The National Trust, Wildlife Trusts and Groundwork Trusts we are a leading supplier of outdoor grade signs and graphics.  We understand the particular requirements of interpretation boards in exposed locations and have solutions to help.

Many clients have concerns that their new interpretation board will be subjected to mindless vandalism.  Sadly it is impossible to guarantee against vandalism but a number of steps and measures can be taken to help protect the interpretation board and to ensure it weathers and last well.

Step 1 is to ensure the board is produced in a robust and weather proof material allowing the interpretation message to last.  Several material options are commonly used for outdoor graphics and interpretation boards.  Polycarbonate and High Impact Acrylic are both popular  - these materials allow the interpretation graphics to be protected behind the material but both can be difficult to clean graffiti from and the acrylic can tend to shatter quite easily with impact damage.  Care must be taken in the framing of acrylic and polycarbonate interpretation boards as moisture can tend to creep up the back leaving unsightly stains on the bottom of the panel.
Glass Reinforced Plastic, GRP or encapsulated G.R.P. is another commonly used material for interpretation boards.  GRP offers excellent colour fastness with beautiful and attractive print quality.  The boards we supply in GRP for interpretation are the top end of the GRP range and offer excellent cleaning and durability properties.  Care does need to be taken with cheap interpretation boards in GRP as they can be poorly finished and with very poor colour fastness.
The Sirooco Signs preferred solution is an anodised aluminium process.  This is a unique option for interpretation graphics and boards in the UK but offers fantastic print quality with a really tough and durable outer finish.  We are convinced that this material, used on the continent and in the USA will become a popular sign material in the UK.
Step 2 is to ensure the interpretation board is really well designed and attractive to look at.  There are a number of key rules in conveying interpretation messages on an outdoor or indoor board but they can be best summarised as simple but clear text, a highly visual and illustrative content and an arresting headline to grab the attention of the reader.