Why Safety Sign Material Matters

Safety signs are there to provide clear, reliable information whenever it is needed – including during emergencies. The wrong material can lead to:

• Fading or peeling graphics that are hard to read.
• Warping, cracking or corrosion in outdoor locations.
• Signs falling off walls or equipment.
• Poor performance in low light or power failures.

Using suitable materials helps ensure that your signs remain legible, durable and compliant with UK health and safety regulations over time.

Key Considerations When Choosing Sign Materials

Before looking at specific materials, it helps to think about where and how the sign will be used. Ask yourself:

• Is the sign for indoor or outdoor use?
• Will it be exposed to weather, moisture, chemicals or cleaning products?
• Does it need to be temporary or long-term?
• Is there a risk of impact, abrasion or vandalism?
• Does it need to be visible in a power cut or low light?

The answers to these questions will guide you towards the most appropriate material for each sign.

Common Materials for Safety Signs

Most UK safety signs are produced in a small number of proven materials, each suited to particular environments and budgets.

Self-Adhesive Vinyl

Self-adhesive vinyl is a flexible, sticker-style material with a peel-off backing. It is ideal for:

• Smooth, clean indoor surfaces such as doors, panels and machinery.
• Temporary or low-cost applications.
• Areas where drilling or screwing is not desirable.

Advantages include quick installation and a low profile that sits flush to the surface. However, vinyl is less robust than rigid materials and may not be suitable for rough, damp or heavily cleaned surfaces.

Rigid Plastic (PVC)

Rigid plastic safety signs are one of the most popular choices for indoor and sheltered outdoor use. They are typically available in thicknesses such as 1 mm and 2 mm.

Benefits include:

• Good durability and impact resistance.
• A professional, solid appearance.
• Easy fixing using screws, adhesive pads or silicone.

Rigid plastic is suitable for offices, schools, warehouses, factories and many other workplaces. Thicker options provide extra rigidity for larger signs.

Aluminium Composite

Aluminium composite signs combine a lightweight plastic core with aluminium faces. They are particularly well suited to outdoor and demanding environments.

Key advantages:

• Excellent weather resistance in UK conditions.
• Good resistance to warping, rust and corrosion.
• Long service life for external walls, fences and posts.

Aluminium composite is a strong choice for car parks, construction sites, building exteriors and any location where signs are exposed to the elements.

Photoluminescent (Glow in the Dark) Materials

For fire safety and emergency escape routes, photoluminescent (glow in the dark) materials are widely used. These absorb light during normal conditions and then emit a visible glow in low light or darkness.

Photoluminescent Rigid Plastic

Photoluminescent rigid plastic (often around 1.3 mm thick) combines the durability of rigid plastic with glow-in-the-dark performance. It is ideal for:

• Fire exit and escape route signs.
• Fire equipment location signs (extinguishers, hose reels, alarms).
• Internal routes where lighting could fail in an emergency.

Photoluminescent Self-Adhesive Vinyl

Photoluminescent vinyl offers the same glow-in-the-dark properties in a flexible, self-adhesive format. It is useful where a low-profile, easy-to-apply sign is required, such as on doors, panels or equipment.

Using photoluminescent materials that comply with BS 5499 and ISO 7010 helps ensure that escape routes and fire safety information remain visible even during a power cut.

Indoor vs Outdoor Sign Materials

The environment has a major influence on the best material choice:

Indoor Environments

For most indoor locations, such as offices, corridors, classrooms and workshops, the following are usually suitable:

• Self-adhesive vinyl for smooth surfaces and low-risk areas.
• Rigid plastic for long-term, general-purpose signage.
• Photoluminescent rigid plastic or vinyl for fire exits and escape routes.

Outdoor and Harsh Environments

For external walls, fences, gates and exposed areas, more robust materials are recommended:

• Aluminium composite for long-term weather resistance.
• Rigid plastic in sheltered outdoor positions.
• Fixings and installation methods that can withstand wind and rain.

Outdoor signs should be UV-stable to reduce fading and designed to cope with typical UK weather over many years.

Temporary vs Permanent Safety Signs

Not all safety signs are intended to be permanent. Construction sites, refurbishment projects and short-term events often need temporary signage.

For temporary use, suitable options include:

• Self-adhesive vinyl that can be removed after the work is complete.
• Lightweight rigid plastic signs fixed with cable ties or temporary fixings.
• Freestanding signs and boards that can be moved as needed.

Permanent safety signs, particularly for fire safety and mandatory instructions, should be made from durable materials such as rigid plastic, aluminium composite or photoluminescent substrates.

Compliance and Print Quality

Whatever material you choose, it is essential that the sign itself complies with recognised standards such as BS 5499 and ISO 7010. This means:

• Correct shapes and colours for each type of sign (warning, prohibition, mandatory, safe condition, fire safety).
• Standardised symbols that are easily recognised.
• High-quality printing that is sharp, legible and resistant to fading.

A good safety sign manufacturer will use durable inks and production methods to ensure that the design remains clear throughout the life of the sign.

Fixing and Installation

The choice of material also affects how the sign is installed. Common fixing methods include:

• Self-adhesive backing for vinyl and some lightweight rigid plastic signs.
• Pre-drilled holes for screws or wall plugs on rigid plastic and aluminium composite signs.
• Adhesive pads or silicone for smooth internal walls where drilling is not desirable.
• Cable ties or brackets for fences, railings and posts.

Whichever method you use, the sign must be securely fixed, correctly positioned and clearly visible from the relevant viewing distance.

Summary

There is no single “best” material for every safety sign. Instead, the right choice depends on where the sign will be used, how long it needs to last and the conditions it will face. In general:

• Self-adhesive vinyl is ideal for smooth indoor surfaces and temporary applications.
• Rigid plastic offers a durable, cost-effective solution for most internal and sheltered locations.
• Aluminium composite is the preferred option for long-term outdoor signage.
• Photoluminescent materials are recommended for fire exits, escape routes and emergency equipment.

By selecting materials that match the environment and ensuring that all designs comply with BS 5499 and ISO 7010, you can provide clear, reliable safety signage that helps protect people on your site.