ISA Works to Finalize Proposal on Sign Wind Loads
In cooperation with the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) and the wind engineering research team at Texas Tech University (TTU), ISA is currently engaged in efforts to finalize a formal proposal which aims to modify the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 7-10 standard for wind design of outdoor sign structures. The purpose of this research is to independently evaluate the current ASCE design requirements to ensure the efficiency and safety of freestanding sign projects. The joint ISA/OAAA proposal is based on results of research conducted from August 2008 to May 2012 at the TTU Wind Engineering Research Field Laboratory and the wind tunnel laboratory in TTU’s Wind Science and Engineering Research Center. This research project involved field testing of a full-scale, outdoor sign structure, testing of several sign models in the wind tunnel and correlation of results.
Current efforts are focused on finalizing language in the joint ISA/OAAA draft proposal to accurately reflect the research findings and to suggest appropriate changes in wind-design criteria. When these revisions have been completed, the joint ISA/OAAA proposal will be submitted to the ASCE 7 Subcommittee on Wind Loads for final committee action. For more information, contact Bill Dundas, ISA Director of Technical & Regulatory Affairs.
