Choosing the right traffic and parking sign material
Need a traffic sign or a parking sign?
Ready to start your research? You probably already know what sign legend you need, whether it be a stop sign, yield sign, speed limit sign, do not enter sign, no parking sign, reserved parking sign, I could go on and on but that is probably the easiest part of your traffic or parking sign purchasing decision.
The next factor you want to consider is reflectivity. I’ve explained traffic and parking sign reflectivity in a previous blog, read it, I hope it helps your traffic and parking sign purchasing research.
Now that you have chosen you sign legend and reflectivity it is time to think about your traffic and parking sign material. You have three main choices here…
- Aluminum sign
- Steel sign
- polyethylene sign
- Wood sign
Aluminum Traffic and Parking Signs
Aluminum signs are very sturdy and the longest lasting signs. They are usually your highest price sign pending on the current raw material market. Aluminum is lighter than steel and arguably just as strong. The light weight makes for easy transportation and installation. Aluminum signs will withstand harsh weather conditions and will not rust. Make sure your aluminum sign is .080 thick for all signs 24″ x 18″ or larger. A sign that size with bend in the wind if the thickness is less than .080. If you can afford it I would strongly suggest aluminum for all permanent outdoor signage.
Steel Traffic and Parking Signs
Steel is strong, obviously, but it is also heavy. If you have a strong couple of people willing to install it than it is worth it. Steel is less expensive than aluminum in most cases. Although, due to the raw material market steel is becoming more and more expensive. Steel signs will rust so you would need to ensure a galvanized coating is added to prevent rusting. Most Traffic and Parking Sign companies offer that, or at least they should. Choose an 18 gauge steel, it will not bend. That’s about .050 thick. Steel is a good option, it is strong as can be and slightly less expensive than aluminum. Good for outdoor permanent use.
polyethylene Traffic and Parking Signs
Polyethylene signs is a sturdy plastic sign that is super light and easy to install anywhere. High density plastic will not crack, rust or bend is normal conditions. The nice thing about polyethylene traffic and parking signs is that they don’t hurt when you bump your head into them…if that is a problem at you facility than these might be the sign for you. These signs are not good for any sort of harsh weather conditions…rain, snow, high winds etc. polyethylene traffic and parking signs will be your least expensive sign but will not last a long time. Great for indoor use where the weather is not a factor.
Wood Traffic and Parking Signs
As a traffic and parking sign expert I would not recommend wood. If you facility has wood signs I would replace them now. Wood is susceptible to weather, expensive, heavy and not to mention a poor ecological decision. Sometimes wood looks nicer than the other choices but there are plenty of aluminum signs that have a wood grain look…check these designer signs out for example.
Good luck with your Traffic and Parking Sign choice…remember, you don’t want to replace a sign because you made the wrong choice. A sign should last a long time. visit www.emedco.com for the best quality traffic and parking signs.
Protect the air YOU Breathe – No Idle Zone Signs send an important message
Remember the days when the final school bell rang and you ran outside with pure joy knowing that the day was over and you wouldn’t have to be back to school until tomorrow morning! As you opened the doors to the parking lot you probably saw 15-30 busses with doors open ready to be filled with students, and over 40-50 cars with parents sitting inside waving out the window waiting for their kid to find them…ALL WITH THEIR ENGINES RUNNING!!!
You didn’t realize what you were breathing did you? “The engine produces air pollution. This pollution contributes to problems like smog and global warming, and is also harmful to our health. Vehicle exhaust contains air toxics and fine particles, among other pollutants, which are associated with increased incidence of respiratory ailments and heart disease, as well as greater cancer risk.” – http://www.pscleanair.org/actions/vehicles/noidle.aspx
This isn’t just a problem in Schools; it’s a problem wherever a car sits idle with the engine on. Streets, office parking lots, factory lots, grocery stores, day cares, stadium lots, and more.
It’s very easy to subconsciously leave your engine running. It’s almost second nature, especially in colder climates. Not every day does such an easy task emerge that will ultimately prevent toxins from entering the air and harming our health and environment. We do not need to shut down a factory that creates jobs, we do not need to implement a new greener mechanism or bring in the worlds top green engineers…all we need to do is TURN OFF OUR ENGINES!
Idling can also be deterred simply by posting an official No Idle Sign. These signs act as a reminder and can be very effective. Remember, this is a bad habit that will be hard to break and the only way to break it is through constant reminders. There are several variations of No Idle Sign messages including signs with fines attached to them. The demand for these signs is increasing at a rapid rate. Hopefully soon every parking lot will have one.
Several states and counties have adopted No Idling regulations and the list is growing. Soon we will have a No Idling United States and we can all breath a little easier.
States that currently require no idling signs are: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, GA, HI, IL, NV, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, PA, TX, UT and VA.
Traffic and parking sign companies are beginning to offer No Idle Signs now. Check out Emedco.com, they offer several No Idle Signs and will customize your sign to fit your needs.
Protect the environment right outside your door.
About the Author
Rick Mariano is a Traffic and Parking Sign safety expert. He uses this forum to promote sign regulations and important safety facts and information useful to those responsible for implementing safety traffic and parking signage around thier facility and in thier parking lot.
