Signs & Large Format Print
What must be on a site information board
The content of the board is set by national law, so it differs from country to country (in Germany, for example, state building codes require a Bauschild; in the UK the CDM notification must be displayed on site). Below we describe the Polish rules, which we work to most often. Today they come directly from the Building Law (Article 45b); the earlier 2002 regulation, the source of the familiar 90 × 70 cm format and a long list of designers, ceased to apply in September 2021. Under the current wording, the board shows:
- the type of construction works and the address where they are carried out;
- the date and number of the building permit or notification and the name of the authority that issued or accepted it;
- the name, address and phone number of the competent building control authority;
- the name of the developer (investor);
- the name and phone number of the site manager.
This is a general summary. Rules get amended, and funded projects or special procedures bring further obligations. The final content is always confirmed by the site manager, who is usually responsible for the board and whose details appear on it.
Appearance: colour, letters, position
The Polish rules describe the board quite precisely, though without dimensions:
- a rectangle, a rigid board;
- yellow background, black lettering;
- letters and numbers at least 6 cm high, legible and durable;
- the board stands where it is visible from the public road or its access, at a height that allows it to be read.
Why does this matter to us as the maker? Because "durable" rules out the popular DIY-store solution: a ready-made yellow template filled in with a marker. After one rainy month, the site manager's phone number is illegible. We print everything, background and details, with UV technology directly on the board. The ink is cured by light; it does not wash off or fade over the duration of a typical build.
Which size with 6 cm letters
| Size | Lines of text with 6 cm letters | Calculation | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 × 70 cm | approx. 6–7 short lines | 0.63 m² × €55 = approx. €35 net | small site, very concise content |
| 120 × 90 cm | approx. 8–9 lines | 1.08 m² × €55 = approx. €60 net | the most common choice: house, warehouse, refurbishment |
| 150 × 100 cm | approx. 10 lines, longer names | 1.5 m² × €55 = approx. €83 net | long developer or authority name |
| 200 × 100 cm on a frame | full content with room to spare | from approx. €165 net with structure | site without a fence, freestanding board |
The number of lines is indicative: a line of 6 cm letters needs about 9 cm of height including spacing. The name of the building control authority can be long, as can the developer's company name. Before printing we make a scaled proof, and then you see at once whether the text fits or a larger size is needed.
How to order a site board, step by step
- Collect the details: type of works, address, permit or notification number and date with the authority's name, building control details (name, address, phone), developer and site manager.
- Tell us where the board will go: mesh fence, panel fence, site cabin wall, or freestanding.
- We lay out the design and send a proof. A site board usually needs one round of changes: most often a phone number or the authority's name is corrected.
- We print on Dibond and drill fixing holes for cable ties or screws. Standard lead time is about 3 working days, 24 hours if needed.
- We ship by courier or deliver and install.
Orders can be placed through the construction and information boards page or by phone.
- 24 hexpress printing (UV inks need no drying)
- approx. 3 daysstandard lead time
- up to 14 dayslarge and custom projects with installation
Plus courier delivery. Tell us your date — we plan production around it.
Statutory information board vs investment board with a visual
On many sites there are two different things, and it is worth not confusing them. The statutory information board is a legal obligation: yellow, black text, no advertising. Next to it, developers, municipalities and contractors put up an investment board: a visual of the building, the contractor's logo, the sales office number, sometimes EU funding logos. That is an advertising and information medium and does not replace the board required by building law.
We make a 300 × 200 cm investment board with legs from approx. €350 net. For EU-funded builds there is also a sign according to the programme template; see EU-funded project signs 2021–2027. If your site has a panel fence, fence banners come in handy too: one order brands the whole site.
Typical mistakes we see on sites
- A board tied to a fence deep inside the plot, facing away from the road.
- A marker-pen template that becomes illegible after a few weeks.
- Thin PVC that bows like a boat in the sun and tears off the mesh.
- An old layout from the days of the 2002 regulation, with an outdated list of details: not a critical error, but it is better to make the board under the current rules.
- No update after the site manager changes. Changing one person means reprinting the whole board, so on long builds some clients order the site manager's details as a separate Dibond strip screwed onto the board.