ISO 780 Handling Marks vs ADR Labels and GHS Pictograms – What's the Difference?

ISO 780 handling marks are standardised pictograms placed on transport packaging that tell warehouse staff, couriers and freight forwarders how to handle a shipment during transport and storage. Unlike ADR labels and GHS pictograms, which warn of a chemical hazard, handling marks deal only with the physical technique of moving the load — orientation, fragility and protection against external conditions — and they apply to every kind of goods.

What are ISO 780 handling marks?

The EN ISO 780 standard defines a uniform set of black-and-white pictograms used on transport packaging worldwide. Their purpose is to remove the language barrier from the international supply chain — a warehouse worker in Gdańsk and a truck driver in Spain read the same symbol identically, with no translation needed.

The standard covers 17 standard symbols, split into several groups: marks for package orientation, fragility, protection against moisture and temperature, and the way a package should be lifted and stacked. At StoreForSigns we currently offer the three most widely used marks from this family — and we are steadily expanding the range.

Three core handling marks in our range

Fragile, handle with care

The broken-glass pictogram shows that the contents are vulnerable to damage from shocks and impacts. This mark is used when shipping glass, ceramics, electronics, precision components and laboratory packaging. It should be placed on at least two opposite sides of the package, in a spot not covered by tape or other labels.

This way up

Two arrows pointing upwards above a baseline show the correct vertical orientation of a shipment. Changing the package's position — turning it over or laying it on its side — can damage the contents, and with liquids can also cause leaks. This mark matters most when shipping liquids, equipment with a defined centre of gravity, and glass loads.

Keep away from heat

The sun-over-a-roof pictogram warns that the contents can be destroyed by high temperature or direct sunlight. It is used for heat-sensitive goods — cosmetics, wax products, pharmaceuticals, electronics and chemicals prone to destabilising in heat.

ISO 780 handling marks vs ADR labels – what's the difference?

This is the question that comes up most often, and it's worth answering plainly, because getting it wrong is costly — both for your reputation and your operations.

Handling marks (ISO 780) tell you how to physically handle a shipment — whether to keep it upright, protect it from moisture, or treat it gently. They apply to every kind of goods and are not legally mandatory, though in practice quality procedures and carrier contracts require them.

ADR labels are a completely different, legally regulated system — they come from the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. They indicate the hazard class (explosive, corrosive, toxic, oxidising, etc.) and are mandatory when transporting dangerous substances. The basis for choosing the correct ADR label is always the substance's safety data sheet (SDS), specifically section 14.

Handling marks do not replace ADR labels — they are separate, complementary systems. It's worth knowing, though, that in certain situations they overlap: ADR rules require orientation arrows, for example, when transporting liquid dangerous goods in packaging above 120 ml — and the design of those arrows comes straight from the ISO 780 standard. This is why some buyers look for handling marks under the term "ADR label" — the association is understandable, but technically these are two different markings with a different legal status.

ISO 780 handling marks vs GHS/CLP pictograms – what's the difference?

The third piece of the puzzle is the GHS system (Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals), implemented in the European Union through the CLP Regulation. GHS pictograms — the distinctive red diamonds with a black symbol on a white background — don't tell you how to handle the packaging, but describe the properties of the substance itself: whether it is flammable, toxic, corrosive or dangerous for the environment.

The difference in short:

System	What it communicates	Legal status	Appearance
ISO 780 (handling marks)	How to handle the packaging	Recommended, often required by contract	Black pictogram in a black border on a white background
ADR	Hazard class for road transport	Mandatory for dangerous goods	Coloured diamond with a class number
GHS/CLP	Hazardous properties of a substance	Mandatory for chemical substances and mixtures	Red diamond, black pictogram

A chemical transported as dangerous goods may therefore carry all three markings at once on its packaging: a GHS pictogram warning of the chemical hazard, an ADR label required for road transport, and an ISO 780 handling mark showing that the package must be kept upright and protected from heat. Each of these signs covers a different aspect of safety — and none replaces the others.

Rules for using handling marks correctly

• Place the mark on at least two opposite sides of the package — so it's visible whatever the shipment's orientation during handling.
• Don't cover the mark with stretch film or packing tape — a pictogram the operator can't see doesn't do its job.
• Match the mark size to the package size — the greater the reading distance, the larger the pictogram should be.
• Keep high contrast — a black symbol on a light background is the standard, ensuring readability from several metres away.
• Don't multiply markings unnecessarily — too many pictograms on one face reduces the readability of each.

Frequently asked questions

Are ISO 780 handling marks legally mandatory?

For standard domestic shipments, usually not — but in practice they're required by quality procedures, customer specifications and carrier contracts. In international transport and for goods with special requirements, using them is the industry standard.

Can I replace an ADR label with an ISO 780 handling mark?

No. These are two independent systems with a different legal status. Handling marks tell you the technique for handling the load, while ADR labels are a mandatory marking of the hazard class when transporting dangerous goods, arising from separate regulations.

How many symbols does the ISO 780 standard cover?

The current standard defines 17 standard handling marks, covering package orientation, fragility, protection against moisture and temperature, centre of gravity and stacking rules, among others.