The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing Sandwich Board Panels

Many sandwich panels are optimized for a specific application, such as roofing or cladding. However, you must ensure they meet local regulations and are suitable for your building. Here are the two most common applications and key considerations:

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Facade sandwich panels provide thermal insulation for the building's exterior while shielding it from various weather conditions. Keep in mind that fire safety requirements are often stricter for taller buildings.

Roof sandwich panels must adhere to the aforementioned criteria while also taking into account variables such as roof pitch and roof loads which may include snow accumulation, maintenance equipment, and personnel. Some roof sandwich panels feature profiles that mimic traditional roofs, with tile patterns, a standing seam, or a corrugated design.

Sandwich panels can also be used for walls, partition walls, soffits, and doors. Your specific needs may influence the material and finish you choose.

Sandwich panels sometimes have special fixing or interlocking systems to make installation much easier and improve performance. Interlocking systems are particularly interesting for insulation, especially for flooring, roofing, or facades, ensuring a continuous barrier and preventing cold bridging. Ensure that the sandwich panel is compatible with other building materials chosen to avoid damage to the panels or compromising the building's performance.

Before installing the panels, you should know the workflow and how the panels should be joined to other building elements such as doors and windows. The following is an example of a facade sandwich panel installation (but this can vary according to each type of sandwich panel and manufacturer): Once the first panel is secured, door and window profiles are installed. Subsequent panels must be correctly pressed down for tight fastening and to prevent thermal bridges.

The core of a sandwich panel can significantly impact characteristics such as thermal insulation, acoustic performance, fire resistance, and strength. The core structure typically consists of foam, honeycomb, or corrugated materials. In contrast to foam sandwich panels, honeycomb core panels prioritize strength over insulation. The most common materials for honeycomb cores include aluminum, polypropylene, or cardboard. For insulating sandwich panels, the most common foam core types are as follows:

Polyurethane (PUR) core sandwich panels offer high initial thermal insulation but lack optimal fire resistance. The polyisocyanurate (PIR) core is a variation designed to improve this performance by providing better fire resistance, thermal insulation, and stability.

Phenolic foam (PF) sandwich panels, while more expensive than PIR insulation boards, offer slightly higher thermal and fire resistance.

Polystyrene sandwich panels are often more affordable than PUR or PIR variants but tend to provide lower thermal and fire resistance. Flame retardants may be added during production to ensure that they meet fire safety requirements. Polystyrene sandwich panels come in two forms: XPS (extruded polystyrene) or EPS (expanded polystyrene). XPS is denser, offers higher thermal resistance, and is also more moisture/vapor resistant compared to EPS.

Mineral wool core sandwich panels are known for their excellent fire resistance as mineral wool is non-combustible. Although they tend to be heavier and less thermally insulating than PIR, they excel in acoustic performance.

The facing material of a sandwich panel can impact the performance and appearance of the panel. Below is a summary of the main types including metal, wood, and fiberglass.

The most common types of insulated metal-facing sandwich panels are aluminum and steel, which are often used for roofing and façades. While aluminum is more corrosion-resistant and lightweight, steel offers greater impact resistance. Metal panels are often finished with coatings for protection or aesthetics.

There is a wide variety of wood-faced sandwich panels, such as plywood and OSB, each serving different functions. These range from structural insulated core panels (SIPs) for structural wall systems to honeycomb core wood panels, which can be a lightweight alternative to solid wood panels for doors or furniture.

Fiberglass-faced sandwich panels may be chosen for their lightweight nature and resistance to corrosion, with applications in furniture, wall panels, and partitions.

HPL or PVC-faced sandwich panels are usually available in different colors and patterns. They are sometimes applied as a protective and decorative coating over other facing materials, such as metal or wood.

The technical characteristics you should prioritize may vary depending on how you intend to use your sandwich panel. Here are some of the most common characteristics to consider:

• Density (kg/m2): Ensure the supporting structure can handle the load.
• Dimensions and thickness: These factors affect ease of installation and performance.
• Fire ratings: Euroclasse -1 in the EU and ASTM E84 in the US, as examples, are used to assess the combustibility and smoke emissions of materials. The required rating may vary depending on local regulations and the intended use of the sandwich panel.
• The λ-value: This measures the thermal conductivity of the insulation in W/mK (Watts per meter-Kelvin). A lower λ-value indicates better insulation.
• The U-value: This quantifies thermal transmittance or the amount of heat lost through the construction material in W/mK. A lower U-value signifies better insulation.
• Sound insulation in 'dB Dw': This describes the sound transmission loss between two spaces in dB. A higher value indicates better insulation.

Other characteristics include water vapor, air, and moisture permeability which could have an impact on the quality of the building envelope. The mechanical resistance and compressive strength could be important for panels subject to diverse loads such as wind, snow, people, or equipment.

Whether you call them A boards, sandwich boards or pavement signs, they all do the same job and can all increase the number of people entering your business.

Outdoor signage is essential if you have great special offers, are set back from the main road or are new to the area and want to make yourself known.

Additional reading:
Benefits of FRP Wind Pipes in Industrial Applications

Wiskind New Materials are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

Check out our full Pavement Signs and A Boards category for the full range, or see our guide below to help you choose the best sandwich board signs for your business.

What is a sandwich board sign?

Sandwich board signs are a popular form of outdoor advertising. Sandwich boards, also known as A boards, are two boards connected in a triangular shape that can be folded away. They have two sides so businesses can use them both inside and outside to draw in customers.

They're available in a range of colours, sizes and styles, allowing you to choose from using a printed poster within a snap frame, or a chalkboard. Both the snap frame and chalkboard designs have their benefits, and both can be updated regularly and easily.

Popular sandwich boards

• Budget A Board

  SBGX In stock From: £44.86 ex. VAT View

• A1 Rounded A Board with Magnetic Cover

  ABM2 In stock Was: £197.73 From: £118.00 ex. VAT View

• Silver A Board

  ABG1 In stock From: £52.92 ex. VAT View

• A Board Pavement Sign

  ABG In stock From: £52.92 ex. VAT View

Why do I need a sandwich board?

Reasons to use sandwich board signs in promoting your business include:

• To increase sales.
• To attract new customers.
• To advertise new offers to passersby.
• To drum up trade for a new business.
• To attract attention if your business is set back from the main high street.
• To advertise that you are showing an event in your pub or bar.

A boards are proven to alert both pedestrians and motorists to your business, increase walk-in traffic and make people aware of your appealing deals and offers [1], [2].

Forecourt signs

• Heavy Duty Pavement Sign

  WPG6 In stock From: £397.00 ex. VAT View

• Water Base Pavement Sign

  WPG7 In stock From: £69.50 ex. VAT View

• Silver Water Based Pavement Sign

  WPG3 In stock From: £182.00 ex. VAT View

Is an A board better than a heavy duty pavement sign?

The right pavement sign for you depends on a number of factors. If you're based somewhere particularly windy or with harsh weather conditions, then a water based pavement sign might be the better option for you. These signs are more durable and sturdy than A boards but both offer the same quality of advertising. The advantage of A boards is that they are light and easy to transport and pack away.

How can I protect my poster from the weather?

The best way to make your poster weather resistant is to always print onto a waterproof based paper, such as PVC. This way, your poster will not run or crease should it come into contact with water, whether that be rain or condensation within the frame.

We can print your bespoke designs directly onto our waterproof posters, so you can get everything you need for an outdoor poster display all in one place.

Also, our snap frame style A boards come with UV-resistant anti-glare PVC covers which will protect your graphic from fading in harsh sunlight.

Swing signs

• Warrior' Water Base Swing Board Sign

  SWG6 In stock From: £130.00 ex. VAT View

• Sign Panel Pavement Sign

  SWG3 In stock From: £95.62 ex. VAT View

• Swinger Pavement Sign With Water Fillable Base

  SWG5 In stock From: £245.90 ex. VAT View

• Black Pavement Swinger

  SWG2 In stock From: £134.00 ex. VAT View

Can I legally place an A board anywhere?

We recommend that you follow these three simple steps to ensure that your A board is not causing any issues or offences:

• Keep your sign in good condition at all times. The council won't approve of untidy, defaced or offensive signs.
• If the weather takes a turn, bring your sign indoors. If the sign blows over and causes an obstruction, you as the owner could be liable for any damage or accidents.
• Make sure the size suits the area. If you're on a narrow street, an A0 size board may not be suitable as it may cause blockages.

How do I make the most out of my sandwich boards?

The most important element of your sign is the clarity. If the message isn't clear instantly, people will lose interest. A boards are in place to catch the foot traffic of passing trade, so your offer, deal or message needs to be able to be understood at a glance. To help with this, you can use bold colours, large fonts and images.

Your sandwich boards need to attract the attention of lots of people. Humour always works well, often encouraging people to stop and take a picture. This isn't always the correct tone for every business, however. If you need a more formal approach, try using striking images.

An obvious but crucial point that's often missed is spelling. A simple spelling mistake will instantly turn people away from your business as it's both careless and unprofessional.

Finally, you want your sign to encourage people to come in or call, so why not say it on your sign? A simple 'visit now' or 'speak to our advisors' will let people know that you're available and happy to help.

Do you have chalkboards?

Yes, we do have a great range of chalkboard a boards and chalkboard sandwich boards. Write your own promotional messages on chalk board to add a personal touch to your business.

Chalkboard outdoor pavement signs

• A Board Chalkboard

  ABC4 In stock From: £56.00 ex. VAT View

• Reversible Chalk A Board

  ABC3 In stock From: £72.50 ex. VAT View

• Chalkboard Wooden A Board with Poster Holder

  ABC7 In stock From: £139.00 ex. VAT View

• Wooden Blackboard A Board

  ABCSQK In stock From: £84.42 ex. VAT View

How do the A boards on the market differ in quality from Clipable A boards?

Some of the cheaper A board models available on the market can be quite flimsy. They're often made from cheap, lightweight metal so they corrode, blow over when it's windy, and don't provide a firm grip on your posters.

Many of our A boards are manufactured in-house and supplied exclusively by the UK POS Clipable brand. They're designed to be a much higher quality than most on the market. They're made from thicker, heavier anodised aluminium so they won't corrode and they're far less likely to blow over when it's windy. The frames are thick and feature extra springs to create a firm grip on posters, and they have sturdy metal back panels rather than flimsy plastic.

You can feel the difference in quality and engineering as soon as you hold one - ours weigh up to 13kg for the largest sizes, compared to just 3kg for some competing models. Yet we sell them in such high volumes that we're also able to offer them at very competitive prices, too.

Clipable sandwich boards

• Silver A Board

  ABG1 In stock From: £52.92 ex. VAT View

• Black or Silver A Board Snap Frame

  ABG2 In stock From: £49.50 ex. VAT View

• Blue A Board Pavement Sign

  ABG10 In stock From: £75.77 ex. VAT View

• Black A Board Pavement Sign

  ABG9 In stock From: £57.88 ex. VAT View

Still unsure which size you need? Read our paper dimensions guide for full details.

Want more information on Sandwich Board Panels? Feel free to contact us.

Kira Swales & Alysha Bennett

Alysha and Kira are copywriters for UK POS, with almost twenty years of combined experience in e-commerce. Read more of their in-depth guides in our Knowledge Hub.