Reference

Signage glossary

Acrylic and opal acrylic

Acrylic is a rigid, glass-clear plastic sheet used for flat-cut letters, sign faces, stand-off panels and lightbox fronts. Opal acrylic is a milky-white grade that spreads LED light evenly, so it is the usual face material for face-lit letters and lightboxes. Coloured, black and clear sheets are also common.

Advertisement consent

Advertisement consent is the permission needed to display most outdoor signs, and it is separate from ordinary planning permission. In England it is governed by the 2007 Control of Advertisements Regulations, while Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules. A sign is either excluded from control, has deemed consent, or needs express consent.

Aluminium composite

Aluminium composite is a flat sign panel made from two thin aluminium skins bonded to a polyethylene or mineral core, usually 3–4 mm thick. It is light, rigid and does not rust, which makes it the standard material for flat fascia panels, printed boards and totem faces.

Approved Document K

Approved Document K is the government guidance in England on protection from falling, collision and impact, including glazing people could walk into. For manifestation it suggests marking large areas of glass in two zones, 850–1000 mm and 1400–1600 mm above floor level. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland publish their own guidance with the same aim.

Area of special control

An area of special control is a zone, usually rural or of particular amenity value, where advertisements are more tightly controlled. In England, lettering on a non-illuminated business sign there is generally limited to 0.3 m tall rather than 0.75 m for deemed consent, and deemed consent for illuminated signs does not apply.

Bleed

Bleed is extra artwork, typically a few millimetres, that runs past the trimmed edge of a printed graphic. It allows for small movements during printing, cutting and fitting, so the finished panel or window graphic has no thin white edge. Your artwork guidance will state the bleed required for each item.

Brushed finish

A brushed finish is a fine, straight-grain texture made by abrading stainless steel or aluminium in one direction. It gives a soft satin sheen that hides fingerprints and light scratches better than a mirror polish, which is why it is a popular choice for fabricated letters, plaques and trims.

Built-up letters

Built-up letters are three-dimensional letters fabricated with a face and sides, usually from stainless steel, aluminium or acrylic. Their returns are typically 50–100 mm deep, they are fitted to the wall or fascia on locators, and they can be left unlit or fitted with LED modules for face-lit or halo-lit effects.

Calendered vinyl

Calendered vinyl is a self-adhesive film made by rolling and stretching PVC into sheet; polymeric grades are the better quality of the type. It is thicker and more economical than cast vinyl but tends to shrink over time, so it suits flat surfaces such as windows, boards and shorter-term graphics rather than curves.

Cast vinyl

Cast vinyl is a thin, stable self-adhesive film made by pouring liquid PVC onto a casting sheet. It conforms to curves, rivets and recesses without shrinking back, which is why it is used for vehicle wraps. Manufacturers commonly rate quality cast wrap films for around 5–7 years on vertical surfaces.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 is the part of the Traffic Signs Manual that gives guidance for vehicles that stop or work on the highway. Rear markings use alternating red and fluorescent yellow retroreflective chevrons pointing upwards. Clients and contracts often require it, so check the exact specification your contract asks for.

Colour change

A colour change is a vehicle wrap that covers the paintwork in a single new colour or finish, such as gloss, satin or matt, rather than printed branding. If the wrap changes the main colour of the vehicle, update the V5C log book with DVLA and tell your insurer.

Conservation area

A conservation area is an area a council has designated for its special architectural or historic interest. Signs there are more tightly controlled: in England, illuminated signs generally do not have deemed consent, and councils often expect traditional materials, modest sizes and external lighting. Large window graphics can also be restricted.

Deemed consent

Deemed consent means a sign can be displayed without applying, provided it stays within set limits. In England, a non-illuminated sign on your own business premises usually qualifies if the lettering is no taller than 0.75 m and the top of the sign is no higher than the bottom of any first-floor window.

Door shuts

Door shuts are the painted edges and frames you only see when a vehicle door, boot or bonnet is open. On a colour change wrap they can be wrapped as an optional extra so the old colour does not show when the doors open; they take extra time and are quoted separately.

Driver

A driver is the power supply that converts mains electricity into the low-voltage current LED modules need, usually 12 or 24 volts. Drivers sit in a weatherproof enclosure or inside the sign, are sized for the total LED load, and can be replaced on their own if one fails.

Express consent

Express consent is advertisement consent granted by the council after you apply, needed when a sign falls outside deemed consent. Most internally lit and halo-lit fascia and projecting signs in England need it. Decisions usually take up to 8 weeks, and consent is normally granted for 5 years.

Face-lit

Face-lit describes letters or signs where LED light shines forward through the front face, usually made from opal acrylic. The whole letter face glows evenly, so the name reads clearly from a distance after dark. The returns are usually metal or painted aluminium, so only the face lights up.

Fascia

A fascia is the horizontal band above a shopfront, between the top of the window and the first-floor level, where the main business sign sits. A fascia sign can be a flat aluminium composite panel, a folded tray, or individual letters fixed to the fascia board or wall.

Fixing template

A fixing template is a full-size paper or film print showing exactly where each letter and fixing hole goes. The installer tapes it to the wall, checks it is level and centred, then drills through the marked points so built-up or flat-cut letters land in the right place.

Flat-cut letters

Flat-cut letters are letters and logos cut from flat sheet, usually 5–10 mm acrylic, aluminium composite or metal, using a router or laser. They are fitted flush to the wall or on stand-offs for a shadow effect, and suit reception areas, office walls and fascias.

Ghosting

Ghosting is a faint outline of old lettering left on a vehicle after graphics are removed. It happens because the paint under the vinyl was shielded from sunlight while the exposed paint around it weathered. Machine polishing can often reduce it, but it cannot always be removed completely.

Halo-lit

Halo-lit, or reverse-lit, letters shine LED light backwards onto the wall behind them. The letters are stood off the wall by 25–50 mm, creating a glowing outline around each one while the faces stay dark or metallic. The effect works best on a light-coloured, fairly smooth wall.

Highway licence

A highway licence is permission from the council, as highway authority, to place scaffolding, a tower or an access platform on the pavement or road. It may be needed when fitting a high-level sign above a public footway, and each council sets its own notice periods and conditions.

IP rating

An IP (ingress protection) rating is a two-digit code showing how well an electrical part resists dust and water. The first digit covers solids and the second covers liquids, so IP65 means dust-tight and protected against water jets. Outdoor LED modules and drivers need a rating suited to their position.

Laminate

Laminate is a clear protective film applied over printed vinyl. It shields the ink from UV fading, scratches and cleaning, and sets the finish as gloss, satin or matt. Printed wraps, window graphics and wall graphics are normally laminated, while single-colour cut vinyl lettering usually does not need it.

LED module

An LED module is a small, sealed unit holding one or more light-emitting diodes, mounted in rows inside letters, lightboxes and troughs. Modules run at low voltage from a driver, give an even spread of light, and use far less power than the fluorescent tubes once common in lightboxes.

Lightbox

A lightbox is an illuminated sign box with LED modules inside and a translucent face, either printed or with routed and push-through letters. Slimline lightboxes are a common fascia and projecting sign format, and older fluorescent lightboxes can often be refitted with LEDs.

Listed building consent

Listed building consent is separate permission for works that affect the character of a listed building, including most signs fixed to it. Carrying out such works without consent can be a criminal offence. On historic buildings, fixings into mortar joints rather than brick or stone faces are usually preferred.

Locators and stand-offs

Locators are threaded rods or studs fixed to the back of letters, which slot into drilled holes in the wall and are bonded in place. Stand-offs are metal spacers that hold a panel or letter a set distance from the wall, creating a shadow line or leaving room for halo lighting.

Luminance and candela per square metre

Luminance is the brightness of a lit surface as the eye sees it, measured in candelas per square metre (cd/m²). Councils use it to judge illuminated signs, often referring to maximum values in PLG05 that vary by environmental zone, with lower limits in darker, rural settings.

Making good

Making good means repairing and tidying the surface left after work, such as filling old fixing holes, patching render or painting the fascia once an old sign comes down. Your quote should say what making good is included, as hidden damage sometimes shows only after the old sign is removed.

Manifestation

Manifestation is marking on glass, such as dots, bands, frosted strips or logos, that makes large glazed areas visible so people do not walk into them. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require transparent surfaces to be marked where necessary for safety.

MEWP

A MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) is a powered access machine, such as a scissor lift or boom lift, used to work at height. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, high-level signs need suitable access, and a MEWP standing on the pavement or road may need a council licence.

Photocell and time switch

A photocell is a light sensor that switches an illuminated sign on at dusk and off at dawn, while a time switch turns it on and off at set times. Many signs use both together, so the sign lights only when it is dark and only during the hours you choose.

PLG05

PLG05 is the Institution of Lighting Professionals' guidance note on the brightness of illuminated advertisements. It sets recommended maximum luminance by illuminated area and environmental zone, and councils commonly refer to it when deciding applications. Lighting should be static, without flashing, unless consented.

Powder coating

Powder coating is a dry paint finish sprayed as a fine powder onto metal, then baked so it flows into a hard, even skin. It is the usual finish for aluminium trays, letter returns, brackets and totems, and can be matched to RAL colours in gloss, satin or matt.

Projecting and hanging signs

A projecting sign sticks out from the building at right angles so people walking along the pavement can read it. A hanging sign is a traditional version suspended from a decorative bracket. Both are usually double-sided, and the clearance above the pavement should be checked with the council.

Proof

A proof is a scale drawing or visual of your sign showing layout, sizes, colours, materials and fixing method, sent for you to check before anything is made. Nothing goes into production until you approve it, so it is the moment to catch spellings, phone numbers and colours.

RAL and Pantone

RAL and Pantone are colour reference systems used to specify exact shades. RAL numbers are the norm for paint and powder coating on metal trays, letters and frames, while Pantone references are mainly used for print and vinyl matching. Giving either reference helps keep brand colours consistent across signs, windows and vehicles.

Retroreflective

Retroreflective material sends light from headlights straight back towards its source, so it shines brightly to drivers at night. It is made from film containing glass beads or microprisms, and is used for Chapter 8 chevrons, vehicle conspicuity markings and some road-facing signs.

Returns

Returns are the sides of a built-up letter, tray sign or lightbox, running back from the face to the wall. Letter returns are typically 50–100 mm deep and tray returns 50–75 mm. Their depth, colour and finish change how solid the sign looks from an angle.

Routed and push-through letters

Routed letters are cut out of a sign face, such as an aluminium tray or lightbox, and backed with opal acrylic so only the lettering glows when lit. Push-through letters go a step further: thick acrylic letters sit in the cut-outs and stand proud of the face for a raised, lit edge.

Stainless steel 304 and 316

Grades 304 and 316 are the two stainless steels most used for sign letters and fixings. Grade 304 suits most inland locations, while 316 contains molybdenum for better corrosion resistance near the coast or in harsh conditions. Both can be brushed, mirror-polished or painted.

Totem and monolith signs

A totem is a tall, free-standing sign, usually aluminium, placed at an entrance or car park to show a business name or a list of occupiers. A monolith is a solid, block-like version with a broader base. Both need foundations, and illuminated versions also need a power supply.

Tray sign

A tray sign is a fascia sign made from aluminium sheet folded at the edges into a shallow tray, typically with 50–75 mm returns, then powder coated. The folded edges give a crisp, solid look with no visible panel edge, and the lettering can be vinyl, raised acrylic, routed or push-through.

Trough light

A trough light is a slim, bar-shaped light fitted above or below a fascia to wash light across a non-illuminated sign. Modern troughs use LED modules and can be powder coated to match the fascia. External lighting like this is sometimes preferred where internally lit signs are resisted, though consent may still be needed.

V5C

The V5C is the vehicle registration certificate, or log book, issued by DVLA. If a wrap changes the main colour of your vehicle, update the colour recorded on the V5C and tell your insurer. Lettering or part graphics that leave the main colour unchanged usually do not need a V5C update.

Vector artwork

Vector artwork is a logo or design built from mathematical paths rather than pixels, so it can be scaled to any size without blurring. Common file types are AI, EPS, SVG and vector PDF. Vectors are needed to cut vinyl, route letters and print large graphics cleanly.

Wrap and part wrap

A wrap is printed or coloured cast vinyl applied over a vehicle's paintwork to change its look or carry branding. A full wrap covers the visible body panels, while a part wrap covers selected areas, such as the sides and rear, and is designed to blend with the original paint colour.