| |  | | Safety Sign Guide | | Get the most out of your electronic safety signs with our guide to sign sizes and picking the correct sign for your needs. |  | | | |
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| | BS5499 BS5499 is a series of standards set out by the governing body BSi to detail the rules and guidelines on: safety sign designs, the use of symbols, symbol designs and includes guidelines on appropriate selection and use of text.
All signs used in the UK should comply with this standard. Esafetysigns complies fully with all of the requirements of BS5499 where applicable.
It is not a single standard, there are many subsections. Find out more about BS5499. |
| Sizes There are two types of sign available for purchase from esafetysigns:
a) Poster format
b) Label format.
Poster formats are fully scaleable and can be printed to any size you wish limited only by your printing capability.
Label formats cannot be scaled and have to be printed on special label stationary.
We have linked a recommended label to every label product for your convienience.
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| Poster Formats As we have indicated Posters can be scaled to any size you like.
They are normally supplied at ISO A4 and for more detailed signs ISO A3, both landscape and portrait.
Example sizes for guidance
ISO A5 Portrait = 148.5 x 210 mm
ISO A5 Landscape = 210 x 148.5 mm
ISO A4 Portrait = 210 x297 mm
ISO A4 Landscape = 297 x 210 mm
ISO A3 Portrait = 297 x 420 mm
ISO A3 Landscape = 420 x 297 mm
ISO A2 Portrait = 420 x 594 mm
ISO A2 Landscape = 594 x 297 mm
YOU CAN ACHIEVE ALL OF THESE SIGN SIZES FROM THE SAME SINGLE POSTER PURCHASE.
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| Label Formats Label formats are sized to suit industry standard label stationary, normally supplied on A4 sheets. We recommend the Avery
Self Adhesive Heavy Duty range for perfect results each time
You do not have to modify the artwork in any way whatsoever.
Label Sizes
| Label Stationary
Sizes |
|
Labels per Print |
Width (mm) |
Height (mm) |
|
1 |
210 |
297 |
2 |
143.5 |
199.6 |
4 |
99.1 |
139.0 |
14 |
99.1 |
38.1 |
Formats may be rotated for landscape or portrait.
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| Sign Size Law Size selection is based upon viewing distance, and or the size of the object to be labelled.
BS5499 stipulates recommend viewing distances as follows:
| Maximum Viewing
Distances by Sign Size |
|
Max Viewing Distance (m) |
Minimum Symbol Heigth (mm) |
Recommended Letter Heights for text (mm) |
7 |
60 |
5 |
9 |
80 |
7 |
14 |
120 |
10 |
21 |
180 |
15 |
28 |
240 |
20 |
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| Picking The Right Size Using the british standard above, here is a guide to the maximum distance achievable using an esafetysign.
NB: these are based on SINGLE message signs. Multi message signs viewing distances will need to be cut back pro-rata.
| Esafety Signs Selection |
| Posters (Single Message) |
|
Viewing Distance Required (m) |
Min Sign Size
|
|
28 |
A3 297 x 420 mm |
25 |
A3 297 x 420 mm |
20 |
A3 297 x 420 mm |
15 |
A4 210 x 297 mm |
| 9 |
A5 148.5 x 210 mm |
These are only a guide and may vary sign design to design due to text content and letter sizing.
If in doubt send us an email and we will help you pick the right size fior the application.
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| Other Considerations In addition to letter and symbol sizing, you may wish to consider application.
Signs specific to a singular entity, like a machine, a workbench, a cubicle, a tap, or a container, and so on, do not need huge signs broadcasting to everyone that there is a safety message. This is confusing.
What you need is a small label positioned directly at the message point; e.g. above a tap on a machine safety guard, on a bottle of chemicals, and so on, so that it is clearly visible when the event/action in question is about to happen.
Similarly if you have a general hazard for a whole production floor a small label on a wall is simply not acceptable either. In this instance you need to have as many large posters as possible, without over doing it. Having Safety Notice Boards are a great way of communicating messages as too are multi-message signs on doorways and entrances to areas that contain the instance the message relates to.
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| Excessive Signage BS5499 recommends avoiding excessive signage.
What this means is rather than have several individual signs, (that have most probably appeared at different times), consolidate all of the messages onto one clear and concise sign.
These are much neater and easier to manage and communicate and are less visually confusing to the reader.
See our range of Combination multi-message signs or goto the Make
2 Ordersection and design your own.
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| | | | | | | |  | | | | Have a go for yourself with our selection of test sample products, absolutely free! | | |  | | | | | | |
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