commands leaving an area or otherwise giving up responsibility for an area are to
leave perimeter signs in place. The command taking over responsibility for the area will
continue the periodic correction or movement of the signs or remove them when they are
no longer necessary.

19. Dumps for radiological contaminated material are to be marked at intervisible

intervals around the perimeter.

MARKING PROCEDURES FOR MEANWHILE DECONTAMINATED EQUIPMENT

20. Marking signs may be removed or damaged when decontamination of

contaminated equipment is carried out. However, residual contamination may still impose
a danger.

21. If the efficiency of any decontamination cannot be determined or in the case of

standardised limit values cannot be achieved, marking signs are not to be removed or
must be replaced by new marking signs.

22. Beyond the above-mentioned it may be necessary to prepare documentation which

contains the relevant contamination data of the equipment. As a minimum the type of
contamination (N, B or C), the type of agent and the date-time group of the contamination
should be reported. Other data may contain the date-time group of decontamination, the
level of residual contamination and information on appropriate protective
measures/equipment. Equipment documentation should be used where possible.

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SIZE AND SHAPE OF SIGNS

23. Existing stocks of coloured triangular signs of slightly divergent shapes and sizes
will be retained and used until stocks are exhausted.

24. The shape of the sign will be a right-angled isosceles triangle.

25. The base of the triangle will be approximately 28 cm (11 inches) and the opposite
sides will be approximately 20 cm (7,9 inches).

26. Triangles will be made of metal, wood, plastic, composition board, adhesive
material, or any adequate material available.

PLACING SIGNS - CONTAMINATED AREAS

27. The signs will be placed at waist height, right-angled apex downwards, with the
front of the sign facing away from the area being marked and spaced at intervals of 10 to
50 metres depending on the terrain. The signs should be placed on fences, trees, rocks,
poles, etc. or by putting the apex into the ground. This latter method should not be used if
the other methods can be adopted, as the signs might be obscured by grass and other
undergrowth and may also be readily knocked down. The signs should be clearly visible to
the eye at a distance of approximately 50 metres in most conditions of visibility. If signs
are placed within a contaminated area the sign is to face away from the area of higher
dose rate or higher concentration if such can be determined. Initially the signs may be
placed on any suitable fence, tree, rock, pole, etc. The marking will indicate the general
area of ground contamination but will take no account of downwind NBC hazards. NBC
contaminated areas may be of such extent that complete marking of the whole perimeter
will be impracticable. Units should therefore take into consideration that such areas may
be marked only in the area of immediate concern of the initially marking unit.

PLACING SIGNS – CONTAMINATION OF COMPLETE EQUIPMENTS, SUPPLIES AND

STORES.

28. Signs will be placed centrally on at least two adjacent sides of a complete
equipment or unit load pallet right-angled apex downwards. They must be clearly visible
from all likely avenues of approach. Irregularly shaped items as well as non-palletised
stores will be marked in the obvious and convenient places.

NIGHT SIGNING

29. No standardisation of lighting of signs is specified. Each army will provide lighting of
these signs or reflecting devices where deemed necessary.

CIVIL MARKING SIGNS

30. Symbols and warning signs used by civil industry are listed in the International
Symbol Seeker (IESS), which is at Annex A.

31. The IESS is included in this STANAG for information only.

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32. The symbols may, additionally, be used on the marking signs, if they contribute to
the clearness of the signs.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT

33. This STANAG will be considered to have been implemented when the necessary
orders/instructions putting the procedures detailed in this agreement into effect have been
issued for the forces concerned.

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ANNEX A TO
STANAG 2002
(Edition 10)

INTERNATIONAL EDITION SYMBOL SEEKER

(IESS)

1. The IESS is a (civil) hazard identification manual.

2. It is a publication with the following characteristics:

- publisher: SYMBOL SEEKER LTD

7 Kings Drive
Fullwood
Preston
Lancashire
England
PR2 3HN

telephone/fax: +44 1772 715 963,

- ISBN: 0 - 9508 - 8361 - 1,

- author: Paul P. Burns,

- unit price (price-level 2001): £ 6.50 (shipping included).

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