Site locates are crucial when installing signs in the ground, to help identify potential hazards such as hydro lines, gas lines, or water lines. Photos courtesy Labonte Signs
By Carly McHugh
Behind every sign lies a complex web of considerations, particularly when it comes to installation. Whether affixed to a building’s exterior or firmly planted in the ground, each project demands meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of applicable safety protocols.
Overlooking even the smallest precautionary measure can lead to negative consequences, including failure, which means every bolt, bracket, and anchor counts towards success. A properly installed sign not only communicates a brand’s message to consumers, but also ensures the well-being of pedestrians, motorists, tenants, and anyone else in its vicinity.
For more insight on the critical aspects of safe sign installation, Sign Media Canada spoke to John Labonte of Labonte Signs. He shared advice on everything from the nuances of anchoring to the impact of environmental factors on a sign’s location, to help installers navigate even the most intricate projects with confidence.
Sign Media Canada (SMC): What are some of the key safety measures to consider when installing signs?
John Labonte (JL): When installing signs in the ground, mandatory site locates are very important. They need to be done to find gas lines, water lines, and fibre optics. Sometimes there can also be high-voltage underground hydro lines. Therefore, you need to check the environment in the surrounding area. Are there high-voltage power lines above, or even regular hydro lines? Those can pose serious risks if you don’t stay far away from them.
For building signs, you need to make sure the wall structure is secure. Sometimes you’ll encounter older brick, which isn’t feasible for installations. It’ll crumble and fall apart. Next, you have to look on the backside of the wall to see if there are any water lines, gas lines, and/or hydro lines. This is a huge precaution when you penetrate the building through to the other side.
Additionally, when you’re drilling through a building, are there people in there? Sometimes when you penetrate a concrete block wall, it pops the brick on the inside of the building and debris falls. Are there offices on the other side? Are there people working that could potentially be hit by falling concrete or drywall? You also don’t want to drill through into an office with a finished wall and have debris all over the finished floor.
SMC: How do you evaluate whether a structure can support the weight and/or wind load of a sign?
JL: Mainly, it’s a visual thing. If it’s a concrete block building, you look for cracks. If it’s brick, you look for whether the brick is crumbling. The facade will chip off easily. The mortar joints may also be cracked. This is usually a sign of either water damage or just aging, if it’s a very old building.
Then, if it gets to a certain point, you might have to hire an engineer to look at it and determine whether the building is structurally sound enough to support your sign.
