Frequently Asked Questions

In the notes area on our card, indicate that you would like our art department to try our hand at your design. In most cases, our clients love the changes that we suggest. We will post a new design to the web site that you can see when you log into it (it will be under the My Designs area).

Almost half our custom warehouse tag have a blank back. For certain tags though, it may be desirable to print instructions on the back of the tag. You might want to outline your operating procedures, explain codes or give emergency telephone numbers on the back. For safety tags, the back of the tag should refer to the front of the tag. One of the most blunt instructions is: "You are Fired if You Remove this Tag Without Approval."

Yes, just give us a note when you place the order. Some customers just show where they want a check box by typing two brackets (for example "[_]"). We offer free design service for your custom tag design, so you can always just fax us a sketch.

Our programmers can add a custom tag template just for your firm. We can place this tag template under the My Designs area and assign password rights to your warehouse managers.

Please call us up at 1-800-952-1457 and follow the prompts for sales. We would be delighted to help you through the process of designing your custom tag. We especially appreciate your suggestions on how to make our design programs better.

You may also email us if you prefer.

We offer hundreds of tag graphics online. Select one of these for your custom tag. Adding a logo to your tag adds a professional touch. A logo also makes it harder to counterfeit your tag.

Many of our customers ask for a specific color. Specify a PMS number or send us a color chip to match. For most materials, there is no extra charge for a special color match – but we will confirm this with you prior to printing.

Yes, this sounds like a problem. We can only print to the quality of the image. Please see if you can find a version of your logo with a higher quality or resolution. Tags always look better if your logo is crisp. If not, and in most cases, we can help clean your logo up and help make your parking permit look better.

There has been some controversy around this subject. In general, your monthly inspection records should be kept for a year. Keep the monthly inspection tag on file, even after a yearly maintenance has been performed. Most organizations save a tag for this time. In some cases, companies are using a paperless system that electronically stores this information. Make sure to consult the latest NFPA regulations and explanatory Annex yourself. See NFPA 10-2002 is published in Volume 1 of the 2004/2005 National Fire Codes:

"Records shall be kept on a tag or label attached to the fire extinguisher, on an inspection checklist maintained on file, or in an electronic system (e.g., bar coding) that provides a permanent record of the last twelve monthly inspections."

Labels are common, yet they must be taken off after the year's inspection period for proper record-keeping. Hence, tags are much more common. They can be more easily removed and stored.

The maintenance recordkeeping should indicate more than just the service technician's name. See NFPA 10: "Each fire extinguisher shall have a tag or label securely attached that indicates the month and year the maintenance was performed, and that identifies the person performing the work, and identifies the name of the agency performing the work."

Our custom fire extinguisher service tags also ask you to define a permit number.

There are no rules that govern tag materials – although it is important that any tag or label withstand the environment. In practice, tags need to withstand humidity and "accidental" removal. In addition, the tag should be large enough to encourage legible inspection hand-writing. Plastic and metal tags certainly outlast most cardstock fire extinguisher inspection tags.

Although many tags are fastened with self-locking ties most are fastened with wires. When the period checks are completed, either can be easily cut off and your tag preserved for the year.

Certainly, live electronic monitoring of fire extinguishers is the most important trend in the industry. "24/7" supervision of a fire extinguisher's contents, pressure, location and accessibility has been a goal for many. The latest edition of NFPA 10 is now recognizing some of these electronic maintenance methods.

Similarly, RF tagging and bar-code labels are taking some of the manual labor away from the aggravation of periodic checks. On the other hand, the simplicity and obvious paper trail for the traditional fire extinguisher hang tags remain as popular as ever.

First, note that the monthly interval may be adjusted, "... extinguishers shall be manually inspected at a minimum of 30-day intervals or electronically monitored. Fire extinguishers shall be inspected at more frequent intervals when circumstances require." [NFPA 10]

The particular inspection information is often the following: [NFPA 10]

(1) Location in designated place

(2) No obstruction to access or visibility

(3) Pressure gauge reading or indicator in the operable range or position.

(4) Fullness determined by weighing or hefting for self-expelling type extinguishers, cartridge operated extinguishers and pump tanks.

(5) For wheeled extinguishers, the condition of tires, wheels, carriage, hose and nozzle shall also be checked.

(6) For non-rechargeable extinguishers using push-to-test pressure indicators, test the indicator.

In fact, the NFPA rules are often misinterpreted here. Some building inspectors have required that fire extinguisher signs be mounted perpendicular to their cabinet or when the fire extinguisher is mounted on a wall bracket.

An NFPA interpretation (November, 99), however, mentions that this is not a requirement. The rules only require that "extinguishers mounted in cabinets or wall recesses...be marked conspicuously."

In practice, however, the perpendicular signs remain our most popular – and for good reason. While "a conspicuous sign, including those mounted parallel to the wall, meet the intent of [the NFPA rules]", the advantages of a sign that can be seen as you approach it from an angle are obvious. Most locations are approached from an angle. Sign visibility suffers. Moreover, many fire extinguishers are kept in recessed cavities and are even harder to locate.

In an emergency, seconds may count. A sign that can be seen from as many different angles (and as many different light conditions) is certainly an advantage.

The signs need, merely, to be "conspicuous". Signs that fade quickly or are too small are not conspicuous. Our GlowSmart signs are some of the most conspicuous in the market.

Again, there are no common rules here that mandate this treatment. On the other hand, fires often cause blackouts. A photoluminescent or reflective sign only increases the chances that vital fire protection equipment, shut-off's, etc. will be found quickly. Photoluminescent signs glow in the dark after the lights are off. Reflective signs take the light from a flashlight or backup light and return the light in a way that makes the sign evident. Give your emergency crews and other fire fighting teams all the help that they deserve.

We recommend that you consult with the regulations above. For a quick overview, of how many are needed, see the excerpt below (from the OSHA standard 1926) regarding Portable Firefighting Equipment, Fire Extinguishers and Small Hose Lines:

• A fire extinguisher, rated not less than 2A, shall be provided for each 3,000 square feet of the protected building area, or major fraction thereof. Travel distance from any point of the protected area to the nearest fire extinguisher shall not exceed 100 feet.

• One 55-gallon open drum of water with two fire pails may be substituted for a fire extinguisher having a 2A rating.

• A ½-inch diameter garden-type hose line, not to exceed 100 feet in length and equipped with a nozzle, may be substituted for a 2A-rated fire extinguisher, providing it is capable of discharging a minimum of 5 gallons per minute with a minimum hose stream range of 30 feet horizontally. The garden-type hose lines shall be mounted on conventional racks or reels. The number and location of hose racks or reels shall be such that at least one hose stream can be applied to all points in the area.

• One or more fire extinguishers, rated not less than 2A, shall be provided on each floor. In multistory buildings, at least one fire extinguisher shall be located adjacent to stairway.

• Extinguishers and water drums, subject to freezing, shall be protected from freezing.

• A fire extinguisher, rated not less than 10B, shall be provided within 50 feet of wherever more than 5 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids or 5 pounds of flammable gas are being used on the jobsite. This requirement does not apply to the integral fuel tanks of motor vehicles.

• Carbon tetrachloride and other toxic vaporizing liquid fire extinguishers are prohibited.

• Portable fire extinguishers shall be inspected periodically and maintained in accordance with Maintenance and Use of Portable Fire Extinguishers, NFPA No. 10A-1970. Fire extinguishers which have been listed or approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, shall be used to meet the requirements of this subpart.

• Table F-1 in §1926.150(c)(1)(x) may be used as a guide for selecting the appropriate portable fire extinguishers.

In practice, though, you may also want to consider other factors, such as the training and mobility of the workers or others in the building, the type of construction, the existence of other fire protection systems, evacuation plans, etc.

See, OSHA 1910.157, which is excerpted here: "Where the employer has provided portable fire extinguishers for employee use in the workplace, the employer shall also provide an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting."

Here, we would recommend a "combination" tag / label. Order the tag with an adhesive strip on the back. The liner can be removed and your inspection or inventory tag can be just stuck onto any flat surface. There is no need to order a separate batch of labels. Your numbering / tracking scheme is preserved.

Let's first try a tag with reinforced metal eyelet. If that does not work, I would recommend using a plastic tag, also with a metal eyelet. The thicker the tag and the larger the eyelet, the more tear-resistant your tag becomes.

There are advantages to each method. Strings can be broken off and the tag removed easily. Wires need to be untwisted or cut. Ties are also rather permanent – yet fast to install. Ask for a few samples and test.

Retailers love their tag guns. Complete with small tags, they can attach tags in a flash. Yet, these ties are often not particularly strong. Other companies use an elastic string tie. This can just be slipped over the part and the tag snaps into place.

Let's upgrade you to a plastic tag. When most people think of tags, they think of tags they think "paper", which, of course, does not last. Paper tags mildew, rip and become illegible in the rain. The cost for a plastic tag is only slightly more. When you consider the cost to fill-in a tag and then hang it, it only makes sense to use the most durable tag possible.

Our multi-part tags are increasingly made from NCR paper – although we make paper and carbon tags if requested. The NCR paper has a special coating that, when pressed with a pen or pencil images the sheet below. NCR tags are cleaner. There is no messy carbon paper to dispose of. Yet, many traditionalists prefer the crisper and more durable image that is produced on the tag or other paper copies when you use a carbon sheet.

Ask for some samples of our self-laminating plastic tags. Self-laminating tags have become a mainstay for environmentally hostile conditions. The principle is very simple: a clear self-laminating flap seals in your writing and protects it against weather, abrasion and sunlight.

Your tag becomes almost impossible to tear and is highly resistant to chemicals. Tags stored underwater have remained readable and strong for 7 years. One skeptical customer even put one of our tags in the tank of his toilet bowl. A year later, he suddenly remembered the tag. He is a believer now!

Yes, we have many customers that use bar code on their tags. The bar-code speeds data entry and reduces mistakes. For example, we have a large customer that uses our tags to track drums. The exact container number is accurately and quickly scanned into the database from the field. Typos are eliminated and data entry is faster. Bar-code wand attaches to standard keyboards and uses bar-codes to speed data entry.

It also sounds like you could use a multi-part tag. Give us a call and we can create a free proof for you.

Tyvek is a brand name of DuPont. It is a polyethylene that, typically, as fibers for internal strength. Although Tyvek tags have good "writability" (like a paper tag) they are actually plastic.

This is a drawback to Tyvek. Tyvek tags tend to curl slightly. If "flatness" is a critical factor and you need the extra durability of a plastic tag, consider using one our plastic or aluminum tag materials.

This is an aluminum-clad tag. Debossable aluminum is mounted onto a tag board or a plastic core. This hefty 2 mils thick aluminum is heated to 1100° F and becomes annealed. Once annealed, the aluminum is soft and can be indented. The result is a tag that is durably printed. Even if the print is washed off, or painted over, the legend is still debossed into the surface.

We’re committed to providing the best prices to our customers. That’s why we’ve created a business where low prices are standard. We buy directly from the manufacturer, cutting out any intermediaries or 3rd parties, which means that we can negotiate for the best prices. We don’t pay distributers; instead, the factories ship directly to you so that you get the fastest turn around time. As an internet company we don’t employ any salesman or distribute any catalogs, so we don’t need to and any premiums to our prices. Our prices are simply what it costs to get you the products you order quickly.

We use the same vinyl cloth as the “big boys” and actually believe that our adhesive is superior to others. With terrific pull strength specs (Adhesion to steel is 40 oz./in.) and with a temperature range of -40°F to 250°F we line up very well. Contractors have been buying our books and cards for over 30 years! We pride ourselves on our crisp black print and white background.

For the first 48 hours, you should have no problem repositioning and moving them. After a week, you will find that they have already begun to set firmly. The adhesive on our wire markers is one of the features we are proudest of – we believe that it is superior to most of our competition – so don’t be surprised when wire markers stick on fully and don’t come off over time.

We have a huge inventory and stock over 500 different number, letter and symbol variations. Over 90% of our orders ship in one day!