Restricted Access Door Sign – Keep This Door Locked

Keep This Door Locked – Restricted Access Door Sign | ISPS0016

This restricted access door sign carries the instruction “Keep This Door Locked” and is designed for compartments, hatches and access points aboard commercial vessels and port facilities where uncontrolled entry poses a direct security risk. It suits crew, contractors, visiting technicians and port officials moving through working areas of the ship, making clear at a glance that the door behind it must stay secured and is not to be left open or unlatched between uses. The sign is typically posted at the point of access itself, on the door leaf or adjoining bulkhead, so anyone approaching sees the instruction before reaching the handle.

ISPS0016 sits within Safety Sign Hub’s ISPA Signs range alongside other door and access-control signage used to enforce a vessel’s or port facility’s security perimeter. On board, this restricted access door sign is commonly fitted to security equipment lockers, CSO and SSO communication rooms, cargo control rooms, chain lockers and other compartments identified in the security assessment as requiring controlled access. In a Ship Security Plan or Port Facility Security Plan, each such door carries its own access-control measure, and this sign is the visible, physical reminder that supports it, reinforcing that the compartment is not for casual entry and that the locking discipline is part of daily routine, not an occasional precaution.

Built to the same specification as the rest of the ISPA range, ISPS0016 is available as rigid marine-grade board or self-adhesive vinyl, both finished to withstand UV exposure, saltwater spray and general deck wear, with a photoluminescent option available for compartments with limited lighting.

Why Restricted Access Doors Matter

A door left unlocked at the wrong moment undermines the entire security architecture built around it. Under the ISPS Code, access control is only as strong as its weakest point, and an unsecured compartment door, whether a store, a control room or a security locker, creates an opportunity for unauthorised access that bypasses every other layer of screening and monitoring in place at the gangway or perimeter. Crew rotate, contractors come aboard for short jobs, and visiting officials move through areas they don’t normally work in; a clear, consistently posted restricted access door sign closes the gap between the written security plan and what actually happens on deck, keeping the locking habit visible rather than left to memory.

Compliance and Certification

This restricted access door sign is produced to support the access-control measures set out in a vessel’s Ship Security Plan (SSP) or a facility’s Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP) under the ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, part of SOLAS Chapter XI-2). It is not a registered ISO 7010 hazard pictogram; it is maritime security signage, and its wording and placement should be verified against the relevant SSP or PFSP by the Ship Security Officer (SSO), Company Security Officer (CSO) or Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) before installation. During ISPS audits, Port State Control officers and classification society surveyors routinely check that door signage of this kind matches what is documented in the approved Security Plan.

Installation Recommendations

Fit this restricted access door sign at eye level on the door leaf, or immediately beside the handle on the adjoining bulkhead, so it is the last thing seen before the door opens. On exterior or weather-deck doors, choose the rigid board version for long-term durability; for interior alleyways and control rooms, self-adhesive vinyl mounts flush and stays legible under regular cleaning.

• Rigid marine-grade board or self-adhesive vinyl construction
• UV and saltwater resistant finish for exterior and interior use
• Photoluminescent option available for low-light compartments
• Clear, high-contrast wording that reproduces the standard Keep This Door Locked instruction
• Sized for door leaves, bulkheads and locker access points across vessel types

Order ISPS0016 from Safety Sign Hub’s ISPA Signs range to keep every restricted access door on board correctly signed and aligned with your Ship Security Plan, and pair it with related access-control signage such as ISPS0017 or browse our Mandatory Signs for broader compliance needs across the vessel.