Damage Free Sign Labels for
Schools and Universities
Customizable sign labels, printed with laser or ink jet printers in minutes, can be removed cleanly from most surfaces, reducing repair and repainting,
while serving myriad functions in every area of campus
Throughout K-12 schools and college campuses, signs are used virtually everywhere. Signs are posted on surfaces from the front gate to the front office, from attendance to counseling, from teachers’ rooms, conference rooms, break rooms, and resident halls to gyms, libraries, auditoriums, and student centers.
Signs are used in many ways, whether informal, formal, or mandated by law. In offices or classrooms, signs establish rules or procedures, request sign in, as well as inform or teach. In hallways and common areas, signs notify or remind. Across campus, signs provide directional guidance, identify events or locations, call out points of interest, or specify areas as dangerous or off limit, which is vital when construction, remodeling, or refurbishing is occurring.
Often permanent signs are not an option because the information changes and needs to be updated. In these situations, options for administrators and facility managers are limited. Because signs can be located in high traffic areas, the sheets of paper, cardstock, sheet protectors, laminated sheets, and posters used must not only present a professional image, but also stand up to the environment. This is where the problem lies. Since many signs are not designed for high traffic use, they may not look professional or be resistant to wear and tear from frequent touching, handling, or the cleansers used in such environments. As a result, they are damaged easily and must be replaced frequently.
Many signs can also cause considerable damage to the underlying surfaces when taped, tacked, nailed or screwed to walls, glass, or equipment, which can hasten the need for costly repair and repainting. Sign removal can also leave behind unsightly residual tape or adhesive. This is exacerbated when signs include information that is routinely changed or updated, such as for seasonal operating hours or instructions.
With premature campus repair and wall repainting costing schools and universities many thousands of dollars in annual maintenance, the ideal solution would be signage that is easy to install, durable enough to endure harsh conditions, yet comes off easily when necessary, leaving no trace. This can significantly reduce the need for campus maintenance, freeing up resources for higher priority educational purposes.
“Commercial-grade labels used as signage must be more durable than those used in a lower use area, but also should remove cleanly when they need to come down,” says Tina Huff, Group Product Manager at Avery Products Corporation. “For us, the key to accomplishing this was developing an adhesive that holds well but can be removed when needed. Achieving that balance is harder than it sounds.”
As a result, Avery created Surface Safe Sign Labels – an exclusive, proprietary product specially engineered to stick securely yet remove cleanly without damage or residue from painted walls, doors, windows, furnishings, equipment, and other interior surfaces.
These “labels used as signs” are made of durable, commercial-grade material that resists water, chemicals and even abrasion. Available in a variety of sizes, they print easily on standard laser or inkjet printers, opening a world of possibilities for custom, do-it-yourself signs.
Unlike standard office labels with a paper substrate, the topcoat of the commercial-grade sign labels is waterproof and chemical resistant, while its polyester substrate is a durable, scuff and tear-resistant film.
These qualities are ideal for safety-related signage mandated by regulation or required by educational policy.
For instance, administrators, facility managers, and safety officers will want signs compliant with OSHA 1910.145 (Specifications for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags) and ANSI Z535.4 (Product Safety Signs and Labels).
Although standardized safety signs can be purchased out of catalogues, there is often a need to modify or customize mandated signage as conditions or formats change.
On-demand printing solutions have traditionally required a large upfront investment of thousands of dollars, including a specialized sign and label printer, software, labels, and ribbons.
In response, industry innovators such as Avery have developed a simplified, flexible approach using standard laser and ink jet printers. The company’s free online Design and Print Software enables customizable printing utilizing OSHA/ANSI compliant templates.
Educators and support staff can create and print their own informal, formal, or compliant labels from pre-designed templates or create them step-by-step on demand at a desk or service counter. Most find the process intuitive, since it resembles creating an office document from pre-designed templates.
With the variety of signage used throughout school and college campuses, the ability to conveniently print new sign labels in minutes and cleanly remove the old will go a long way toward keeping the whole educational community safely up to date and professional looking without the hassle, mess or cost.
For more information visit www.Avery.com/signs.