SIGNS

A term dealing with form, design, and/or quality of construction of a particular sign, building, site or structure, that presents a judgmental statement concerning the level of beauty or artistic value.

In accounting terms, this refers to the method in which an intangible asset is depreciated over a specified period of time. In terms relevant to signs and urban planning, it conveys the “grace period” beginning on the date a sign owner is notified that removal of a previously conforming sign has been ordered, and ending on the date removal is required. This process makes a structure, which was legally erected with all permits, legally non-conforming for period of time. After an amortization period, the sign becomes illegal and non-conforming. Amortization has often been found to be a form of regulatory taking. The legality of amortization depends on state law and numerous other conditions, and is frequently unenforceable.

A sign depicting action, motion, light or color changes through electrical or mechanical means. Although technologically similar to flashing signs, the animated sign emphasizes graphics and artistic display.

Measurement representing the total number of vehicles passing a given location each day. These counts can usually be obtained from your State Highway Department.

A building mounted sign that provides additional functionality as shelter.

An illuminated reverse channel letter (open or translucent back) so light from the letter is directed against the surface behind the letter producing a halo lighting effect around the letter. Also referred to as Silhouette lighted or halo lighted.

To paint on the inside of a piece of clear plastic.

An electrical device required to operate fluorescent lamps.

A sign composed of lightweight material. Promotional banners include those used to announce open houses and grand openings, make special announcements, or communicate events. Ornamental banners use images or colors of a decorative nature.

A sign located on the seat or back of a bench or seat placed on or adjacent to a public right-of-way. A type of street furniture.

The intangible, but real, value of words, graphics or symbols that are associated with the products or services offered by a business. Developing branding of a site includes the presentation of signs and architecture to create a unique awareness and memory by the potential customer of the products or services offered at that site. Brand equity for a particular business is similar to the goodwill of an enterprise.

State and/or local regulations governing public health, welfare and safety of construction and maintenance.

That portion of any elevation of a building extending vertically from the grade to the top parapet wall or eaves, and horizontally across the entire width of the building elevation, including slanted wall surfaces sometimes referred to as a mansard.

A sign that is applied or attached to a building.

A building-mounted sign functioning as a marquee. Also a sign mounted on a marquee or canopy.

A section of a sign that functions like a changeable copy sign.

A variable message sign composed of individual letters panel-mounted in or on a track system.

Fabricated or formed three-dimensional box sign, matching a channel letter in size, that may accommodate a light source. Digital graphics or vinyl lettering decorate the face.

Fabricated or formed three-dimensional letter that may accommodate a light source.

Clear glass tubing, coated on the interior surface with phosphorus powder. Coated tubing produces a variety of different light colors, dependent upon the specific mixture of phosphorus powders utilized.

Neon which uses an electrode with a large metal mass to emit electrons. Neon tubing is large. Also a generic term employed to specify custom interior lighting produced through the use of larger diameter cold cathode tubing.

Transparent glass tubing manufactured with color pigments, typically color examples include ruby red, canary yellow, green, and midnight blue.

A sign that is legally installed in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.

The characteristics of the sign that enable an observer to differentiate the sign from its surrounding environment.

Time, Place and Manner Regulations: Consistently applicable non-discriminatory sign regulations that specify, without reference to the content of the message, when, how and where a sign can be displayed, with physical standards, such as but not limited to height, size and location, that allow the sign to be readable.

The difference or degree of difference between things having similar or comparable natures, such as light and dark areas, colors, or typefaces.

The words or message displayed on a sign.

Areas that enclose the actual copy on a sign.

A background that raises and lowers on regular intervals. Normally used with changeable copy track, the lowered area allows rain to wash dirt away from the tracks.

A marketing term that refers to the percentage of the total market population reached by an advertising message displayed in a given medium; measured at least once a month.

Basic value calculation used to measure the cost versus return from the presence of signs; the cost of acquiring a customer.

A sign designed, manufactured and installed to meet the requirements of a specific location

Similar in detail and use as a raceway except larger in cross section to provide a background area.

A specification description of a letter, logo or symbol, either cut out, cast, molded or fabricated in material such as metal or plastic to create a raised condition.

A pole that is buried in concrete below grade and extends up to the bottom of a sign. A pole setting on anchor bolts would not be direct buried.

Signs designed to provide direction to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

A sign that identifies the names and locations of tenants in a multi-tenant building or in a development made up of a group of buildings.

A sign with two parallel opposing (back-to-back) faces.

One layer, such as a plaque is embossed on top of the mold, then a second layer, such as letters, are embossed on top of the first layer.

Some colors can not be painted over other colors, If you spayed yellow letters over a blue background you would get a green background. So the face is masked twice. The first color is sprayed and then masked again before the second color is spayed.

Pan Depth; usually 1 1/2″ deep

A variable message sign that utilizes computer-generated messages or some other electronic means of changing copy. These signs include displays using incandescent lamps, LEDs, LCDs or a flipper matrix.

To raise above. Embossed letters are raised above the background.

A sign that is illuminated by a light source that is directed towards, and shines on the face of a sign. Also called direct illumination.

A process in which material is heated to a molten form and pushed thru a die to make a shape.

The outer flat area of a pan face that slides into the retainer.

A sign with an intermittent or flashing light source. Generally, the sign’s message is constantly repeated, and the sign is most often used as a primary attention-getting device. Government highway departments frequently use flashing signs to improve highway safety.

A dimensional letter cut from sheet or plate stock.

The outer flat area of a pan face that slides into the retainer.

Electric-discharge lighting utilizing glass tubing manufactured to standard lengths.

A set of letters, numerals, and shapes, which conform to a specific set of design criteria.

A sign that is not attached to a building.

An illuminated channel letter with translucent face.
Full Service Sign Companies:
Sign companies that complete the entire signs project, including surveying, designing, engineering, permitting, manufacturing, installing, and maintaining signs. (hey that’s US!)
Ground Sign:
A freestanding sign with no visible support structure.
Gussets:
A Reinforcing plate used in a sign. A plate welded to a pole may have gussets welded to both to insure that the plate can’t break away from the pole.
H Channel Letter:
A dimensional letter with baffles at the center of the cross-sectional shape for support of neon tubing and mounting of transformers.
Hanging-bar:
A piece of plastic or metal attached to the flange of a sign face in order to keep it from coming out of the retainer. Normally used on the top center. Most extruded aluminum cabinets are designed to allow a hanger bar on the face.
High-Rise Sign – sometimes known as Pylon Signs:
A tall freestanding sign.
Interior Signs:
Signs that are located inside a building or other facility.
Internally Illuminated Sign:
A sign that is illuminated by a light source that is contained inside the sign.
ISA:
International Sign Association.
Just Compensation:
The full monetary value to be paid for property taken by the government in accordance with the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Just compensation is generally determined by obtaining an appraisal.
Legibility:
The characteristics of letters, numbers, graphics, or symbols that make it possible to differentiate one from the other. See Conspicuity.
Lexan:
General Electrics brand name for their Polycarbonate plastic. UV protected.
Listed Sign:
A sign labeled to indicate that the manufacturer of the sign is identified in a list published by a National Recognized Testing Laboratory as producing signs in conformance with the applicable American National Standard.
Logo:
A design that represents goods, identity or service.
Lux:
A measurement of the amount of light transmitted to a one-square-meter of surface.
Monument Sign:
A low level free standing sign. Normally all evidence of poles are covered or hidden.
Off-Premise Sign:
Any sign that is not appurtenant to the use of the property, a product sold, or the sale or lease of the property on which it is displayed, and that does not identify the place of business as purveyor of the merchandise, services, etc., advertised upon the sign. Also known as Outdoor Advertising.
On-Premise Sign:
A communication device whose message and design relates to a business, an event, goods, profession or service being conducted, sold or offered on the same property as there the sign is erected.
Opaque:
To not allow any light to transmit thru. The opposite of translucent.
Open Channel Letter:
A dimensional letter that has no face and, if illuminated with the light source visible. A clear face for physical protection of internal components may be used.
Painted Wall Sign:
See building mounted sign.
Pan Channel Letter:
A dimensional letter that is constructed with side walls, back and a face making the letter a solid integral unit with the side walls and back having a pan-shaped cross section.
Pan Face:
A plastic sign face molded into a three dimensional shape. Also called molded face, molded and embossed face, molded and debossed face.
Parapet Sign:
A sign mounted on top of the parapet of a building. (See building mounted sign.)
Permanent Sign:
A sign attached to a building, structure, or the ground in a manner that enables the sign to resist environmental loads, such as wind, and precludes ready removal or movement of the sign.
Photo-cell:
A switch that turns on when dark and off in daylight.
Plexiglas:
Rohm & Haas brand name for their acrylic plastic sheet.
Point-of-Purchase Sign:
signs that advertises a product at its point of sale, or “point of purchase” location.
Pole or Pylon Cover:
An enclosure for concealing and/or for decorating poles or other structural supports of a ground sign.
Polycarbonate:
The most break resistant and high impact type of plastic, but susceptible to yellowing and dulling with age. Not as rigid as acrylics.
POP (Point of Purchase):
signs that advertises a product at it’s point of purchase.
Portable Sign:
A sign not permanently attached to the ground or building, with a power-cord for connection to an electrical source, and readily removable using ordinary hand tools.
Post and Panel Sign:
An unlighted sign fabricated by using one or more visible posts to support the sign body.
Projecting Sign:
A building mounted sign with the faces of the sign perpendicular to the building fascia.
Push-Through:
A letter or logo cut out of a backing material that is as thick or thicker than the sign face material, and mounted on the inside of the sign face so that the backing material’s thickness extends flush with or through and beyond the front plane of the sign face.
Pylon Sign:
A freestanding sign with visible support structure or with the support structure enclosed with a pole cover.
Raceway:
An electrical enclosure that may also serve as a mounting structure for the sign.
Readability (Also conspicuity.):
The quality that enables the observer to correctly perceive the message. In transportation engineering, this word is being replaced by conspicuity.
Recall:
In signs, this refers to the ability of a viewer to remember the message even when they are not viewing it.
Recognition:
Refers to the ability of a viewer to identify the message.
Regulatory Sign:
A sign having the primary purpose of conveying information concerning rules, ordinances or laws.
Retainer:
A framing member mounted around the perimeter of a sign face, and attached to the sign cabinet structure. It is designed to attach the face to the cabinet and/or intended to provide a decorating trim piece.
Return:
The sides of a channel letter.
Reveal:
An indented detail on a sign.
Reverse Channel Letter:
A fabricated dimensional letter with opaque face and side walls.
Roof Sign:
A building mounted sign erected on the roof of a building.
Section Modulus:
The shear strength for steel poles and I-Beams can be measured in section modulus. Wind loads for signs can be mathematically calculated to show the section modulus needed.
Sidewalk/Sandwich Sign:
A moveable sign not secured or attached to the ground or surface upon which it is located, but supported by its own frame and most often forming the cross-sectional shape of an A.
Sign:
Any visual display with words or symbols designed to convey information or attract attention.
Sign Band:
A horizontal area above a multi-tenants’ building’s entrances, architecturally designed to accommodate signs.
Sign Face:
The area of a sign on which copy is intended to be placed.
Signs:
A system of signs.
Signcentric Design:
Building architectural design which makes the signs the prominent visual feature.
Single-Face Sign:
A sign with only one face plane.
Skin:
The outer surface of an angle iron steel sign frame, normally a aluminum sheet, formed to fit
Street Furniture:
Advertising displays, many which provide a public amenity, positioned at close proximity to pedestrians for eye-level viewing or at a curbside to reach vehicular traffic. An example is a bench sign.
Target Audience:
The profile of the most desired consumer prospects for a product or service, listed by characteristics such as demography, lifestyle, brand or media consumption, purchase behavior, etc. This is common to all media.
Temporary Sign:
Any sign not intended for permanent installation, such as banners and signs at construction sites. They may be incidental or miscellaneous in nature, such as political and real estate signs.
Trade Area:
Most retail businesses have a relatively fixed area that customers come from to do business at their store In general; the trade area is either the living or work locale for the customer. The selling zone of place-based retail business will be dynamic for two reasons; the customer is moving residences or jobs or the customer is passing through on a trip that intersects the trade area. The trade area for most small businesses is 3 to 5 miles.
Trademark:
Used by a business to distinguish itself and its products from the competition. A trademark may include a name, symbol, word or combination of those. Protected by the federal government and considered to have financial value. The circled “R” or “Reg. T.M.” printed with the mark indicates that it is a registered trademark.
Transformer:
Electrical equipment that converts input voltage and current to a different output voltage and current.
Translucent:
To allow light to transmit thru.
UL:
An abbreviation for Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory.
UL 48:
Underwriters Laboratories approximately 100 page book of sign standards that U.L. listed signs must meet.
UL Listed:
Underwriters Laboratory, A private Listing company that inspects Electrical Devices and their construction. Many cities require signs to be listed (inspected and approved by UL.).
Under-Canopy Sign:
A sign designed to be mounted underneath a canopy.
USSC:
United States Sign Council.
UV:
Ultraviolet light from the sun. It affects acrylic cast-in colors and causes yellowing of polycarbonate plastics.
Vacuum-formed:
Plastic is heated until pliable and then placed over a die, vacuum is applied. When cooled the plastic holds the shape of the die.
Variable Message Sign:
A sign that includes provisions for message changes. Also called changeable copy panel, changeable copy sign, time and temperature sign, electronic message center, menu board.
Variance:
Special administrative procedure by which one may obtain an exception to zoning rules such as height, setback and type of use.
Visibility:
The quality of a letter, number, graphic, or symbol, which enables the observer to distinguish it from its surrounds or background.
Wall Sign:
A building mounted sign. (See also Fascia sign.)
Way finding:
Enabling a person to find his or her way to a given destination thru the use of effective signs.
Window Sign:
A sign that is displayed in a window.
Wind-load:
A term for describing the design strength of a sign. Standard wind load is 30 PSF (pounds pr square foot) in Northeast Texas, which can withstand winds up to 100 MPH. Florida signs are designed for 140 MPH winds.

Sign companies that complete the entire signs project, including surveying, designing, engineering, permitting, manufacturing, installing, and maintaining signs. (hey that’s US!)

A Reinforcing plate used in a sign. A plate welded to a pole may have gussets welded to both to insure that the plate can’t break away from the pole.

A dimensional letter with baffles at the center of the cross-sectional shape for support of neon tubing and mounting of transformers.

A piece of plastic or metal attached to the flange of a sign face in order to keep it from coming out of the retainer. Normally used on the top center. Most extruded aluminum cabinets are designed to allow a hanger bar on the face.

A tall freestanding sign.

A sign that is illuminated by a light source that is contained inside the sign.

International Sign Association.

The full monetary value to be paid for property taken by the government in accordance with the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Just compensation is generally determined by obtaining an appraisal.

The characteristics of letters, numbers, graphics, or symbols that make it possible to differentiate one from the other. See Conspicuity.

General Electrics brand name for their Polycarbonate plastic. UV protected.

A sign labeled to indicate that the manufacturer of the sign is identified in a list published by a National Recognized Testing Laboratory as producing signs in conformance with the applicable American National Standard.

A design that represents goods, identity or service.

A measurement of the amount of light transmitted to a one-square-meter of surface.

A low level free standing sign. Normally all evidence of poles are covered or hidden.

Any sign that is not appurtenant to the use of the property, a product sold, or the sale or lease of the property on which it is displayed, and that does not identify the place of business as purveyor of the merchandise, services, etc., advertised upon the sign. Also known as Outdoor Advertising.

A communication device whose message and design relates to a business, an event, goods, profession or service being conducted, sold or offered on the same property as there the sign is erected.

To not allow any light to transmit thru. The opposite of translucent.

A dimensional letter that has no face and, if illuminated with the light source visible. A clear face for physical protection of internal components may be used.

A dimensional letter that is constructed with side walls, back and a face making the letter a solid integral unit with the side walls and back having a pan-shaped cross section.

A plastic sign face molded into a three dimensional shape. Also called molded face, molded and embossed face, molded and debossed face.

A sign mounted on top of the parapet of a building. (See building mounted sign.)

A sign attached to a building, structure, or the ground in a manner that enables the sign to resist environmental loads, such as wind, and precludes ready removal or movement of the sign.

A switch that turns on when dark and off in daylight.

Rohm & Haas brand name for their acrylic plastic sheet.

Signs that advertises a product at its point of sale, or “point of purchase” location.

An enclosure for concealing and/or for decorating poles or other structural supports of a ground sign.

The most break resistant and high impact type of plastic, but susceptible to yellowing and dulling with age. Not as rigid as acrylics.

Signs that advertises a product at it’s point of purchase.

A sign not permanently attached to the ground or building, with a power-cord for connection to an electrical source, and readily removable using ordinary hand tools.

An unlighted sign fabricated by using one or more visible posts to support the sign body.

A building mounted sign with the faces of the sign perpendicular to the building fascia.

A letter or logo cut out of a backing material that is as thick or thicker than the sign face material, and mounted on the inside of the sign face so that the backing material’s thickness extends flush with or through and beyond the front plane of the sign face.

A freestanding sign with visible support structure or with the support structure enclosed with a pole cover.