The Complete Handbook of Policy Signs

Chapter 1: Understanding Policy Signs

A policy sign is any sign that communicates a rule, a requirement, a prohibition, or an accepted procedure within a specific space. It is not advertising, it is not wayfinding, and it is not a decorative element. Its sole purpose is to convey a piece of policy in a way that is clear, legible, and durable enough to be effective for its intended lifespan. Consider the difference between a "Fire Exit" sign (wayfinding) and a "Walk, Do Not Run In This Corridor" sign (policy). The first directs movement; the second governs behavior.

The category is broad. It includes mandatory safety signs like "Eye Protection Required Beyond This Point." It includes prohibitory signs like "No Smoking" or "No Loitering." It includes informational policy signs like "Visitors Must Report To The Front Office" or "Employee Parking Is Behind The Building." It also includes house rule signs commonly found in retail or public buildings, such as "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service." All of these share a common trait: they exist to enforce or communicate a standard of behavior that the property owner or manager has decided upon.

Understanding what a policy sign is not is just as important as understanding what it is. A policy sign is not a warning sign in the hazard sense, although it can be. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States, and equivalent bodies in other countries, have specific definitions and standards for "safety signs" that warn of