The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994

Mounting and backing of signs

37.—(1) The back of any sign shown in a diagram in Schedules 1 to 5, 7, Part II of Schedule 10 or in Schedule 12, or prescribed in regulation 41, other than a sign shown in diagram 651, 970, 971, 972, 973, 973.1, 2610, 2610.1, 2610.2, 7101, 7102, 7103, 7104 or 7105, and the back of any backing board or other fitting provided for the assembly of such a sign including any container enclosing apparatus for the illumination of that sign, shall be coloured—

(a) black if the sign is mounted on the same post as that on which light signals prescribed in regulation 30(2) (or those signals as varied by regulation 31) or light signals prescribed in regulation 30(3) and regulation 32 are mounted; or

(b) grey, black or in a non-reflective metallic finish in any other case, except that—

(i) information about sites for placing and the ownership of the sign may be indicated on the back of the sign in characters not exceeding 15 millimetres in height; and

(ii) information about the manufacture of the sign required in order to comply with British Standard Specification BS 873 or an equivalent specification of a European Economic Area State, occupying an area not exceeding 30 square centimetres, may be indicated on the back of the sign in characters not exceeding 5 millimetres in height.

(2) The back of a sign shown in diagram 7104 or 7105 shall be coloured grey, red, white, black or yellow, except that—

(a) information about sites for placing and the ownership of the sign may be indicated on the back of the sign in characters not exceeding 15 millimetres in height; and

(b) information about the manufacture of the sign required in order to comply with British Standard Specification BS 873 or an equivalent specification of a European Economic Area State, occupying an area not exceeding 30 square centimetres, may be indicated on the back of the sign in characters not exceeding 5 millimetres in height.

(3) The back of a sign shown in diagram 651, 970, 971, 972, 973, 973.1, 2610, 2610.1 or 2610.2 may be of any colour.

(4) The front of any backing board for a sign mounted otherwise than as described in paragraph (1)(a) shall be coloured either grey or yellow.

(5) Any sign shown in a diagram in Schedules 1 to 5, 7, Part II of Schedule 10, or Schedule 12 which has a red or black border may have a white edge added not less than 10 nor more than 20 millimetres wide, outside that border.

(6) In this direction “backing board” in relation to a sign includes any background against which the sign is displayed.