Convex Mirrors

Convex Mirrors — Wide-Angle Visibility for Safer Sites & Roads

Convex safety mirrors eliminate dangerous blind spots at road junctions, car park exits, warehouse corners, and tight access lanes. By presenting a wide-angle, curved reflection of the surrounding area, they allow drivers and pedestrians to detect approaching hazards before entering or crossing a potential conflict zone. Our range spans compact indoor units through to large-diameter outdoor highway mirrors, all manufactured to resist UV degradation, vandalism, and the full range of British weather.

Types of Convex Mirror & Key Applications

Outdoor Traffic & Junction Mirrors

Designed for exposed roadside use, outdoor convex mirrors are manufactured from polycarbonate or acrylic with a UV-stabilised anti-fog backing. They are mounted on adjustable wall brackets or post systems to optimise the viewing angle for specific junctions. Applications include:

• Private road junctions with restricted sight-lines
• Car park exits onto public or private roads
• Industrial estate and logistics centre access points
• Agricultural and rural track junctions
• Blind bends on private access roads

Indoor Safety Mirrors

Lightweight indoor mirrors are used wherever pedestrians and vehicles or materials-handling equipment share space. Available with wall-mount, ceiling-mount, and corner-mount configurations:

• Warehouse aisle ends and racking intersections
• Factory floor pedestrian/forklift crossing points
• Multi-storey car park ramps and blind-corner exits
• Shop floor and retail stockroom corners
• School corridors and stairwell exits

Full-Dome & Quarter-Dome Mirrors

Full-dome mirrors provide a 360° view of the surrounding area and are ceiling-mounted at intersections where vision is needed in all directions simultaneously. Quarter-dome and half-dome variants suit corner-mounted applications. Ideal for:

• Supermarket and distribution centre aisle intersections
• Underground car parks with low-visibility pillars
• Data centre and server room access corridors

Stainless Steel Mirrors

For applications where vandalism, harsh chemicals, or extreme temperatures are a concern, stainless steel convex mirrors offer unmatched durability. The slight colour tint inherent in stainless steel has no meaningful impact on detection at typical installation distances. Preferred for:

• Prison and custody suite corridors
• Chemical plant and refinery access points
• Coastal and marine environments
• Public transport and bus depot facilities

Technical Specifications

• Diameters: 300 mm, 450 mm, 600 mm, 800 mm, 1,000 mm, 1,200 mm
• Viewing angles: 120°–160° depending on diameter and focal length
• Detection distances:
  • 300 mm: up to 5 m effective viewing distance
  • 600 mm: up to 15 m effective viewing distance
  • 1,000 mm: up to 30 m effective viewing distance
• Mirror materials: UV-stabilised acrylic, polycarbonate, or grade 304 stainless steel
• Frame/housing: ABS plastic, powder-coated steel, or stainless steel
• Mounting: Wall bracket (adjustable tilt/swivel), post/pole mount, ceiling mount
• IP rating (outdoor models): Typically IP65
• Operating temperature: -40°C to +70°C

UK Standards & Compliance

• Highway Code Rule 160 / 288 — Drivers are responsible for ensuring they can see clearly before moving; convex mirrors at exits assist compliance
• BS EN ISO 7460 — International standard for traffic mirrors; covers reflectance, distortion, and structural requirements
• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 / Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 — Employers must take reasonable steps to prevent collisions between vehicles and pedestrians; convex mirrors directly address this duty
• PUWER 1998 (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) — Work vehicles must be operated safely; mirrors supporting safe movement fall within the scope of PUWER risk reduction
• L24 Workplace Traffic Management — HSE guidance recommending physical controls including mirrors at blind spots

Selecting the Right Mirror Size

As a general rule, use the largest mirror that is practical for the mounting location. Larger mirrors provide greater detection distance and wider coverage. For outdoor road junctions, a minimum 600 mm diameter mirror is recommended. Warehouse intersections with forklift traffic benefit from 600–800 mm units. Full-dome ceiling mirrors for multi-directional coverage should be at least 800 mm in diameter to provide reliable detection at aisle widths of 3 m or more. Height of installation is equally important — a mirror mounted too high or too low relative to the driver's eye line reduces effectiveness significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What diameter mirror do I need for my car park exit?

For a car park exit onto a road where the driver's view is restricted to 10–15 metres, a 600 mm mirror is typically adequate. If the sight-line restriction extends to 20–30 metres — common at junctions with walls or hedges — a 800 mm or 1,000 mm mirror is recommended. Larger mirrors provide greater detection distance but must be positioned so the centre of the mirror is at the driver's eye line (approximately 1.0–1.2 m above the road surface for the seated driver of a typical car).

Do outdoor convex mirrors fog up or ice over?

Quality outdoor convex mirrors use polycarbonate or acrylic lenses with an anti-fog backing treatment. Under normal UK conditions, condensation and light frost do not significantly impair visibility. In persistently cold or very damp locations, heated mirror options are available. Avoid siting mirrors where shade and poor air circulation cause persistent condensation. Regular cleaning with a soft cloth and mild detergent removes road grime that reduces reflectivity over time.

Is a convex mirror sufficient safety provision at a blind junction?

Convex mirrors are a recognised engineering control for blind junction hazards and are referenced in HSE guidance. However, for high-risk traffic movements (e.g. heavy goods vehicles in dense pedestrian areas), mirrors alone may be insufficient — a formal traffic management risk assessment may indicate the need for additional controls such as banksmen, traffic lights, or physical segregation. A mirror is a useful supplementary measure in most cases.

Can convex mirrors be installed on a public road?

Convex mirrors on the public highway require the approval of the local highways authority as they constitute roadside furniture that may distract or be confused with official signs. Many authorities will approve mirrors at private accesses as a condition of planning permission or highway agreement. On private land, no such approval is needed, though you should ensure the mirror does not itself create a hazard by redirecting glare or distracting drivers on the adjacent public road.