The safety signage in water parks or public-use swimming pool has one main purpose it must always fulfil: to inform users about what they need to know before using an attraction.
On a slide or children’s aquatic play structure, this includes, for example, user instructions on the sliding position, usage restrictions, arrival depth, route difficulty and the details identifying the attraction.
A public-use swimming pool, meanwhile, generally includes bathing rules, depth markings, emergency information and any warnings required for that area.
Over time, signage can lose clarity or become outdated. There may be very similar signs on different slides, pictograms that raise doubts, languages added without a clear structure or signs that no longer reflect the current installation.
What do the standards say about the requirements applicable to safety signage in an aquatic leisure area?
The safety sign for one specific slide does not have to be the same as the sign for another aquatic attraction. Each piece of equipment may have its own conditions of use, such as a minimum height, a specific sliding position, a defined depth in the arrival area or a particular restriction.
For this reason, the information on the sign should be reviewed alongside the equipment’s technical documentation. If the manufacturer sets specific conditions of use, that information should appear clearly before access to the slide.
As a baseline, complete signage should include: the name of the attraction, safety pictograms, sliding position, prohibitions, water depth at arrival, route difficulty, slide type, applicable standard, manufacturer, year of installation and the languages required for the establishment’s audience.
| Information | What it provides |
| Name of the attraction | Avoids doubts about which piece of equipment it applies to |
| Pictograms | Allow the rules to be read quickly |
| Sliding position | Indicates how the user should slide down |
| Prohibitions | Marks uses that do not fit that attraction |
| Water depth | Provides information about the arrival area |
| Difficulty | Helps assess the intensity of the ride |
| Slide type | Places the attraction within its category |
| Manufacturer, year and standard | Helps identify the equipment and maintain traceability if the park management changes |
This last point may seem secondary until situations arise such as when an installation changes owner or operator. For example, during an audit carried out in Mexico, the team found a hotel that did not have the manufacturer’s documentation and was not even clear on who had manufactured part of its installations after a change in management.
In this context, international standards require the manufacturer, year of installation and applicable standard to be clearly stated in order to maintain a minimum reference for the technical history of each attraction.
What languages and visual aspects should appear on the signage of a water slide or swimming pool?
Languages should be chosen with the park’s real audience in mind. The standard approach is to include, at a minimum, the local language and English, but if the establishment receives many visitors from another country or market, it may make sense to add that language as well, provided the sign remains clear and easy to read.
The colour of the pictograms and the elements that form part of the sign design also help structure the message more clearly, distinguishing obligations (blue), information (white) and prohibitions (red), or indicating the difficulty of the route in a simple way.
In the case of swimming pools, depth markings are recommended to be visible, accurate and repeated with sufficient frequency. As a technical industry reference, they may be positioned so they are visible at every 10 cm change in pool depth and/or every 3 m around the pool basin, reinforcing points where there are depth changes or areas where the pool floor is less easy to read.
This point is especially important in sloped pool basins, family pools, slide arrival areas and areas with several water entry points.
In pools with decorative rocks, bridges, waterfalls, ramps or raised elements, the signage must also respond to the use those elements may suggest. If a rock invites people to jump or a connection between pools may be interpreted as a play area, the warning should not be generic. It should directly state the behaviour to avoid, for example “no jumping” or “do not use as a slide”.
In pool basins with depth changes, steep ramps or several entry points, additional reinforcements may be needed: painted lines, buoys or complementary signs help when users may misinterpret the signage.
Can signage be customised while following the standards?
Yes, the aesthetic of the signage can be adapted to the image of the hotel or water park, including the commercial name of the attraction, corporate colours and languages (as mentioned above, these may vary according to the guest profile). Again, what matters is that the design requirements of the applicable standard are respected and the sign remains clear to read.
A standardised pictogram, as well as complying with the standard, usually works better than a more decorative drawing, especially if it helps the message be understood at a glance. It is also preferable not to overload the sign with too much text. In an area with water, noise, sun and people waiting, the sign needs to be understood in a few seconds.
It is also important to verify whether the sign is visible before access, whether it matches the attraction, whether the depths are up to date and whether the sign maintains sufficient contrast after a season in the sun.
And if you would also like to perform a safety and regulatory compliance audit by an independent entity, please feel free to contact us or visit our dedicated page where you can find more information.
We will be delighted to assist you and support you with any need related to an aquatic leisure project. Continue exploring our blog to stay up to date with our latest news, technical articles, and projects.
