Specifications
MIMTD-1472E
5.5.1 General
5.5
Labeling
5.5.1.1 Adkation. Labels, legends, placards, signs, markings, or a combination of these
shall be provided whenever personnel must identify items (except where it is obvious to the observer
what an item is and what he or she is to do with it), interpret or follow procedures or avoid hazards.
5.5.1.2 Label chmcteristics. Label characteristics shall be consistent with required accuracy of
identification, time available for recognition or other responses, distance at which the labels must be
read, illuminant level and color, criticality of the function labehxi, and label design practices within and
between systems.
5.5.2 Orientation and location.
5.5.2.1 Orientation. Labels and information thenmn should be oriented horizontally so that they
may be mad fmm ieft to right. Vertical cxientation may be usd only when labels are not criticaI for
pemonnel safety or performance
and where space is limited. When us@ vaticd labels shall read
from top to bottom.
5.5.2.2 Location. Labels shall be placed on or very near the items which they identify, so as to
eliminate confhsion with other items and labels. Labels shalI be located so as not to obscure any other
information needed by the opator. Controls should not obscure labels.
5.5.2.3 Standardization. I.abels shall be located consistently throughout the system.
5.5.3 contents
5.5.3.1
Fxmi~ment fimctions. Labels should primarily describe the functions of equipment
items. Engineerhg
chmc&&ics or nomenclatwe may be described as a second4uyconsideration.
5.5.3.2 Abkviations. Abbreviations shall conform to MIL-STD-41 1or
MIL-STD-783,as
applicabk. If a new abbreviationis requi& its
rEaning shaUk obvious to the intended reader.
Periods shall be omitted except when needed to pxeclude misintqretation. The same abbreviation
shall be used for all tenses and for singular and plural forms of a word.
5.5.3.3 IxTele
Vantinformation. Trade names and other irrelevant information shall not appear on
labeis or placards.
5.5.4 Ouaiities.
5.5.4.1
Wwity. Labels shall be unambiguous and as concise as possible without distorting the
intended meaning or information. Redundancy shall be minimkd. Where a general function is
obvious, onIy the specific function shall be identified (e.g., “rPm” rather than “engine rpm”).
5.5.4.2 Faihariw. Wor&
should be familiar to the operator. For speciilc users (e.g.,
maintainers),common technicalterms maybe used eventhoughthey may be unfamiliarto nonusers.
Abstract
symbols (e.g., squares and Greek letters) shall be used only when they have an accepted
mcanmg to ail mtendect readers. Common, meanmgttd Yymboiste.g , % * +) my he MA.
5.s.4. 3 visibi]~ty and legibil@. Labels and placards shall be easy to read accurately from the
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