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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