It’s a proud moment for any retailer to see their new signage installed over their store. But behind that shiny new front, your sign might be hanging on by a thread – or been damaged enough to dramatically shorten its working life. So, to help ensure your signs are put up correctly, here’s 6 questions to ask anyone installing your signs.
1. Have they installed similar signage before?
This might sound a strange question to ask, but it’s important to remember that no two sites are ever the same. Even two shops that look identical may have different sub-facies, or the frontage of one might be more vulnerable to bad weather and require a more thorough fixing process.
This question becomes especially important when you want large self-standing signage installed, or the premises also happen to be a listed property. Experience counts for a lot, and an installer who knows what a successful installation requires will do the job faster and to a much higher standard.
2. Are they CSCS accredited?
CSCS is the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. A holder of this accreditation has undergone the appropriate training and have the correct qualifications to do the work required to install your signage.
It’s not mandatory to have this accreditation, but most of the major names in construction insist that anyone working for them holds this badge. Consider it a baseline that tells you the installer has the been assessed by experienced tradesmen and has the right skills for your job.
3. Are they certified to ISO 45001?
While we are looking at training and certifications, knowing what safety standards the installer works to really should be included. Installing signs is not without its dangers, to the public and your staff. Ideally the installer should be certified to ISO 45001 standard, which is a good indicator they make sure they are working in a safe environment.
4. Will they make a risk assessment of the task before starting?
An installer is undertaking a potentially dangerous task. It is appropriate then that they look at the job and identify what risks they are going to encounter, and how they will mitigate against the issues occurring.
Risk assessments do get sometimes portrayed as needless. They are absolutely anything but. Where a risk assessment finds a problem, it also looks to find a way round it. It can also be vital to ensuring the safety of your staff and customers, helping to keep them out of harms way. And finally, it can help avoid the
5. Are they experienced in using access equipment required to do the installation?
Knowing how to use the correct equipment to install your signs is extremely important. Any form of access equipment, from basic ladders to self-propelled cherry pickers, has to be used properly to prevent damage and avoid injury to others. This becomes particularly essential for outdoor installations in higher-risk environments such as filling stations or car parks; the risk of causing considerable damage along with inconvenience to customers means you should always make sure your signage installer knows what access equipment is required and they are not using it for the first time.
6. Will they look for issues before installing your signage?
Sadly, behind far too many retail signs is a crumbling façade that can barely cope with the weight they have to bear. It’s partly due to the age of much of the retail properties across the UK and the near-unremittingly damp conditions that affect their exteriors. Much of a typical frontage of a store is made up of wood. It’s suitability for shaping makes it ideal for both decorative and semi-structural uses. But the UK’s four seasons combined with inconsistent maintenance will see it quickly lose its integrity. And that is critical for your signage.
Even a quite modest sign can contain some weight to it. The boxing, materials used and internal lighting all add up. So your facia must be capable of sustaining the addition of your new signage. And that means it must be carefully inspected before any attempt is made to install your new sign. An inspection is more than a quick visual check. Ideally, the moisture content of any wood frontage should be measured to ensure it isn’t failing. Plus, any signs of rot or poor previous repairs should be noted. If the installer has any concerns about the ability of your sign to stay in place once affixed, you should be made aware.
Those are just 6 questions to ask anyone installing your signs. You may of course have plenty more. When you want to have signage that not only looks great but also stays safe, it pays to call Blaze. We’re ready to hear from you about your signage needs – so get in touch and we’ll happily listen to what you want to achieve and help from there.
