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What is Clarke's Safety Mirrors?
Clarke's Safety Mirrors is a UK manufacturer and supplier of safety mirrors for environments where ordinary glass mirrors would be a hazard or would not survive. According to its own site, it has supplied safety-conscious industries since 1997 and describes itself as the UK market leader for the manufacture and supply of safety mirrors. Its core audience is education, healthcare, care, correctional and other safety-focused settings, plus general workplace safety.
The range is organised by material and durability rather than by room type:
- Acrylic mirrors — strong, lightweight and impact resistant; suitable for fixing to flat surfaces, in 3mm and 6mm thicknesses.
- Polycarbonate mirrors — described as virtually unbreakable and roughly 200 times stronger than glass, for high-impact and fire-resistance needs.
- Stainless steel mirrors — anti-vandal, made from grade 304 stainless steel, hygienic and durable; a heavy-duty version adds a PVC backing for rigidity.
- Safety-backed glass mirrors — glass supplied to BS6206 class B and C with polished edges.
- Ligature-resistant mirrors — flat and dome versions designed for corrections and mental health settings.
- Specialist formats — SecurVue acrylic panels with an aluminium subframe for flatness on uneven walls, dome observation mirrors, weatherproof convex mirrors with a 90-degree field of view, framed impact-resistant glass mirrors with fire-retardant foam backing, and slogan mirrors carrying custom safety messages.
The company also states that its products are made in the UK, are listed on the NBS Source specification platform, and that its manufacturing facility runs on 100% renewable electricity. It sells heavy-duty shelving alongside the mirrors.
Choosing between them
| If your priority is… | Look at… |
|---|---|
| Low weight and easy fixing to flat walls | Acrylic |
| Maximum impact resistance | Polycarbonate or heavy-duty stainless steel |
| Hygiene and vandal resistance | Stainless steel |
| A conventional glass look with safety backing | Safety-backed glass |
| Mental health or correctional settings | Ligature-resistant range |
| Seeing around corners or into blind spots | Convex or dome observation mirrors |
A practical next step is to decide whether the mirror must resist deliberate impact, accidental impact or simply break safely, since that choice drives you towards polycarbonate/stainless steel, acrylic or safety-backed glass respectively. If the installation is on an uneven wall or must stay optically flat, the SecurVue panel is the option designed for that problem. For a school corridor, for example, acrylic or safety-backed glass is usually adequate; for a workshop or sports hall, polycarbonate is the more sensible choice.
Which safety mirror material should I choose for a high-impact environment like a gym or correctional facility?
For a high-impact environment, the material choice depends on which risk matters most: blunt impact, deliberate vandalism, fire performance, or ligature risk.
Quick comparison
| Material | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Polycarbonate | Gyms, sports halls, correctional facilities, anywhere with repeated heavy impact | Softer surface can scratch more easily than glass; not the right choice where a glass-like finish is essential |
| Stainless steel (304 grade) | Anti-vandal areas, hygiene-critical spaces, washrooms, custody suites | Heavier and more expensive to install; not a mirror-like finish in the same way as glass |
| Safety-backed glass | General safety-conscious settings where glass clarity is wanted | Shatter-resistant rather than unbreakable; still a glass product |
| Acrylic | Lightweight wall mirrors on flat surfaces, lower-impact areas | Impact-resistant but not in the same class as polycarbonate |
| Ligature-resistant flat or dome mirrors | Correctional and mental health settings | A specialist design decision, not just a material choice |
What this means in practice
Polycarbonate is the default answer for a gym or a correctional facility. Clarke's Safety Mirrors describes its polycarbonate range as virtually unbreakable and approximately 200 times stronger than glass, with fire resistance properties — which is exactly the combination you want where equipment, balls or deliberate force will hit the mirror. The trade-off is surface hardness: polycarbonate scratches more readily than glass, so in a busy gym, expect to replace or accept cosmetic wear over time.
Stainless steel is the better answer where vandalism and hygiene dominate rather than pure impact. The 304-grade mirrors are described as anti-vandal, hygienic and durable, and there is a heavy-duty variant with a PVC backing for extra rigidity. In a correctional setting, stainless steel is often chosen for washroom and cell areas because it resists being broken, removed or used as a weapon.
For a correctional or mental health facility specifically, the material is only half the decision. Ligature-resistant flat and dome mirrors exist for exactly these environments, and the page notes they were designed for the harsh corrections and mental health setting. If the room is a cell or seclusion space, choose ligature-resistant construction first, then pick the material within that range.
Glass still has a place where optical clarity matters and impact is moderate. Clarke's supplies all its glass mirrors safety-backed to BS6206 class B and C with polished edges, and framed impact-resistant glass mirrors with a fire-retardant foam backing to absorb body impact. That is a sensible choice for a reception area or a studio wall, not for a free-weight zone.
A practical next step
Walk the space and list each mirror position by risk type: ball or body impact, deliberate damage, hygiene, fire, or ligature. Then match the position to the material rather than choosing one product for the whole building — a gym may need polycarbonate on the court walls, stainless steel in the changing rooms, and safety-backed glass in the office corridor. If you need a large, flat panel over an uneven wall, the SecurVue acrylic panel with its integrated aluminium subframe is worth noting because it is designed to stay flat on uneven substrates.
For specification work, Clarke's products are listed on NBS Source, and the company publishes a product catalogue as a PDF, which is the fastest way to confirm sizes, thicknesses and fixing options before requesting a quote.
How do I install a safety mirror on an uneven wall without distortion?
Choose a mirror system designed to hold its own flatness, rather than a thin flexible sheet you try to bend into place. On an uneven wall, the distortion usually comes from the mirror following every bump and hollow in the substrate; the fix is to separate the reflective surface from the wall with a rigid backing or subframe and to fix at controlled points.
Clarke's Safety Mirrors makes this distinction explicit in its range: the SecurVue acrylic mirror panel uses 6 mm acrylic bonded to an integrated aluminium subframe, which the company says keeps the panel rigid and flat even on uneven substrates. That is the most direct answer in this catalogue. Its heavy-duty stainless steel mirrors instead use a 6 mm PVC backing for rigidity, and its acrylic mirrors are described as strong, lightweight and impact resistant, suitable for fixing to any flat substrate — note that "flat substrate" is the condition, not a promise about wobbly walls.
Practical approach
- Assess the wall. Run a straightedge across the intended area. Small undulations of a few millimetres can be bridged; large hollows or a bowed surface need battens or a subframe.
- Decide between flattening the wall and isolating the mirror. Battens or a plywood subframe create a flat plane, but add depth and create a cavity. A rigid mirror panel avoids the extra build-up but still needs sound fixing points.
- Fix at the frame, not through the face. Load should transfer through the backing or subframe to the wall. Over-tightening edge fixings is a common cause of wavy reflections in thin mirrors.
- Use the right fixings for the substrate. Plasterboard, blockwork and tiled surfaces need different anchors; a mirror falling from a corridor wall is a serious hazard.
- Check the environment before choosing material. Polycarbonate is described as virtually unbreakable and roughly 200 times stronger than glass, and is used where high impact and fire resistance matter. Stainless steel is described as anti-vandal, hygienic and durable. Acrylic is the lightweight, lower-cost option. Glass mirrors in this range are safety-backed to BS6206 class B and C with polished edges.
Matching the mirror to the setting
| Situation | Sensible choice | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Uneven wall, reflection quality matters | Rigid panel with integrated subframe, such as SecurVue | Higher cost and weight than a plain sheet |
| High-impact corridor or sports area | Polycarbonate or heavy-duty stainless steel | Polycarbonate can scratch more readily than glass; stainless steel gives a different visual finish |
| Mental health or correctional setting | Ligature-resistant flat or dome mirrors | Specialist design limits shape and mounting options |
| General workplace or school | Acrylic or safety-backed glass | Acrylic is lighter and easier to handle; glass gives the crispest image |
For a concrete example: a school business manager fitting a corridor mirror to an old, slightly bowed plaster wall would be better served by a rigid subframe-backed panel fixed into studs or masonry anchors than by a 3 mm acrylic sheet screwed at the corners, which will show every ripple under strip lighting.
As a next step, measure the wall's flatness and note the substrate, then compare the acrylic, polycarbonate, stainless steel and SecurVue options on Clarke's Safety Mirrors against those two facts. If the wall cannot be made flat, ask the supplier which products are specified for uneven substrates before ordering.
Are safety mirrors suitable for use in wet or outdoor areas?
Yes, but suitability depends on the mirror material and how it is mounted, not on the "safety mirror" label alone. Clarke's Safety Mirrors makes products for both indoor and outdoor use, with different durability levels, so the right choice comes down to matching the material to the conditions.
Materials and where they fit
| Material | Typical wet/outdoor suitability | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | Light and impact resistant; fine for covered or sheltered positions | Can scratch and may distort slightly; not the best for constant weather exposure |
| Polycarbonate | Virtually unbreakable and used where high impact and fire resistance matter | Softer surface than glass, so it can mark over time |
| Stainless steel (304) | Anti-vandal, hygienic and durable; a strong choice for washrooms, pools and exposed sites | Heavier and usually more expensive than plastic |
| Safety-backed glass | Suitable where a glass finish is wanted, with a safety backing to BS6206 class B and C | Glass is the least impact-tolerant option, even when safety backed |
| Convex | Weatherproof and described for indoor and outdoor use with a 90-degree field of view | Curved view can look unfamiliar at first; fixing position matters |
Practical decision criteria
- Fully exposed to rain and sun: choose stainless steel or a weatherproof convex mirror. Clarke's convex range is explicitly described as weatherproof with fixing kits included.
- Wet interiors (showers, pools, food areas): stainless steel is the easiest to clean and least likely to be damaged by moisture; polycarbonate is a reasonable lower-cost alternative.
- High-impact or secure settings: polycarbonate, heavy-duty stainless steel or ligature-resistant designs, depending on whether the risk is vandalism or self-harm.
- Indoor dry corridors and classrooms: acrylic or safety-backed glass will usually do the job at lower weight and cost.
A concrete example
A leisure centre might use a weatherproof convex mirror at an outdoor car park entrance, stainless steel mirrors in the changing rooms, and acrylic mirrors along an indoor corridor. Same supplier, three different materials, because the exposure and impact risk differ in each spot.
For a definitive answer on a specific location, check the individual product page for its stated indoor/outdoor rating and fixing guidance, or request a quote with your site conditions. The full catalogue is available as a PDF from Clarke's Safety Mirrors.
Can I get a custom safety mirror with a specific size or safety message?
Yes. Clarke's Safety Mirrors indicates custom mirrors are available on request, and its slogan mirrors can carry a message you create yourself. So both kinds of customisation you asked about — a specific size and a specific safety message — are within scope of what this supplier offers.
What the site indicates
- Custom sizes: "Custom mirrors available upon request" appears against the safety-backed glass mirror range. Treat this as the clearest route for non-standard dimensions; for other materials, ask whether the same applies.
- Custom safety messages: Slogan mirrors are described as impact-resistant safety mirrors that "create your own message", aimed at site and workplace safety.
- Materials that typically suit custom work: acrylic (3mm or 6mm), polycarbonate, 304 stainless steel, and safety-backed glass to BS6206 class B and C with polished edges.
- Specialist environments: ligature-resistant flat and dome mirrors are made for corrections and mental health settings, and the SecurVue acrylic panel uses a 6mm acrylic face with an aluminium subframe for flatness on uneven walls.
Choosing between a size change and a message
| Your need | Sensible starting point | Practical trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Unusual wall or door dimensions | Custom glass mirror request | Non-standard sizes usually mean longer lead time and a firm measurement check before ordering |
| High-traffic or vandal-prone area | Acrylic, polycarbonate or stainless steel | Impact resistance improves, but some materials scratch more easily than glass |
| You want the mirror to instruct as well as reflect | Slogan mirror | Message legibility depends on viewing distance and mirror position, so agree wording and lettering size early |
| Mental health or correctional setting | Ligature-resistant range | Fixings and edge design matter more than the message itself |
A concrete example
A school business manager replacing a corridor mirror above a hand-wash station might need a non-standard width to fit between tiling, plus a "Wash your hands" reminder. The practical answer is a custom-sized acrylic mirror with a printed slogan: lightweight for wall fixing, impact-resistant for a busy corridor, and able to carry the message. The same job in a hospital corridor or a secure unit would point towards stainless steel or a ligature-resistant specification instead.
Next step
Before requesting a quote, note four things: finished dimensions, mounting surface (flat, uneven, tiled or plasterboard), the environment (school, care home, correctional, industrial), and the exact wording you want. If the mirror must meet a fire or impact standard, say so at the outset. For specification-led projects, the company's listings on NBS Source are the natural place to check product data, and general UK guidance on mirror safety standards can be checked via BSI.
How do Clarke's Safety Mirrors ensure their products meet UK safety standards and environmental regulations?
Clarke's Safety Mirrors approaches compliance in two visible ways: product-level safety specifications and a stated commitment to lower-impact manufacturing. Both are described on its own pages, so treat them as the company's claims rather than independently verified certifications.
Safety standards
The clearest standard named on the site is BS6206 class B & C, which the company says applies to all its glass mirrors, supplied safety-backed with polished edges. BS6206 is the British Standard for impact performance of flat glass, so this is the relevant benchmark for mirrors that could be struck or leaned against.
The rest of the range is positioned by material and intended environment rather than by standard number:
- Acrylic mirrors — described as strong, lightweight and impact resistant, available in 3mm and 6mm thicknesses.
- Polycarbonate mirrors — described as virtually unbreakable, around 200 times stronger than glass, for high-impact and fire-resistance requirements.
- Stainless steel mirrors — made from grade 304 stainless steel, described as anti-vandal, hygienic and durable.
- Ligature-resistant mirrors — flat and dome versions designed specifically for corrections and mental health settings.
- Framed impact-resistant glass mirrors — glass with a fire-retardant foam backing intended to absorb body impact.
- SecurVue acrylic panels — 6mm acrylic bonded to an aluminium subframe so the panel stays flat on uneven surfaces.
For a specifier, the practical takeaway is to match the product to the risk profile of the room. A school corridor, a gym and a mental health observation room are not the same problem, and the range is clearly organised around that distinction.
Environmental and specification signals
The site states that the manufacturing facility runs on 100% renewable electricity, and that products are listed on NBS Source, the specification platform used by UK architects and contractors. NBS listing matters less as an environmental credential and more as a route into formal project specifications, where a specifier can pull the product data directly into tender documents.
If you are specifying for a UK project, ask for the current BS6206 test evidence for the specific glass product and the thickness you intend to order, since the standard applies to the glazing supplied, not to the brand as a whole. For corrections or healthcare work, request the ligature-resistant fixing details alongside the mirror itself, because the mounting is usually where compliance is won or lost.
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