Warehouse Floor Marking

What Are the Different Types of Floor Marking For Warehouses?

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Types of warehouse floor marking

OSHA doesn’t offer a strict definition of what constitutes a warehouse floor marking. This makes compliance a relatively low bar to clear. To protect workers, anything used as a floor marking should be highly effective at consistently communicating to anyone in the vicinity.

Painted floor markings have been the standard in many industries but industrial floor marking tape has improved in quality and is becoming more popular because it’s easier to apply.

In this article, we take a look at different types of floor marking for warehouses available today. We’ll examine the most common materials and some popular shapes and patterns. We’ll also explore some factors to consider when choosing these shapes and materials.

Floor Marking Tapes

Floor marking tape has caught on because it is much easier to apply than paint. To apply the tape, simply clean and dry the surface, apply the adhesive tape in the correct place, and tamp it down. Once the tape is tamped down, the area can be opened for use immediately.

Apart from being easy to apply, tape doesn’t fade significantly over time. It can also be applied to wooden steps and other surfaces where painting isn’t an option. If you need floor markings with a mix of colors, letters, or images, you can simply buy pre-printed tape.

Floor marking tape is more expensive per meter than paint and is slightly less durable. It can still serve you for many years, especially if you go for the heavy-duty stuff.

Tape Materials

Floor marking tape is commonly made using polyester, vinyl, or PVC. You can get tape in many colors, but yellow is the most common because it’s the default for OSHA-mandated marking of aisles. Some tapes also have special features. These include:

  • Glow-in-the-dark tape: These tapes are photoluminescent and are used for floor markings in areas or conditions that are not constantly well-lit.
  • Traction tape: This is also known as anti-slip tape. It has a high-friction surface that makes people less likely to slide.
  • Reflective tape: These tapes reflect light and stand out more in poor-lit conditions. They improve visibility for forklift drivers.

Floor Marking Paint

Painting is a common approach to applying permanent floor markings. In terms of direct costs, it’s fairly cheap, and good-quality paint will last for a long time. Epoxy paint is preferred because it creates an impervious glossy finish that resists wear and tear.

Paint can be customized into any shape if the applicant has the skills. It’s also cheaper and more durable than tape. Despite its low cost, painting is more tedious because it requires significant surface preparations for the paint to adhere to the concrete floor.

Paint also needs several days to dry and produces strong fumes when wet. This makes the application hazardous and painted warehouse sections have to be closed off for days. Additionally, paint can’t be used on certain surfaces, e.g., wood.

Types of Floor Paint

As stated earlier, epoxy is the standard paint used for warehouse floor markings. However, there are also acrylic, polyurethane, and moisture-cured urethane-based paints for the same purpose.

Acrylic paint is cheaper than epoxy but doesn’t last as long. Polyurethane paints are more chip-resistant than epoxy because of their better impact resistance. However, the surface scratches easily. Moisture-cured urethane paints are used in high-moisture environments because they form a barrier that’s not easily penetrated.

Floor Marking Shapes/Patterns

Just as with floor marking materials, there is plenty to choose from when it comes to floor marking shapes and patterns. You can opt for simple lines, printed graphics, and more.

Single-Color Lines

This is the most common type of warehouse marking and is relatively easy to apply. Single-color lines are perfect for denoting long boundaries, e.g., marking a permanent pedestrian aisle in the warehouse.

Lines can be combined to mark out specific warehouse sections, e.g., a pallet storage zone or a red-tag holding area. Single-color lines are easy to apply whether you’re using tape or paint.

Multi-Colored Lines

These are less common but can be found in some warehouses. The use of different line colors side-by-side creates a contrast that is more attention-grabbing than a single color.

Chevrons

A chevron is a pattern featuring two alternating colors running diagonally. They are sometimes called hazard stripes because they are commonly used to denote hazards in many applications.

The use of two contrasting colors at an angle makes these markings stand out. In warehouses, chevrons are used to indicate hazards. The patterns can also be combined to form an arrow. Common color combinations include red-white and yellow-black.

Painting a chevron is a bigger challenge than applying a chevron-patterned tape because you’ll have to mix and apply two different paint colors.

Letters and Numbers

Using letters or numbers makes it easier to communicate without ambiguity. Instead of a simple line that could mean anything, you can add a message like “Keep Clear” to make it obvious what the line represents.

In warehouses, letters and numbers are used to give clear warnings of hazards, identify different warehouse sections, and issue reminders. Stencils should be used when painting these floor markings to ensure they’re easy to read.

Graphics

Just like letters and numbers, graphics are useful when passing a non-ambiguous message to workers. Graphics can be used in combination with letters or on their own.

The advantage of graphics is they stand out more than letters or numbers. A graphic can often be seen from farther away too. This is important in situations where visibility is compromised or if some workers can’t read certain languages.

Adhesive floor signs made using vinyl and similar materials are well-suited for adding graphics to warehouse floors but stencils should be used when painting.

Footprints

Footprints are a creative type of floor marking. The footprints usually move in a specific direction and are used to show people the paths they should take when walking toward a certain destination. The destination can also be printed on the footprints for clarity.

Arrows

Arrows are a common type of warehouse marking. These are used to point at something of interest including routes to specific objectives or the locations of key items, e.g., firefighting equipment.

Considerations When Choosing Different Types of Floor Markings

The variety of 5S floor markings available means it’s easy to go overboard or use a marking for a purpose that makes it less effective. To avoid this, here are some considerations you should keep in mind when choosing floor markings:

    • Purpose: Any floor marking you choose should have a clear message to communicate. Adding a graphic to your warehouse floor can make it more interesting but it can lead to confusion if its only purpose is aesthetics.
    • Visibility: This is an important consideration when choosing both the marking material and the type of mark. A chevron stands out and will be visible from further out than a solid color. Some paints will fade with time, making them less effective.
    • Clear Communication: Certain colors and marks are associated with specific scenarios. For example, red and yellow colors and chevrons usually indicate a need to stay alert. Using a solid blue line to indicate a hazard will confuse workers.
  • Temporary Vs Permanent Markings: Floor markings may have to be removed at some point. This can be in a few months or after several years. If a marking will have to be removed soon, avoid materials that will be difficult to remove, e.g., epoxy paint.
  • Operating Conditions: Even the most durable marking material can be compromised. Some materials are temperature-sensitive and others can be damaged by chemicals. Evaluate the conditions in all warehouse sections before choosing a tape or paint.

Special Floor Marking Alternatives

Floor marking methods such as painting and applying adhesive tapes work well on smooth concrete floors and similar surfaces. However, not every warehouse floor surface is easy to paint or stick tape to. These surfaces require different types of markings.

OSHA allows for the use of flags, barrels, cones, or something similar to serve as a floor marking. The important thing is for these markings to pass the desired message.

Recent advancements have led to the introduction of projected floor markings. These markings are projected from an LED light source above or near the floor area. Projected markings can be a good short-term solution and can be customized to produce different patterns.

Conclusion

Floor marking tape and paint are the most popular materials for marking warehouse floors. Floor marking tape is commonly made from vinyl while epoxy is usually the paint of choice. Due to the challenges of applying paint, industrial floor tape is becoming more popular.

There is a wide range of patterns and shapes you can use to mark your warehouse floors including basic lines, chevrons, and graphic images. Paint is an affordable choice for marking long lines but pre-printed tape is easier to apply if you need markings with more detail.

Floor marking shapes and patterns should only be used when they serve a clear purpose. The message should also be easy to understand. Avoid marking materials that are hard to remove when you need temporary solutions and those that won’t survive the warehouse environment.

 

 

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