How to choose the right safety sign

There are three important things you need to consider when purchasing the right safety sign for your needs.

Standards

We all moan about regulations from time to time, but we all know they play an important role in protecting human life.

Few of us have ever been in a building when it is on fire, but those that have are often surprised by the speed at which things progress and how little time they have to respond or make their way to safety.

At these times knowing what to do can make the difference between life and serious injury or death, which is why why standards bodies, like the BSI* and ISO** have invested a lot of effort developing standards that give people the best chance of survival.

Standards are very important, because they ensure that the same symbols are used for the same purpose, wherever you are in the world. That is why the safety signs we sell incorporate a technically correct BS EN ISO 7010 symbol.

it is very important that the signs you use conform to the recommended standards. If they don't then you carry the risk being found negligent if disaster strikes. 

Sizes

Many factors can Influence someone's ability to read a sign, which are covered in BS ISO 3864-1. The distance a person will be required to view the sign, the angle they are viewing , lighting, and even if they have impaired vision. Signs also have to be visible and not stuck behind furniture and doors.

Landscape sizes G 300 x 100mm, L 450x 150mm, M 600 x 200mm

Portrait sizes G 100 x 300mm, L 150 x 450mm, M 200 x 600mm

 The chart above may offer some guidance, but you should consult BS ISO 3864-1 for more definitive information.

Materials

Your choice of material will have the those significant impact on the cost of the sign. When making this decision, you should consider:

Where the sign is going to be located is an important factor. Is it for use indoors or outdoors,  or temporary or permanent? Is it for display in a factory or a hotel? The standard materials we supply are listed in the table below.

Rigid Plastic: Lightweight, gloss white PVC with high impact strength. Suitable for both internal and external safety signs. Easily drilled for wall fixing.

Self-Adhesive Vinyl: A high gloss, flexible PVC vinyl with self-adhesive backing. Suitable for applying to most smooth, dry and clean surfaces. Ideally suited for internal signs.

Photoluminescent Rigid Plastic: 1.2mm Rigid PVC with photoluminescent (glow in the dark) pigmentation. Afterglow properties exceed PSPA Class C grade, as measured to DIN 67510 , provides razor sharp definition even in blackout conditions.

Photoluminescent Self Adhesive: Flexible PVC with photoluminescent (glow in the dark) pigmentation. Afterglow properties exceed PSPA Class C grade, as measured to DIN 67510 , provides razor sharp definition even in blackout conditions.

Aluminium: 0.9mm aluminium with a gloss white powder coated face. Suitable for both internal and external applications. Excellent weathering and UV resistance provides a long-life product.

Brass: 0.9mm brass with a gloss white powder coated face. Suitable for both internal and external applications. Excellent weathering and UV resistance provides a long-life product.

Rigid Plastic with Self Adhesive Back: Rigid PVC provides a durable finish, whilst a high tack self-adhesive backing removes the need for drilling, screwing or additional adhesive fixings. Also referred to as Quick-Fix signs.

 

* British Standards Institution
** International Organization for Standardization