Authorised entry signs help businesses control who is allowed into restricted areas of a workplace, site or premises.
They can be used where an area isn't completely closed to everyone, but access needs to be limited to employees, trained personnel, contractors or other people who have permission to enter.
You'll commonly see messages such as Authorised Personnel Only, No Unauthorised Access, Staff Only and Entry by Permit Only at doors, gates and entrances to controlled areas.
But which message should you choose?
Here's a practical guide to authorised entry signs and how to select the right wording for your workplace.
What Is an Authorised Entry Sign?
An authorised entry sign communicates that access to an area is controlled.
The important distinction is that some people are still allowed to enter.
For example, a plant room might be accessible to trained maintenance engineers but not to visitors or other employees.
A warehouse may have an operational area that can only be entered by designated staff.
A construction site might permit workers and approved contractors while restricting access to members of the public.
In each case, the objective isn't simply to say “Don't Enter”.
It's to communicate:
“Only people with the appropriate permission should enter this area.”
What Does Authorised Personnel Only Mean?
An Authorised Personnel Only sign indicates that entry is restricted to people who have been approved or given permission to enter.
Who counts as authorised depends on the workplace.
It might include:
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Trained employees
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Maintenance engineers
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Machine operators
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Contractors
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Supervisors
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Technicians
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Site workers
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Other specifically approved people
The business or organisation is responsible for determining who is authorised according to its access arrangements and the work being carried out.
What Does No Unauthorised Access Mean?
No Unauthorised Access communicates essentially the same access principle from a different perspective.
Rather than identifying the people who can enter, it tells people without permission that they must not enter.
So:
Authorised Personnel Only = only approved people may enter.
No Unauthorised Access = don't enter unless you have permission.
Which one should you choose?
Use the wording that makes the restriction clearest to the people approaching the area.
Authorised Entry vs No Entry
This is one of the most important distinctions to understand.
A No Entry sign gives a direct instruction not to enter or proceed beyond a particular point.
An authorised entry sign indicates that access is restricted, but certain people can still enter.
Imagine a workplace plant room.
If nobody should use a particular entrance, No Entry might accurately communicate the restriction.
But if maintenance engineers regularly use the door, Authorised Personnel Only or No Unauthorised Access may describe the arrangement more precisely.
Before choosing your sign, ask:
Is entry prohibited completely, or is entry allowed with permission?
Authorised Personnel Only vs Staff Only
These messages can also be confused.
Staff Only usually means employees may enter while customers, visitors or members of the public shouldn't.
Authorised Personnel Only can indicate a narrower restriction.
Not every employee is necessarily an authorised person.
For example, all employees might be allowed into a staff room, making Staff Only a sensible message.
But only trained maintenance employees might be permitted inside a plant room, making Authorised Personnel Only more appropriate.
Think about exactly who is permitted to enter rather than choosing the strongest-sounding message.
What Are the Main Types of Authorised Entry Sign?
There isn't one sign for every controlled-access situation.
The wording should reflect the actual restriction.
Authorised Personnel Only
Suitable where entry is limited to specifically approved people.
No Unauthorised Access
Suitable where people must have permission before entering.
Staff Only
Useful where employees can enter but customers, visitors or members of the public shouldn't.
No Admittance
A direct way of restricting entry, sometimes combined with more specific wording explaining who may enter.
Entry by Permit Only
Suitable where access is controlled through a permit or formal authorisation process.
Visitors Report to Reception
Useful where visitors aren't necessarily prohibited from entering the premises but must follow an access procedure first.
No Pedestrians
More appropriate where the restriction applies specifically to pedestrians rather than everyone.
Choosing a more precise message can make the access arrangements easier to understand.
Where Are Authorised Entry Signs Used?
Authorised entry signage can be useful anywhere access needs to be controlled.
Common locations include:
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Factories
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Warehouses
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Construction sites
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Workshops
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Plant rooms
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Electrical rooms
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Machinery areas
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Maintenance areas
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Loading areas
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Stockrooms
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Laboratories
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Industrial yards
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Offices
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Staff areas
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Storage facilities
The reason for controlling access can vary considerably between these locations.
It may relate to workplace safety, machinery, vehicle movements, security, operational requirements or another site-specific reason.
Authorised Entry Signs for Plant Rooms
Plant rooms can contain boilers, pumps, electrical equipment, mechanical systems and other equipment that isn't intended to be accessed by everyone.
An Authorised Personnel Only or No Unauthorised Access sign can help communicate that entry is controlled.
If a particular hazard is present, additional safety signage may also be required.
The access sign tells somebody whether they're permitted to enter.
A warning sign can tell them what hazard is present.
These are different messages and shouldn't automatically be treated as interchangeable.
Authorised Entry Signs for Warehouses
Warehouses often combine pedestrians, workplace vehicles, loading operations, machinery and storage areas.
Some parts of the premises may therefore require greater access control than others.
For example, authorised entry signs might be considered at entrances to:
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Plant areas
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Machinery zones
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Maintenance areas
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Loading areas
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Restricted storage
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Operational areas
Don't automatically use Authorised Personnel Only throughout the warehouse.
If a restriction specifically applies to pedestrians, vehicles or visitors, a more precise sign may communicate the rule more effectively.
Authorised Entry Signs for Factories
Factories and manufacturing environments can contain specialist machinery and processes that shouldn't be accessible to everyone.
Restricted areas might only be accessible to trained operators, engineers or designated employees.
Clearly identifying these controlled areas can help employees, contractors and visitors understand where permission is required before entering.
Authorised Entry Signs for Construction Sites
Construction sites need effective access control.
Workers, contractors and authorised visitors may require entry while members of the public and other unauthorised people need to remain outside active work areas.
Depending on the site arrangements, suitable messages could include:
No Unauthorised Access
Authorised Personnel Only
Construction Site – Keep Out
All Visitors Report to Site Office
The most appropriate wording depends on who is approaching and what they're expected to do.
Signs should support the site's wider access-control measures rather than replace necessary fencing, gates, barriers or site procedures.
Authorised Entry Signs for Staff Areas
Not every controlled area is hazardous.
Shops, restaurants, offices and other public-facing businesses often have back-of-house areas that customers shouldn't enter.
If all employees are permitted, Staff Only may be clearer than Authorised Personnel Only.
Typical examples include:
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Stockrooms
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Staff rooms
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Offices
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Kitchens
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Service corridors
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Back-of-house areas
Again, the best sign is the one that most accurately describes the access rule.
Are Authorised Entry Signs a Legal Requirement?
There isn't a blanket requirement for every restricted workplace area to display a sign containing the exact words “Authorised Personnel Only”.
The signage required depends on the risks, workplace and access arrangements.
Under the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, safety signs are required where significant risks to health and safety remain after other appropriate measures have been put in place.
The Regulations include No Access for Unauthorised Persons as an example of a prohibition sign.
However, safety signage shouldn't be used as a substitute for other necessary measures.
Where access needs to be physically controlled, this might also involve:
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Locked doors
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Gates
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Fencing
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Barriers
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Machine guarding
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Access-control systems
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Safe working procedures
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Training
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Visitor controls
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Supervision
The appropriate arrangements should reflect the actual risks and circumstances.
What Colour Are Authorised Entry Signs?
There isn't one colour that applies to every sign containing an authorised-entry message.
The design depends on what the sign is communicating.
For example, where a sign prohibits access by unauthorised people, it may use the recognised design conventions for a prohibition safety sign.
Mandatory signs, warning signs and general information signs have different purposes and visual conventions.
This is why it's better to choose a sign according to the actual instruction or risk rather than assuming every access-control sign should have the same colour.
Where Should Authorised Entry Signs Be Positioned?
Position the sign where people can see the restriction before they enter the controlled area.
Depending on the location, that might mean:
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On a door
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Beside an entrance
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On a gate
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On a barrier
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On fencing
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On site hoarding
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At the beginning of a restricted route
Consider how somebody will actually approach the area.
A sign shouldn't be hidden behind an open door, equipment, stock, parked vehicles or other obstructions.
If an area can be entered from several directions, consider whether the restriction is clear at each relevant access point.
What Size Authorised Entry Sign Do You Need?
Choose the sign size according to its location and expected viewing distance.
A sign on an internal plant-room door will usually be viewed from relatively close range.
A sign on an outdoor construction-site gate or industrial fence may need to be recognised from considerably further away.
Consider:
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Viewing distance
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Mounting height
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Available space
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Lighting
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Surrounding signs
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Visual clutter
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Approach direction
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Indoor or outdoor use
The important thing is that people can identify the access restriction before entering.
Which Sign Material Should You Choose?
The right material depends on where the sign will be installed.
Self-adhesive vinyl can be useful for suitable clean and smooth surfaces.
Rigid plastic provides a lightweight rigid option for many doors, walls and other mounting locations.
Aluminium composite can provide a robust option for outdoor and more demanding environments.
Check the material options available for the particular sign and choose one suitable for its intended location.
Don't Use More Signs Than You Need
More signage doesn't automatically mean better communication.
Imagine a plant-room door covered with:
No Entry
Keep Out
No Unauthorised Access
Authorised Personnel Only
Staff Only
Several signs may be attempting to communicate essentially the same restriction.
Instead, decide exactly who is allowed through the door and choose the clearest message.
Additional signs should communicate genuinely different information, such as a specific hazard or mandatory action.
Clear signage is usually more useful than sign clutter.
Which Authorised Entry Sign Should You Choose?
Start with one simple question:
Who is allowed in?
If nobody should enter, consider No Entry or Keep Out.
If only people with permission may enter, consider No Unauthorised Access.
If specifically approved people may enter, consider Authorised Personnel Only.
If employees may enter but customers and visitors shouldn't, consider Staff Only.
If a permit is required, choose wording that makes the permit requirement clear.
If visitors need to check in first, use an appropriate visitor or reception instruction.
If the restriction applies specifically to pedestrians, consider No Pedestrians.
Thinking about who is permitted to enter is often the easiest way to find the right sign.
Shop Authorised Entry Signs
The Sign Shed manufactures Authorised Entry Signs for workplaces, warehouses, factories, construction sites, plant rooms and other controlled areas.
Choose from Authorised Personnel Only, No Unauthorised Access and other restricted-entry messages in a range of sizes and materials for indoor and outdoor locations.
Rather than simply telling people to stay out, choose a sign that answers the more useful question:
Who is allowed in?
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