The ultimate line marking guide
Imagine driving down endless roads with no line marking, pedestrians and vehicles competing for right of way. How far would you get without an accident? One mile? two?
Line marking is just as important for warehouse traffic. In a facility where heavy machinery is sharing floor space with workers on foot and there’s potential hazards around every corner, it’s important to have a clearly defined line marking system for both safety and efficiency.
"The manufacturing sector has a rate of fatal injury over 1.5 times the average rate across all industries."
HSE Statistics
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1. Walkways:
It is necessary that these areas are clearly marked out for both pedestrians and vehicles; they need to be easily recognisable to provide immediate impact and improve safety.
2. Hazardous areas:
It is important that emergency exits, passageways with automatic doors and areas of heavy traffic where only certain vehicles are allowed are not obstructed. For this reason, these areas need to be clearly marked out.
3. Floor layouts
Pathways and traffic filtering areas require marking that is clear and simple to follow. One way traffic and production areas need to be clearly defined with a logical layout to increase productivity and safety.
4. Specific labelling
If you enter a loading area or traffic zone there is a potential safety risk, whether in an industrial or public area. Therefore, it is always necessary to follow standard practice relating to colour coding.
It’s important to keep your line marking consistent throughout the facility for increased efficiency and production. Here’s a quick guide to commonly used colours:
 | Yellow is typically used to mark out aisles and walkways. It is also often used for arrows to dictate direction of traffic flow |
 | White is used for indicating internal equipment and storage |
 | Red is used to indicate hazardous areas |
 | Red and white stripes is used for indicating areas that should be kept clear. This type of marking is essential to adhering to safety regulations |
 | Yellow and black stripes is universally known as danger colours, these are used to mark out areas that are hazardous |
 | Fluorescent stripes usually in green, yellow or orange are typically used highlighting step edges |
Advanced planning is essential for devising an efficient layout. Come up with a plan, lay it out on paper and test it out before you commit. There may be a variety of scenarios to consider when thinking about the best way for employees to get from A to B. Why not do a test run? It’s important to get your employees feedback on what works and what doesn’t.
As with any other project, make sure your surface is correctly prepared before applying any products. Remove dirt or grease so your product adheres to the floor sufficiently. If painting, you may require additional preparation. For specific advice related to your project, why not speak to our technical advisors. Set up a virtual site visit or you can reach us via phone, email and the Watco app.
Watco offers a wide range of durable solutions, which you can use to increase efficiency and safety throughout your premises. However, the decision of tape or paint may not be as straightforward as you may first think.
Tape has several benefits. It may be an ideal choice if you require a temporary fix or are planning on redesigning your layout often. However, if applied correctly, Watco tapes are very efficient and can last a long time.
For more permanent line marking, paint is a great choice. It’s easy to clean and for additional safety on aisles and walkways you can chose an anti-slip coating. However, paint can also fade or wear under constant heavy traffic. It can also take a considerable amount of time to prepare the surface, apply the coating and let it dry before production can continue. Tape on the other hand, is an almost instant solution and requires very little downtime.
It is also worth considering the practicalities of your chosen line marking method. Applying a coating is not always possible, especially on busy outdoor steps where frequent access is required. Our wide range of Glass reinforced plastic (GRP) may be more suitable for steps, ramps and floors, where an instant, extremely durable and long-lasting solution is required.
Special high performance tape for heavy wear areas
From £116.30 (Ex VAT)
Super strong anti-slip tape for checker plate and profiled metal
From £32.05 (Ex VAT)
Incredibly strong tape designed to make line marking easy
From £28.65 (Ex VAT)
Superior quality line marking paint for cold or exterior applications
From £65.15 (Ex VAT)
Easy to use pre-mixed for light traffic areas in warehouses, garages and other concrete floors
From £92.20 (Ex VAT)
A single pack, general use anti slip concrete floor paint. Uniform high gloss finish
From £97.50 (Ex VAT)
