Industrial floor marking tape is an investment in safety that needs to last to achieve maximum effect. To make sure each facility gets the most out of its safety investment, it is important to choose the correct industrial floor marking tape based on the facility's needs and how the tape will be used.
When choosing floor marking tape, the first question to consider is: "What purpose should it achieve in this facility?" 5S organization tape in a warehouse is not always the right choice for emergency exit guidance in an office building, and both types of tape are different from slip protection on an outdoor ladder. Knowing the goal the floor marking needs to achieve will help identify which type of warehouse floor marking tape will serve the facility best.
Implement Emergency Egress Marking - Use glow-in-the-dark hi vis tape to indicate the most direct route to an exit in your facility.
Organize The Facility With 5S Floor Marking - Use different tape colors, floor signs and printed safety floor tape to indicate storage areas, walking paths, forklift lanes, pallet locations, red tag areas, raw material storage, areas to be kept clear, hazards, and other efficiency-based organization initiatives.
Add Traction - Provide a textured surface for areas where slips and falls are a serious hazard, like ladder rungs, ramps, in maritime environments, areas exposed to outdoor elements such as loading docks, or other slippery areas.
Create A Wayfinding System - Create an interconnected system of directional signs, labels and floor markings to help people know where they are and where they're going in your facility.
The conditions within a facility can also affect the type of floor marking tape that needs to be chosen for the best longevity and effectiveness. Floor marking tapes applied indoors which are not subjected to environmental conditions such as repeated exposure to water, large temperature shifts, UV light, and dirt/debris may not require the level of durability and longevity that tape near a freight elevator or loading dock might.
For completely indoor options with little to no environmental exposure, the PathFinder LITE series of industrial floor marking tape is a sufficient, cost-effective choice, providing multiple colors for a multitude of uses.
For mixed-use areas that will see a variety of environmental exposure, like dirt, water, or frequent travel, PathFinder FLEX is a solid option for floor tape for warehouse surfaces with the durability required to survive low and medium-impact environmental effects. FLEX is easy to clean and can be applied to sloping surfaces like ramps without difficulty, and it has an average lifespan of 5 years even in direct sunlight. In situations where the safety floor tape will be exposed to harsher conditions, such as high forklift traffic, an option like RIGID may be the best choice for optimized longevity.
For low foot traffic areas, LITE and its wide variety of color options is ideal for wayfinding and 5S floor marking. LITE's Laminated series is developed with an additional layer of film for added protection making it more resistant to impact, scratching, and damage which is useful in medium-traffic areas.
For high foot traffic areas and locations with occasional equipment usage like pallet jacks and dollies, FLEX is a more durable safety floor tape that can withstand prolonged use in warehouse facilities. FLEX has a wide variety of color options available and offers more durability than LITE, though it still maintains the low-profile, high-visibility standard expected.
PathFinder RIGID industrial floor marking tape is designed to be used with forklifts and other machine traffic. It is constructed from an impact resistant PVC film minimizing any potential damage caused by heavy objects striking the tape. In addition, the tape features beveled edges making them less likely to catch on a wheel or an edge of a pallet. This makes it a great option for your concrete tape needs. For a visual representation of how these floor tape options hold up to forklifts, see a demonstration video.
Below are examples of different floor marking applications which PathFinder Tapes are ideally suited for.
Identifying the floor marking tape that best suits your facility is step one; next it's time to commit to your facility's safety. If your facility could use a combination of signs and safety floor tape to draw extra attention to fire extinguishers, first aid kits, or electrical panels, consider one of the PathFinder sign bundles offered by DuraLabel. Give us a call 888.820.4631 or request a free box of floor tape samples.
DuraLabel�s free Floor Marking Instant Action Guide can help create safe pathways for pedestrians and vehicular traffic, reduce confusion and improve efficiency, as well as guide workers to the tools they need. Download a free copy of the Floor Marking Instant Action Guide today.
Want to learn how to implement OSHA and ANSI-compliant safety signs? The guide helps readers understand the regulations and standards and improve safety and efficiency. Request your free OSHA Safety Signs Instant Action Guide.
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