Frequently Asked Questions on NFPA Placards and Signs

• What are the NFPA Diamond Ratings?

• What do you recommend for NFPA labeling on storage tanks?

• How large should my NFPA sign be?

• What is the material is best for our new NFPA signs? They are outside and face the sun.

What do you recommend for NFPA labeling on storage tanks?

Magnetic NFPA placards are most material choice here. These adhere very well and do not come off, even in gale force winds. Unlike adhesive NFPA placards, magnetic versions can be easily removed, though. And, compared to aluminum placards, there is no worry about using screws or other attachments. Many others use one of our reflective NFPA diamond signs. These can be seen at night.

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How large should my NFPA sign be?

NFPA signs as large as possible. Give the emergency workers plenty of distance before nearing the hazardous area is a real advantage. Keep them away from the explosion. Let them choose the right fire-fighting equipment. Bigger signs can be seen from a greater distance.

Also, consider our reflective NFPA signs. These can be spotted in a blackout. A flashlight quickly illuminates the door to the room that houses the volatile or hazardous materials. The High Intensity reflective NFPA signs are especially bright –even when approached at an acute angle.

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What is the material is best for our new NFPA signs? They are outside and face the sun.

We have selected our sign materials for excellent durability. They are screen printed with a heavy coat of the most durable inks that we have found and then, usually, cured at a high temperature to best insure good bonding to the sign substrate. We have been making signs for over 20 years and have really learned what works (and what does not).

The High Intensity Reflective NFPA signs and the Aluminum NFPA signs are particularly reflective.

But, I must mention that questions of durability are always fraught with uncertainly. Fading can be unpredictable. A sign that faces north might last 3-4X longer than an NFPA placard that faces south. Other key factors are temperature changes and rain.

Finally, we need to address what "durability" truly means. Some think that the sign is still useful if the message on the sign can somehow still be read, even if the print has already faded and all that remains are a few shadows of the original colors. I disagree. Hazard signs are meant to be read easily. NFPA signs are about fast and communication in an emergency, not about deciphering an obscure message. You shouldn't have to be a CIA agent or an archaeologist expert at gravestone rubbing to decode a sign! Useful life means not only that the sign or NFPA placard is readable, but that its original impact has not significantly deteriorated.

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