Signs for School Safety
Schools have always been responsible for the safety of their students, faculty, and staff. This year, with COVID-19, public and private schools face additional challenges.
Besides new cleaning and sanitizing protocols, schools need everyone in the building to act safely to protect themselves and others. The key strategy to remind everyone of how to move and where to be: signs.
Signs can help control traffic flow and promote social distancing. Signs can effortlessly tell people where to stand, how to walk, and where to place furniture and objects. Signs offer silent reminders of critical information, indoors and out.
For visitors, students, faculty, and staff, signs can be the foundation of 24/7 safety. Personalized, branded signs can also provide a sense of place and a calming, familiar presence.
How to Use Signs
Social distancing signs include two basic types:
- Directional signs on walls and custom floor decals tell students, faculty, and staff where to walk, where to enter and exit, where to wait in line, and how to abide by social distancing guidelines.
- Stationary signs act as important safety indicators and reminders of where to sit in classrooms and auditoriums, while keeping everyone safe.
Signs should be positioned so that students and staff never question what they’re supposed to do or where they’re supposed to go. Signs can also serve multiple purposes, such as using stationary floor markers not only to indicate where students should sit, but also to show maintenance staff how to re-position furniture after classroom cleanings.
Keep in mind that the traffic flow of your school may change for various reasons, including schedule alterations or changes in usage. Live traffic patterns once schools re-open may also highlight the need to change your school’s signage. Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of your signage, and be prepared to make adjustments if needed.
Choosing Materials
Given the wide variety of signage materials, it is important to match the sign material to your need. For example, an outdoor sign created for porous concrete sidewalks could ruin a sealed indoor floor. A sign intended for wall placement could get quickly destroyed from foot traffic and cleaning chemicals if placed on a floor. Some signs are rated for slip-resistance, whereas others may increase the risk of injury to pedestrians. Schools are high-traffic areas that call for floor signs with anti-slip properties, made of materials designed for this purpose.
3M, the industry leader, thoroughly tests and evaluates their robust sign materials, which come with a specific rating for expected performance life. 3M even provides certification levels to printers who handle their products, further ensuring that the printing, laminating, and cutting of their materials meets their rigorous standards. Schools can install social distancing signs themselves or use a 3M Certified or 3M Preferred professional installer for a turnkey solution.
Beyond these benefits, 3M offers GREENGUARD Gold-certified, environmentally responsible materials. These materials meet some of the world’s most rigorous third-party chemical emissions standards, helping to reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure. Using these materials shows that a school is not only focused on kids’ present safety, but is also looking out for their future well-being.
If possible, get samples of potential social distancing sign materials and test them to make sure they’ll adhere to their intended surface, and remain attached where you need them. Try them on wood, linoleum, terrazzo, brick, concrete… A sign that doesn’t stay in place is ineffective. If you find a surface that doesn’t quite work, contact your supplier for advice. If it is impractical to get samples, make sure the manufacturer provides thorough data sheets and material specifications to ensure their products will meet your needs.
The Importance of Design
School is much more than an academic setting. For students, faculty, and staff, it is often a second home, a place to learn and socialize—a safe, comfortable, and familiar spot. Students can experience an emotional response when they see their school’s colors. They immediately associate themselves with their school every time they put on a school sweatshirt, carry a school gym bag, or don a school jersey.
Personalized, branded signs are an extension of a school’s identity and are emotionally important. They are familiar and reassuring. Unlike off-the-shelf signs, which can be cold and out-of-place, custom school signs with a school’s colors, logo, or motto have powerful, subliminal messages: “My school thinks this is important.” “My school cares about safety.” “My school cares about me.”
Wall and floor signs will often be the first change that parents, students, faculty, and staff will notice when they return to school in the fall. When they approach the door and see professional-looking signs in school colors with school branding, they will subconsciously understand that the school has a pandemic-response program that is organized, well thought through, and designed to help keep them safe.
Getting Started
Safe Scholars streamlines the process for schools that need to order and install social distancing signs. Not everyone is a graphic artist, so we designed an online customization tool that makes it simple to design and order signs. We can also recommend different shapes, sizes, and materials based on your building, budget, and needs. Custom school signs can be ordered in minutes and produced and delivered within days.
To further resolve your signage needs, please visit us at www.safescholars.com.betasites.soundst.com.