Our Logo

Using the IAFF Maltese Cross

Overview

Our logo is not just an emblem. It’s our very identity as a profession.

It features an outline of the Maltese cross, a symbol deeply rooted in the traditions of firefighting, and is emblazoned with the bold letters “IAFF.”

Our logo ensures instant recognition, reinforces our identity as an international labor union, and communicates our members’ unwavering commitment to protecting life and property.

The IAFF logo is more than an emblem. It’s a badge of honor that represents the trust and respect earned as fire fighters, emergency medical workers, and rescue workers across the United States and Canada.

An official IAFF logo should be used on all communications unless otherwise approved by the Division of Communications.

Click the link below to visit our login-protected logo download page.

Download the IAFF Logos

The following are the logo orientations that are to be utilized for the IAFF brand. Providing the flattened refresh of the classic mark as the new primary mark, the outlined stamp version serves as the secondary logo used as a graphic element in various applications.

Primary Mark: Full-Color

The primary mark is a flattened refresh of the classic IAFF Maltese cross, providing better versatility in our brand.

Secondary Mark: One-Color

The outlined "stamp" mark serves as our secondary logo used as a graphical element in various applications.

Tertiary Marks

Our limited-use tertiary marks are approved for specific cases in place of the primary IAFF logo.

Logo Policy

The IAFF seal (“logo”) and the wordmarks ‘International Association of Fire Fighters’ and ‘IAFF’ (“marks”) is the intellectual property and registered trademarks of the International Association of Fire Fighters (“IAFF”) in the United States and Canada. To protect the integrity of the IAFF brand, all uses of the logo and marks must comply with the following policy.

General Requirements

The IAFF logo and marks may only be used with the permission of the IAFF and in accordance with this policy.

The logo must always appear in its original form and approved colors, without alteration or distortion, and displayed on backgrounds that preserve legibility and contrast.

All products displaying the logo and/or marks must be union-made, or if unavailable, manufactured in the United States or Canada. Unauthorized use is prohibited and subject to legal action.

Affiliates may use the IAFF logo and marks without prior approval for official Association business, such as business cards, stationery, websites, social media, and apparel produced for members’ use only and not for resale.

Any use of the logo or marks for fundraising or commercial purposes – including stickers, apparel, or other merchandise for sale to the public – requires prior approval from the IAFF Executive Board.

All vendors, businesses, and non-IAFF affiliates must obtain IAFF Executive Board approval before using the IAFF logo or marks.

Requests must include a completed application, physical samples or digital mockups showing the proposed use of the IAFF trademark(s) in completed form, and a letter of support from an IAFF affiliate president or International officer.

Requests to use the IAFF logo and marks must be submitted to the General President’s Office for review and approval by the IAFF Executive Board. Applications are considered quarterly. Samples become the property of the IAFF unless return is specifically requested. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The IAFF charges both an annual licensing fee and a royalty on sales of products using the IAFF logo and/or marks.

IAFF affiliates pay a $200 annual licensing fee and 2% royalties on gross sales to the IAFF Foundation.

Vendors pay a $2,500 annual licensing fee and 5% royalties on gross sales to the IAFF Foundation.

Payments are due semi-annually (April 30 and Oct. 31) and must be accompanied by a sales report. The IAFF reserves the right to inspect and audit, if necessary, any books and records related to the amounts payable to the IAFF.

Every IAFF affiliate, business, and non-affiliate approved to use the IAFF logo and/or marks will receive a license from the IAFF that sets forth the terms of use. The affiliate, business, or non-affiliate is required to comply with each and every term of the license.

When an affiliate, business, or non-affiliate is required to periodically renew the license, it is incumbent on the affiliate, business, or non-affiliate to seek timely renewal of its license to avoid a lapse in the license being effective.

All approved IAFF affiliates, businesses, and non-affiliates licensed to use the IAFF logo and/or marks must include the following statement on marketing materials:

“The IAFF logo and wordmarks are registered trademarks of the International Association of Fire Fighters, used under license.”

Failure to comply with any of the terms of the license, failure to submit royalties and reports by the semi-annual deadlines, failure to meet the annual minimum guarantee, or violation of this policy will result in revocation of the license. Entities whose license is revoked may reapply, but the IAFF Executive Board may impose new terms and fees upon reapproval.

Logo Usage

This section is used to help members understand how to correctly apply your logo in a variety of situations. Specifications around wordmarks, logo lockups, clear space, minimum space, and placement are often found here.

Clearance Space
Sizing

Leave ample clear space around the main logo elements at all times to retain legibility and establish brand clarity. As a general rule, use the width of the uppercase letter A within the logo to determine the correct amount of padding necessary.

Unacceptable Use

A set of rules are necessary for maintaining brand integrity. The following guidelines detail unacceptable usage of the IAFF logo.

Primary Logo on Color

The primary logo should be placed on top of colors from the brand palette.

The logo can be presented on white for lighter backgrounds. Darker colors

from the palette are preferred when using a colored background such as the

primary blue or navy.

Secondary Logo on Color

Limited-Use Tertiary Logos

Organizational branding

Though it should not be altered, divisions, programs, and organizations can use the IAFF logo in communications to show our involvement. Below are some guidelines on how to use the IAFF logo for divisions, programs, and co-branded initiatives.

These lockups serve as an identifier for both the IAFF and the respective division or program, and should not be embellished or altered in any way. Each Division has a custom set of lockups.

IAFF-sponsored programs and other departments receive a slightly altered logo treatment in accordance with our brand architecture.

Vertical marks for programs and departments should be used for graphic-related items, such as apparel. The horizontal marks should be used for stationery and identify the division on official communications.

When more than one IAFF entity — departments, divisions, or initiatives — is involved in a partnership, use the primary IAFF logo and list all entities in alphabetical order on the right side. The logo and list of entities should be separated by a thin black line.

The center line separating the marks should be 1/36” (0p1) wide with a gap the width of the “A” in the IAFF logo. The font used should be ATF Railroad Gothic, or the system equivalent, Impact. Scale the font based on the number of partners, but the height of the list must not exceed the height of the IAFF logo.

To ensure the use of co-branded materials is appropriate in a specific scenario, and for what’s acceptable to be used, please contact the Division of Communications prior to publishing or printing.

Frequently, the IAFF will partner with external organizations whose missions connect and resonate with ours. In these scenarios, the IAFF logo should be presented on the left side, with a thin black line separating the two logos. In order for co-branding to work effectively, ensure both logos are sized similarly. Each logo must be equidistant from the center line.

Both the IAFF logo and partner logo must be primary marks, or full-color marks. In limited cases, both the IAFF and partner’s one-color logos can be used in this format.

The center line should always be 1/36” (1/12 pica) wide, with each logo 2/3” (2 picas) from the line.

To ensure the use of co-branded materials is appropriate in a specific scenario, and for what’s acceptable to be used, please contact the Division of Communications prior to publishing or printing.

When the IAFF is supporting an initiative and the external agency is responsible for the communication materials, please ensure the following:

Division/Department names are not necessary when indicating sponsorship to external audiences. In most cases, they recognize all our areas as simply part of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Use the full-color, primary IAFF logo. If the logo must be used in a non-branded color, the IAFF secondary mark in white or black must be used.
Use “International Association of Fire Fighters”, not “IAFF”, when the union is listed in plain text as a sponsor
Even when the IAFF is not the main sponsor of an event or responsible for purchasing materials, partners should be encouraged to use union suppliers for marketing items.

Click the link below to visit our login-protected logo download page.

Download the IAFF Logos