Danny Adamson from Stocksigns breaks down the benefits of investing in a high-quality hoarding system and the hidden value that hoarding can add to a project of any size.
Since 2015 it has been a legal requirement for a building site to be secured with a perimeter fence. Hoarding is a well-established option and an ideal way to protect passers-by from potentially dangerous building work, shield a site from the gaze of the public − or potential thieves − and maintain security throughout the construction process. Traditionally, wooden hoarding systems have functioned as a pinboard for relevant security information. Today, well designed, high-quality hoarding can provide a number of other benefits for everyone involved in the construction process: from contractors to clients, neighbours, locals and investors.
Safety
The primary function of a hoarding system is to provide a secure perimeter around a site to ensure the safety of workers and the general public. As a result, the design of hoarding, notably its height and material construction, is essential to create a working environment that is safe and secure. There is no set limit for the dimensions of hoarding, but most sites opt for panels of at least 2.5 m in height. This may need to be raised where the likelihood of theft is higher or if the site is located near a school.
High-quality hoarding can also provide clear integrated safety signage printed directly onto the product, warning workers and passers-by of any potential hazards. Working with a knowledgeable partner is essential to ensure the hoarding selected is suitable for your site and optimally performs its safety functions.
Visual Impact
Even at the best of times construction sites can be a blight on the surrounding environment. Whether the site is in the remote countryside or part of a busy urban streetscape, hoarding provides an ideal solution to lessen its visual impact and help it to blend it into its surrounding context. High-quality hoarding that is regularly maintained can also help to make a site look more professional and orderly.
A variety of different images and designs suited to the client or location’s needs can be printed on a hoarding system: from woodland images in a rural setting, to scenes of the sea in a coastal location. Some developers even specify hoarding that tells the story of a site or specific building, using the linear nature of the product to visually inform curious passers-by through timelines, illustrations and infographics.
Finally, from a more practical perspective, if the project causes an obstruction to pedestrian routes, signposts can be printed onto the system or to point out local landmarks. Whilst panels can often attract graffiti there are gloss options that are easy to clean and ensure there is no lasting damage to the improved visual aesthetic hoarding creates.
Advertising
Hoarding doesn’t just have to be a tool to help a site blend into its environment, it can also serve as a street level billboard to promote a variety of different messages or help a new development to stand out.
It is common to see hoarding covered with images promoting the development planned for the site. This can be achieved by displaying renders and graphics supplied by the architect alongside images and text outlining the new amenities or environmental credentials of the project.
Similarly, hoarding also provides an opportunity for the contractors or investors involved to gain publicity. Whilst there are regulations regarding the advertising that can be displayed on a hoarding system, they are far more relaxed than those governing traditional billboards; in many cases, no prior consent is required as long as the advertisement complies with the conditions and limitations of ‘Class 8 Advertisements on hoarding’. Working with an experienced partner who understands the regulations surrounding hoarding is a great way to extract advertising value from any project.
For projects carried out by smaller developers and contractors, hoarding can provide a valuable opportunity for self-promotion. Whilst many larger developers possess the in-house capabilities to print their own hoarding advertising, it is often a solution overlooked by smaller developers due to the perceived high costs. However, at Stocksigns we assign an account manager to each case in order to help clients find a suitable solution regardless of their budget. As a result hoarding can can provide a cost-effective solution for projects of any size.
Building trust
Hoarding plays an increasingly important role in building trust between stakeholders on a construction site and the local community. Around 5,500 construction sites, suppliers and organisations register with the Considerate Contractors Scheme (CCS) each year. This scheme promotes high standards within the construction industry through its three key aims: Respecting the Community, Caring for the Environment and Valuing the Workforce. Projects that are part of this scheme bare the organisations logo and contact details and are assessed twice a year; the best being eligible for an award if they demonstrate outstanding standards. Projects are marked down if they have an excessively negative visual impact on the local area or if a member of the public complains about the appearance of the site.
High-quality hoarding displaying contextual images or relevent graphics, combined with regular cleaning and maintenance, can play an important role in improving the reputation of a contractor or project and by extension the industry as a whole.