With hoardings the medium has become the message

for managing the health, safety and welfare of construction projects. CDM applies to all building and construction work and includes new build, demolition, refurbishment, extensions, conversions, repair and maintenance.

The trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of safety signs is the Heath & Safety Sign Association (HSSA). The association was formed with the purpose of educating the nation on signage legislation, in order to improve health and safety for everyone. With members from some of the largest signage companies in the country, the HSSA keep up to date with any legislative changes that may happen within the UK.

As it states in its Mission Statement: “Not only do the HSSA aim to keep you clued up on the legislative side of signage, they also ensure that all of their own signage conforms to the required standards. This means you can rest assured, knowing your signage will be compliant.”

Uniformity of signage and the pictograms used is ensured by conformity with the International Building Code (IBC), which is the foundation of the complete ‘Family of International Codes’. It is an essential tool to preserve public health and safety that provides safeguards from hazards associated with the built environment. It addresses design and installation of innovative materials that meet or exceed public health and safety goals.

In addition to the familiar ‘wall’ of signs at site entrances, specific signs are displayed at strategic points around the site. The colours are coded to represent different types of information.

Again, as HASPOD points out: “Construction site safety signs are not put up for decoration, and the colours haven't been chosen because they look pretty. Each sign has a meaning, and each colour represents a different message. Knowing what construction health and safety signs mean is important because they could be warning you about a danger, or telling you to do something. And if you don't understand the sign, and fail to follow the message, you could get hurt, or worse.”

The different types of sign and the type of information they convey is available on the HSSA website at hssa.co.uk. q

[THE ABILITY OF a perimeter hoarding to draw people’s attention has been taken up in recent years by both site owners and contractors to promote themselves and their activities. The hoarding has become an advertising billboard in some cases and a work of art promoting the function the new building will fulfill in others.

The use of hoardings as art is not new: it dates back to the 1970s with installations by artists such as Rochdale-based Walter Kershaw and his collaborators – latterly known as ‘the original Banksie’ – on sites such as the rebuilding of the burnt-down market building in Bury as a transport interchange, the development of the Kelloggs building in Trafford Park and BNFL’s site in Cumbria.

From pure works of art the site hoarding has evolved into full ‘landscapes’, filling in the gap in the environment with an artistic interpretation of what is to come.

Embedded in the work of art is the important information on what is to be encountered inside the site. q

Construction Site Signage

Construction site signage must be thick, tough, durable and long-lasting. Edinburgh Banners produces the strongest advertising around.

Manufactured with longevity in mind, our signage is storm-resistant and eye-catching. We ensure that every bit of the advertising boards we create is as tough as the nails and dirt hitting it. All signage is either printed onto thick reinforced PVC or direct to aluminium with a protective laminate.

In addition, we offer double-sided printing and on-site installation. You can choose any construction site signage – from lamp post banners to 50m long hoarding – and feel confident they won’t ever show a scratch.

PRINTED HOARDING SHIPPING CONTAINER PRINTS

LAMP POST BOARDS BUILDING WRAPS

Printed Scaffold Banners

Printed scaffold banners are an ideal way to advertise your roofing company, construction company or new business development. Scaffold banners can be the cheapest way to advertise and promote your business directly to the consumer. Our banners are made of a heavy-duty blockout PVC that is durable even when exposed to high winds, dirt, dust and all manner of damage.

We offer a large range of standard banners and custom banner sizes are available upon request. In addition, we accept any designs – custom made by yourself or designed by our professional team.

At Edinburgh Banners, we care highly about the quality of your printed scaffold banners. We print all our banners using only the very best tools and materials so they look better and last longer. Unlike some competitors, we print using exclusively premium solvent and eco-solvent inks. These inks give the banners a more vibrant colour and last longer when exposed to UV, ensuring that your prints will look brilliant in all weather conditions – sunshine, overcast or rain.