Forecourt Directional and Safety Signs

Directional and safety signs work across the whole forecourt, from the street boundary to the pump island and the shop door.

• Entry and exit points that must be clearly marked for one-way traffic
• Pump islands needing numbering and grade identification
• Truck lanes, diesel bays and separate light-vehicle areas
• Car wash, air, water and vacuum bays
• Safety notices about engines, open flames, mobile phones and smoking, wherever the site requires them
• Parking, customer toilets and shop entrances

• Entry and exit signs. Post-mounted or wall-mounted signs, sometimes with arrows and no-entry symbols.
• Pump numbers. Large numerals on canopy columns or above the pump so they can be seen from the driver's seat.
• Grade labels. Colour-coded labels for fuel grade identification.
• Safety notices. Rigid panels with standard pictograms and short text.
• Floor and kerb markings. Applied graphics and paint markings on approved surfaces; see floor graphics and decals for indoor equivalents.
• Bollard and post signs. Small signs set on protective posts near lanes and pumps.

We design the system as a whole, so symbols, colours and typefaces are consistent from one end of the site to the other. Any statutory or brand-owner wording is supplied by you and set as given.

• Aluminium sheet panels, powder-coated or covered in vinyl
• Reflective sheeting on selected signs for night-time visibility
• Stainless steel or galvanised posts, brackets and fixings
• Acrylic or composite panels for lit pump-number signs
• Anti-graffiti and UV-resistant finishes where the site needs them

Forecourts are tough on signs: sun, vehicle knocks, fuel splashes and cleaning chemicals. We choose finishes that can be wiped clean and recommend sturdy mountings in lanes where vehicles come close.

Most directional and safety signs are not lit themselves. They rely on the canopy lighting, site lighting or reflective sheeting to be seen at night. Where a sign sits outside the lit area, we can propose reflective faces or a small lit panel, depending on the electrical supply.

Pump numbers above the island are sometimes backlit so they stay visible in bad weather. Any decision involving lighting near fuel areas is checked with the site operator and an electrician at survey.

• A pylon draws drivers in; directional signs guide them once they are on site.
• Use canopy branding for the brand and colour identity, not for detailed instructions.
• Use industrial safety signs for workshops, stores and plant areas away from the forecourt.
• For multi-building complexes, see estate and complex wayfinding.

• Traffic flow. We walk the site and note the actual vehicle paths, because signs placed on paper often miss how drivers really move.
• Sign height and size. Entry and exit signs must be visible from the street and from within the lane; as a rough guide many designers allow around 25 mm of letter height per 10 m of viewing distance, confirmed on site.
• Impact protection. Signs near lanes need robust posts, bollards or placement out of the swing path of trucks.
• Wording. Safety and statutory wording is supplied by the operator or brand owner; we do not decide what the law requires.
• Approvals. Structural, electrical and municipal matters are checked at survey and design and may need the landlord, owner or municipality.

• Number of signs and the variety of types
• Size and material of each panel
• Post, bracket or bollard mounting
• Reflective or lit versus plain faces
• Foundations or core drilling for new posts
• Removal of existing signs
• Artwork and symbol design
• Installation access and scheduling around trading

Wipe panels with water and a mild cleaner. Replace signs that have faded, cracked or become hard to read, since a sign people cannot read is worse than no sign. Check posts for damage after vehicle impacts. Our signage cleaning and maintenance service can handle regular checks, and removal and replacement covers old signs.

Surveys and installations are arranged by appointment from our Rivonia base. Forecourts exist all over the province, and these are some of the areas we serve.

• Signage in Sandton
• Signage in Johannesburg
• Signage in Pretoria
• Signage in Midrand
• Signage in Centurion
• Signage in Germiston