Finding the right fit
An integral part of all types of signage applications, the importance of fixtures and fittings, and ensuring you select the correct products for the job, cannot be overstated. Simply put, if you get this wrong, you are putting the integrity of the entire installation at risk.
Whether you are installing small point-of-sale signage on shelves across a supermarket, or gigantic sign lettering on the side of a skyscraper, there are fixtures and fittings to meet the needs of all signage projects.
Here, we take a closer look at some of the products available to the market and speak with experts about how best to go about selecting the right solutions for individual signage jobs.
Avoiding disaster
Back in February a string of storms saw winds reach between 80-100mph in some areas of the UK. With this came a number of issues such as fallen trees, flying debris, and lorries being turned over.
As well as this, a number of signs were damaged including an entire Co-op sign which was blown off the store front and onto the pavement in Plymouth. A Londis sign in North Devon and two Go Outdoors signs in Stockport were also blown off the buildings they were fixed onto.
Speaking to SignLink’s David Osgar at the time, The Sussex Sign Company managing director Norman Mayhew, said: “I think what’s important is keeping your signs maintained. The most crucial thing about sign stability is you get them checked at least annually to make sure fixings and fittings are all safe.
“Deterioration works over a long period of time so if you suddenly get a big gust of wind, then a rotten fascia or wooden substrate can quite easily come apart. It’s all about good annual maintenance to make damage far less likely to happen.”
An organisation that is well positioned to offer guidance and advice to sign-makers seeking assistance with fixtures and fittings is UK industry trade body ISA-UK.
Sam Armstrong, president of the Association and founder and managing director of signage consultancy Make it Happen, says: “I think a big thing is things that are going horribly wrong. I think that needs to be flagged up and it’s becoming more flagged up to us. For example, flex faces or signage that’s falling off buildings. It’s buildings with cladding and people aren’t understanding the cladding they’re drilling into, and that’s really very dangerous. I think sometimes stuff that might be obvious to someone is not obvious to others.”
Chief executive of ISA-UK Craig Brown says fixtures and fittings could easily be regarded as the most important part of a good quality sign, explaining that they can be the difference between a sign staying in situation or creating a potential disaster.
ISA-UK chief executive Craig Brown says fixtures and fittings could be regarded as the most important part of a good quality sign
“It doesn’t matter how good the sign or brand is, if it fails and causes damage as it comes away from the building the implications of that failure don’t bear thinking about,” Brown says, adding: “Surveying a site before the sign goes up and understanding what it is being fitted on to or into will be the driving factor in deciding what types of fittings are used, along with the weight and potential wind loading the sign is subject to in the location it is being
fitted.
It doesn’t matter how good the sign or brand is, if it fails and causes damage as it comes away from the building the implications of that failure don’t bear thinking about”
“Many of the manufactuers of the fittings also provide good quality information on the use of their fittings and how they should be used.”
As to how the ISA-UK can help, Brown explains that the organisation has a comprehensive list of guidelines available on the members area of its website. The body has also shared articles via social media highlighting the importance of using the correct fixings along with examples from some of its supply partners.
The ISA-UK also recently created a best practice guide to assist its members. This guide, with pictorial examples and descriptions, is in its first edition and will continue to evolve and encompass more of the most important knowledge set as the organisation gets feedback and input from the sign trade.
The ISA-UK recently created a best practice guide to assist its members with fixtures and fittings
“I think it would be fair to say most of us in the trade have learned to fit through on the job experience and picking up tips from work colleagues rather than from formal training,” Brown says, adding: “There are specific training courses available that allow people to gain knowledge and key skill sets to fit to various surfaces that the sign trade will encounter.”
Accuracy and efficiency
Offering further advice on fixtures and fittings, David Allen, managing director of sign-maker and ISA-UK member Allen Signs, says it is vital that all aspects of the installation are considered, as signage will generally fail at its weakest point wherever that is.
“Specifying the correct fixing for the job can be the difference between a successful sign project and not,” Allen says, adding: “Done correctly it can also mean a more efficient install.
“It is also worth spending time considering all aspects of the sign so a poor quality fixture doesn’t then contribute to a total failure. Doing the job right usually means you do the job once in my experience.”
With this in mind, Allen advises sign-makers to take a wide view of the project, including looking at the location of the sign and any environmental challenges that might have an impact on the life span of the finished sign.
“Don’t just see the screws or nuts and bolts as a commodity item; consider how the weight will be carried,” Allen says, adding: “There are various tools available on the internet from fixing manufacturers to help work out what is best.
“Also, never be afraid to ask for data sheets of the material you are fixing to. Most, if not all, manufacturers will have recommended fixing procedures available, and most will share the information.”
Allen also suggests using ISA-UK’s ‘Best Practice Guide’, which he says will help sign-makers to identify the best solutions for the job, while access to the wider ISA-UK will allow them to speak with peers and experts about specific jobs.
“ISA-UK is trying to build a community to share experiences and create an active knowledge base, but most importantly reach out to us as an association. With a network of suppliers to our trade we should be able to point you to sources of information,” Allen says.
Versatile solutions
Next, Button-fix offers a range of fastener solutions for sign-makers through its patented mounting system for many types of interior fitting including signage. Launching its first product in 2012, the company was recognised with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2020.
Button-fix launched its first product ten years ago back in 2012
Brian Watson, director at Button-fix, says choosing the right fixtures for signage is of paramount importance and should be considered from the very start of the project.
“Visible fixings would be unsightly, or worse, encourage malicious tampering,” Watson says, adding: “Nevertheless, signage needs to be easily demountable to update information or to repair wear and tear, so permanently bonding the sign panel to the substrate with adhesives is not an option.
“The secret fixing also needs to engage positively, to ensure the signage cannot be accidentally dislodged, and be strong enough to be trusted when hanging the biggest and boldest sign installations.”
Watson goes on to say that concealed fixing systems have a reputation for being tricky to install, require much careful measurement and can be awkward to engage when working blind. However, he explains that the Button-fix system addresses this by offering marker accessories to assist with setting out and to make on-site installation as speedy as possible.
The Button-fix range offers solutions for hanging many different materials commonly used in sign applications
“The fittings also make a reassuring ‘click’ when correctly engaged, so there’s no need for X-ray vision to see though the sign panel,” Watson says.
Going into further detail on Button-fix, Watson says the range offers solutions for hanging many different materials used in the sign industry. Some of the fasteners require screw-fixing to the reverse of the sign, but he says there are solutions too for materials that do not accept screws.
“For example, thin panels of PVC or signs made from metal, glass or stone can be hung using a version of the Type 1 Button-fix specifically designed for bonding to the panel,” Watson explains, adding: “The Button-fix technical team can help advise on the best fastener for a specific application.
“Button-fix was devised by designers with many years’ experience detailing products for the built environment. It’s a versatile system that can be configured in many ingenious ways. Through paying careful attention at the concept stage to how the installation will be assembled and attached, the mounting system can be seamlessly integrated without compromising the design vision for the sign.”
O Factoid: Button-fix and its patented mounting system was recognised with a Queen's Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2020 O
ISA-UK’s Brown offered an excellent summary of the importance of fixtures and fittings in the opening paragraphs of this feature, saying they could easily be regarded as the most critical part of a good quality sign. Simply put, if you get this part of the job wrong, then you are putting the integrity of the entire application at risk. Carefully analysing the types of products that you need and working with trusted suppliers will put you on the road to a successful installation.
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