Door signs "free-occupied" in comparison

Saturday, June 15, 2019

frei-besetzt-schild-89038_m.jpgAmong all door signs there is a special type of sign - free-busy signs . These practical signs with sliders are a smart solution for companies, medical practices and public institutions. They inform visitors whether a room is currently occupied or free. There is a wide variety of designs for vacant/occupied door signs: different materials and sizes, with pictures or with inscriptions, in German or in English, for gluing or for screwing on. We clarify which variant is best in which case in our Article.

Solutions for free-busy systems

A classic model is a red-green door sign with a sliding display . Changing to "vacant" or "occupied" is done by simply sliding a cover sign. Large pictograms and clear text instructions are hard to miss.

If you are looking for a space-saving solution, you could opt for an elegant vacant/occupied display . A simple slider with a red/green indicator and a cover plate can be mounted either individually or under an existing door plate.

An equally compact but slightly larger version of the slider with room names has a space for additional information, such as a name or room designation. You can have "conference room", "meeting room" or "training room" printed here. Ideal for the rooms with special purpose.

A flexible solution is provided by vacant/occupied systems , which consist of a normal door sign and a separate vacant/occupied sliding unit. This is a flexible solution for uniform indoor signage - the sliding unit can be assembled as needed and then disassembled once a room is no longer used as a meeting room.

Door signs with an integrated display or with a slider represent a smart all-in-1 system . On the one hand, this is an ordinary insert sign, where you can easily replace a paper insert as required. At the same time, there is a vacant/occupied slider that informs visitors about room occupancy. These vacant door signs are ideal when a room is used for various time-limited events.

shield materials

kombischild-flach-frei-belegt-91424_m.jpg As a rule, the vacant/occupied slides and frames for the door signs are made of aluminium . This fabric is high quality, light and strong. There are also signs with a profile made of stainless steel , which looks particularly solid.

The front cover plate of the door sign is usually made of transparent PVC or acrylic glass . Acrylic glass is particularly popular in sign production because it is lighter, more shatterproof and cheaper than ordinary glass.

The colored two-layer acrylic is used for vacant-occupied reversible signs and door handle signs.

Types of mounting of the free-occupied signs

Depending on the version, the door sign free-occupied can be screwed on, glued on or hung up.

A universal fastening material are screws and dowels. The sign with an aluminum or stainless steel frame is often screwed on. The advantage of screw-on door signs is that they can be securely fixed regardless of size and mounting surface. If necessary, the screwed-on vacant-occupied sign can be mounted in another place.wendeschild-frei-besetzt-mit-saugnapf-91413_m.jpg If the door or wall is smooth, the free-occupied sign can be attached with an appropriate adhesive. The signs for sticking are usually equipped with adhesive strips on the back. Before mounting the sign, the surface must be prepared: it must be dry and free of grease.

The "Do not disturb" reversible signs for hanging can be ordered in two versions: with a chain or as door handle signs. The chain reversible sign with a suction cup can be attached to smooth surfaces and glass doors. After use, you can simply "dismantle" it without leaving any traces. If the sessions or treatments in a room are only carried out sporadically, this hanging sign is an optimal solution.

The second variant of the hanging signs are the door handle signs . They are hung on the doorknob and are most commonly used in hotels. But you can also use them in offices or at home. In addition to the "Do not disturb" lettering, these signs can also be engraved with an individual text or a funny saying.

colors and languages

frei-belegt-schild-mit-schiebeanzeige-91403_m.jpgSigns with vacant/busy indicators traditionally have a red and green field for the inscription. The red side is labeled "occupied" or "occupied", the green field - with "vacant". These colors are self-explanatory - green usually means free passage in everyday life, the red color often signals a ban. Thus, even without text, it is immediately clear with just a glance whether the room is occupied.

The red and green version is considered to be tried and tested throughout the world, which is particularly important at international conferences and seminars as well as in migration services, hotels or airports. Foreigners who do not understand the German language use the colors as a guide. The free-occupied signs with the inscription in English - in the international language - serve the same purpose.

Some vacant busy signs can also be ordered in other languages ​​or with an individual text of your choice: eg "Free / Busy", "Please do not disturb", "Lunch break", "Please knock!" etc. It is also possible to print a name or logo on the cover plate.
Related links:
Free-occupied signs in the online shop Blog article: Safety Sign Colors and Symbols Blog article: Name tags in comparison Blog article: Floor stands as part of indoor signage