Outdoor, wet and washdown safety labels

Match the stock to the exposure

• Outdoor polyester: the standard choice for labels on equipment exteriors, enclosures and vehicles that see sun and rain.
• Vinyl: flexible, so it follows curves, rivets and corrugations, and it is the usual stock for tags and pipe markers.
• Aluminum: for signs on fences, gates and posts, and for nameplates that face heat or abrasion. Anodized aluminum is listed with the highest temperature tolerance.
• Plastic sign stock: light and easy to mount on indoor walls and sheltered outdoor spots. Its listed temperature range is narrower than aluminum's.
• Overlaminates: a clear film over the print that adds protection from UV, abrasion and some chemicals, where the stock allows one.

Typical figures for each stock are on the materials page. They are typical values, not a specification, and the outdoor materials guide explains how to read them.

Washdown and chemical exposure

Food plants, car washes, wastewater sites and chemical areas are hard on labels. Pressure washing attacks the edges first, hot water and caustic cleaners soften adhesives, and solvents can lift print. Label life in these areas depends on the cleaning method, the chemicals and how often the label is hit.

Tell us the cleaning agents, their concentration, the water temperature and the wash frequency. Rounded corners tend to resist lifting better than square ones, and placing the label out of the direct spray path helps.

Surface preparation and application

Most adhesive failures start with the surface, not the label. Clean off oil, dust and release agents, wipe with a cleaner that leaves no residue, and let the surface dry completely. Apply within the adhesive's application temperature range, press firmly from the center outward with a squeegee or roller, and give the adhesive time to build its bond before washdown or weather.

Textured paint, powder coat and some plastics are harder to bond to. Name the surface in your request so the adhesive can be matched. Installing labels and replacing them when worn or faded is the buyer's responsibility under our terms.

What to tell us for a quote

• The surface: metal, painted, powder coated, plastic, glass; flat or curved; smooth or textured.
• Indoor, sheltered or fully outdoor, and whether it faces direct sun.
• Water, washdown, chemicals or fuels the label will contact.
• Lowest and highest temperatures, at application and in service.
• How long the label needs to last before planned replacement.
• Size, design or part number, and quantity.

Send it with a quote request and we will suggest a stock, which the quote and proof confirm.