DIY Trade News Oct 2013 | Page 35

building materialS advertorial Signs: what you should know • Warning signs are safety signs usually containing a black symbol with a yellow background inside a black triangle. • Prohibition signs are safety signs with a black symbol and a white background in a red circle with a red diagonal line across the circle. Examples of these types of signs are ‘no smoking’ or ‘no cell phone’ signs. • Mandatory signs are safety signs with a white symbol in a blue circle. These signs illustrate compulsory information such as ‘eye protection’ of ‘Head protection’ signs, advising occupants entering a certain area what to wear. • Emergency signs are usually safety signs with a white symbol on a green background. The ‘exit’ sign and the ‘green arrow’ are examples of such times. Do you ever take note of signage around your every day environment? Often these safety signs become so familiar that they are often ignored and their necessity disregarded. Ignoring the value of safety signs is a large mistake as it plays an imperative role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the occupants in a building. Purpose and use It has become a legal requirement that safety signs are placed in important areas of every building. These safety signs convey information to the building’s occupants and supply directions, identification, information, orientation, warnings, regulations and restrictions so that occupants do not endanger themselves. Considering the value of safety signage, it is evident that these signs should be placed in all public places such as schools, hospitals, restaurants, shops and offices irrespective of the establishment’s size. the dark material). These signs absorb and store energy from light sources such as fluorescent lighting, incandescent lighting or sunlight. The benefit that photo luminescent signs have over ABS and aluminium signs are that in case of a power failure or smoke caused by a fire, the signs will glow for a substantial period of time ensuring occupants of the building can see the exit. Another important feature about signs is that the sign should be legally specified shape, colour and font size. These features add to the quality and safety of a sign. Retailers and customers should be critical when buying safety signage and should avoid purchasing signs of a lesser quality. These types of signs tend to fade and peal over time and could cause the legibility of the sign to be obstructed in the event of a fire or other disaster. It is evident that signage is used in many buildings and that its role is a vital part of ensuring the safety of any building’s occupants. The importance of safety signage in every day life creates a large demand for an extensive range of good quality signs that also adhere to legal requirements. This therefore creates an opportunity for retailers to satisfy the demand. Safety signage is found in leading hardware stores. Sign Types Signs come in various materials. There are ABS signs which is usually the budget option used for function only or aluminium signs which serve play a functional and aesthetic role. Apart from materials such as ABS and aluminium, safety signs are also produced in photo luminescent material (glow in Sign categories • There are four categories of safety signage represented by different standardized colours and shapes which serve different functions. SIGNS Are you looking for signs in order to supply businesses, restaurants, schools, shops or private premises? NOW YOU NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN TOWER Tower offers industry standard signs in the following designs: Available in 190 x 190mm ABS Available in 150 x 150mm ABS Available in 150 x 300mm ABS REF: SIGNNC • No Cellphones • No Smoking • Men’s Toilet • Medical Cross • Ladies Toilet Available in 150 x 150mm Aluminium • Eye Protection • Foot Protection REF: SIGNALPRI • Hand Protection • Head Protection • Hearing Protection Available in 180 x 50mm ABS Available in 180 x 50mm Aluminium REF: SIGNPRI REF: SIGNPUL(A) REF: SIGNVIS REF: SIGNALPUL(A) Available in 150 x 300mm ABS REF: SIGNPUL(A) REF: SIGNALNC REF: SIGNALVIS • No Cellphones • No Smoking • Men’s Toilet REF: SIGNALPUL(A) REF: SIGNALPUSH(D) REF: SIGNALPUL(D) REF: SIGNPUSH(D) REF: SIGNPUL(D) • Ladies Toilet Available in 150 x 150mm and 190 x 190mm ABS REF: SIGNNE REF: SIGNNP • No Parking REF: SIGNFE • No Entry REF: SIGNML REF: SIGNRA REF: SIGNFH • Fire Extinguisher • Fire Hose • No Fire • Red Arrow • Flammable • Man Running Left REF: SIGNBTERRIER • Doberman 38mm x 60mm A Z 0 9 22mm x 35mm A Z 0 9 16mm x 25mm A Z 0 9 SS300 HALF PAGE FEB-11.indd 1 • Handicapped 135 x 135mm REF: SIGNGERMAN REF: SIGNBUL • Rottweiler • Bulldog • German Shepherd • Visitor Parking A AAA A A Self-Adhesive Signs • Private • Handicapped REFLECTIVE 55mm x 90mm A Z 0 9 INFORMATIONAL SIGNS 38mm x 60mm A Z 0 9 Visit Tower’s website to view the full range. 50mm x 180mm PRIVATE NEW SELF-ADHESIVE SIGNS! REF: SIGNROT • Bull terrier ABS 55mm x 90mm A Z 0 9 REF: SIGNGA • Green Arrow Available in 172 x 164mm Available in 190 x 120mm ABS “Beware of the Dog” REF: SIGNDOBER REF: SIGNGA REF: SIGNMR • Man Running Right • Learners decal Scan to view full signs range • Learners sign Pyrotec - Tower Head Of ce Cape Town +27 21 787 9600 Johannesburg (011) 611 1820 Durban (031) 701 0192 online support www.towerproducts.co.za 2013/04/03 3:12 PM HARDWARE AFRICA 2013 35