How Much Area and Angle Will the Mirror Cover?

Area and Angle Depends On:

1. Mirror Shape
2. Mirror Position/Angle and Viewing Point
3. Mirror Size

1. Mirror Shape

DuraVision manufacture 3 basic shapes.

• Full Dome Mirrors - Deep Curve
• Half Dome Mirrors - Semi Deep Curve
• Standard Convex Mirrors - Shallow Curve

Full Dome Mirrors - have a deep curve, which gives the mirror a 360° viewing angle. When mounted to the ceiling (or suspended from high ceilings with chain or twine) the viewer can see a reflection in all directions. The shape is ideal for viewing large open areas, especially over aisles and shelving. For example, instead of having one mirror for viewing one aisle, a ceiling dome can view over multiple aisles, such as large store layouts or warehouses with multiple shelving aisles.

Half Dome Mirrors - are designed to give 180° reflection, so the viewer can see both left and right without the need for two separate mirrors.  DuraVision™ Half Domes are scientifically engineered to give the maximum useable reflective surface for a wide angle view and a larger image size. Other brands have a deeper curve and reflect 50% of the wall they are mounted to. 

Half Domes are ideal for T-Intersection corridors such as hospitals, schools and office hallways. They can also assist forklift drivers in warehouses when they need to see left and right at the end of shelving units.  For store observation, they can be mounted along the back wall to monitor customers in hard to see areas.

Standard Convex Mirrors - will generally give 140° of reflection, however this can change depending on how the mirror is angled, (see below). Standard mirrors come with an adjustable bracket to position the mirror into a specific area.

Indoor mirrors are ideal for viewing a specific blind spot in a store, office building or warehouse, around corners and partitions etc. Outdoor mirrors will help you see traffic and pedestrians around blind corners on driveways and at entry/exits on to busy streets. Also used for monitoring children outside on playgrounds with blind spots, and for security around buildings and parking areas.

2. Viewing Area

Viewing areas can range from small rooms, offices, narrow corridors, and tight driveways, which would only require a smaller sized mirror.  Whereas large open warehouses, playgrounds, roadways, parking lots would require a larger sized mirror. 

The larger and more open the area you need to view, the larger the mirror you will need.

3. Viewing People or Vehicles

The mirror size you require will also depend on what you are trying to view in the mirror. The size requirements for viewing people is much different compared to viewing moving traffic.

As people are smaller than vehicles, the viewing distance for indoor standard mirrors is shorter than the viewing distance for outdoor traffic mirrors.

When viewing people, it will also depend on whether you need to see if someone is in the room, or do you need to see who they are and what they are doing. A larger mirror will give you a larger relection to see more details.

4. Traffic Speed

When viewing moving traffic or machinery, the speed will affect the appropriate mirror size.

When viewing traffic on a driveway or parking lot with strict speed limits, a smaller mirror will work, compared to viewing traffic on an open street or highway. 

It is also important to factor in the distance you need to view. For example, you may want to upgrade the size of your low speed mirror, if the distance is on a long driveway, or if the positioning of the mirror is far from your viewing point.

We would not recommend installing a mirror smaller than 32 inches for high speed traffic. A larger mirror will help you to see further down the road, giving you more time to react or make a decision.