Expectation Shifts to Lifetime Readability
Whether at substations or in the field, electric utility transmission and distribution
identification products such as safety signs, tags, and markers are critical to safe, efficient
operation, maintenance, and repair. Unfortunately, traditional painted and laminated
identification products frequently fade, delaminate, and become unreadable when
continually exposed to outdoor weather or punishing conditions. This can risk personnel
injury, downtime, and potential litigation.
Today, safety signage is being designed and constructed to ensure readability after
decades. For example, one type of sturdy signage system developed for the industry,
called EVERLAST by Tech Products, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of industrial
identification products for 75 years, is made of thick, high impact polyolefin plastic with
copy and pictograms that are permanently embedded through the entire thickness of the
substrate.
The polyolefin plastic is impervious to sun, wind, rain, humidity, salt water, and
temperature variations as well as fumes and acid or alkali solutions. The characters can
be seen from a distance and have sharp contrast. The signage can be cut, scratched, even
shot through with little or no effect to the embedded characters, which helps to ensure
readability decades later.
Third-party certification validates the durability of this approach. UL performed
numerous durability tests on the signs in compliance with UL and ASTM standards.
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When the signs were subjected to the equivalent of 43 years of UV exposure, salt spray,
vibration, abrasion, and temperature variation, the test results showed no change in color
or legibility.
Another effective method of creating permanent signage is to utilize embossing.
Embossing creates raised characters in metal materials to improve legibility even when
covered in dust, dirt, or even paint.
When lasting transmission and distribution markers are required, for example, deep
embossed pole badge, pole inspection, and pole markers can be constructed of unpainted,
embossed aluminum, brass, or stainless steel. The highly defined characters remain
legible for the life of the pole.
Alternatively, on metal reflective pole tags, black characters can be screen printed on
construction-grade yellow or sliver reflective sheeting so that it is durable, and UV
stabilized. These tags can be used anywhere in areas that need to be seen with a
flashlight.
For tight, confined spaces where close up reading is required, miniature markers with
raised, 3D characters, called FastTags by Tech Products, Inc., can also be designed to
remain legible even in low light, oily, or dusty environments. The raised, 3D characters
are hot stamped with high quality UV stable foil and are nonconductive and non-
corroding, which is ideal for environments exposed to water such as utilities.
Although electric utilities have long utilized identification products in the field or in
substations, the potential that critical information could become obscured or unreadable
in a matter of years is no longer acceptable as a standard. Even when not strictly
mandated, utilities that opt to use innovative products designed to last for many decades
can significantly improve safety and uptime, while reducing potential liability and
litigation risk.
For more information, call 1-800-221-1311; email info@techproducts.com; or visit
www.techproducts.com.
By Del Williams
Del Williams is a technical writer based in Torrance, California.
