What are the legal obligations for sign buyers?

The buyers of signs have legal obligations that have been in place for years – its just that no one realised!. Its all about to change.

CPR to affect Sign Industry?

Below is a summary of the current situation concerning incoming changes to EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) that will affect the UK Sign Industry. As we go through the process and over time, the BSGA intends to keep its Members informed as a matter of course to enable you to be one step ahead of your competition.

Will I need CRB checks before being able to work on school sites.

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) advise that school visitors who do NOT require disclosure are:

What training courses are available for Signmakers?

There are a number of training courses available for signmakers; these include the S/NVQ at Level 2 and Level 3 which are supported by the BSGA. For more details of these and other courses visit our Training & Education page.

What basic wind speed/pressure should I apply for design of externally signs within the UK?

Wind codes for the UK are published in BS6399-2:1997 ‘Loadings for Buildings – Part 2: Code of practice for wind loads’.

What are the permissible levels of illumination for an external sign?

Guidelines for the ‘Upper limits of Luminance (cd/m2) For a Given Location’ are published by the Institute of Lighting Engineers (ILE). BSGA members can also find the information in Technical Guideline C2.2(a), which is available in the Members area of the web site.

How do I measure gloss levels for paint finish?

Gloss is measured by shining a known amount of light at a surface and quantifying the reflectance.

What is the difference between low and high voltage signage and what are the consequences?

In the sign industry low voltage refers to a sign using mains voltage and often fluorescent lamps (hot cathode) for illumination (230V) and high voltage refers to the use of neon (cold cathode) for illumination (5000v).

How do I find out the expansion and contraction rate of substrate(s)?

Expansion and contraction of materials is an important design consideration for external signs, particularly long fascia signs to shops, petrol filling stations etc

Are VHB tapes and structural adhesives better than mechanical fixing?

The use of very high bond (VHB) tapes and structural adhesives is now commonplace within the sign-manufacturing environment and often driven by the demands of design for concealed joining methods