Designing for Durability: What Harsh Weather Teaches Us About Sign Engineering
When Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, it wasn’t just homes and infrastructure that took the hit.
Thousands of business signs were destroyed or damaged beyond recognition. Those on the island who could help restore many of the damaged signage were overwhelmed by the number of calls and requests for help.
The reality? Signage without durable engineering and installation just can’t stand up against Mother Nature’s wrath every time.
Over decades of providing proactive and emergency signage services, harsh weather has taught us a thing or two about sign design. And when signage can be both a light in the darkness and a reason for hope, having a durable design matters more than you think.
We’re heading into another year that looks to bring unpredictable weather patterns. So what can your business do to prepare?
The Puerto Rico Wake-Up Call
When Atlas mobilized disaster recovery teams to Puerto Rico within hours of Hurricane Maria, what we found changed how we think about sign engineering forever.
Signs that looked identical before the storm performed vastly differently during it. Some premium-looking installations failed catastrophically, while others – often simpler in appearance – remained standing.
What was the difference? Engineering decisions made years earlier that most customers never see or think about.
Real, lasting signage durability isn’t about using the most expensive materials. It’s about understanding the forces at play and engineering specifically to counter them.
Once you know how certain styles of signage will behave in extreme conditions, you can make informed decisions about which ones to use in different situations.
Wind Isn’t Just Wind
Most people think wind damage means signs getting blown over. But wind can often be the most damaging aspect of weather, and even a single gust of severe wind coming from just the right (or wrong) direction can spell disaster.
Wind creates three distinct forces on signage:
- Lateral pressure (pushing)
- Uplift (lifting)
- Oscillation (vibration)
A sign that can withstand 100 mph straight-line winds might fail at 60 mph if the oscillation frequency matches its structural resonance. Momentum is powerful, and even small forces can add up quickly when wind is involved.
That’s why smart signage engineering accounts for all three forces. It includes calculating the precise wind loads based on the sign face area and the local wind patterns where the signage will be installed.
Our team only uses mounting systems that distribute force across multiple points, and we include dampers or design elements that disrupt oscillations.
Water Finds Every Weakness
Wind can do a lot of damage fast. But the long-term culprit of signage damage? Water.
Harsh weather has shown us that most “weatherproof” signs aren’t that weatherproof. They’re weather-resistant at best. Water has a sneaky way of finding weaknesses in seals, gaskets, and electrical connections.
If you’re installing new signs in areas where water could be a potential issue, it’s important to take extra precautions. You’ll want to consider how water could potentially damage the signage and take steps to prevent it long before repair becomes a consistent issue.
Engineering Signage for Tomorrow’s Weather
You don’t have to scan the headlines long to see that weather seems to be getting more extreme. What was once a “100-year storm” now seems to happen about once every 100 days.
This means businesses and organizations need to boost their signage to prepare for severe weather of all kinds.
Sign engineering standards based on historical data may no longer offer the same level of protection, and forward-thinking engineers are taking steps to make sure that each sign installed is ready for anything.
Here at Atlas, we’re always looking for new ways to enhance the engineering and durability of our signage solutions. While you’ll still get the same excellent customer experience each time you work with us, behind the scenes, our teams are hard at work investing in:
- Increased wind load requirements beyond current minimums
- Enhanced corrosion resistance for more intense storm seasons
- Modular designs that allow for quick component replacement
- Smart monitoring systems that can report damage remotely
- Materials and coatings that can withstand higher UV exposure and temperature swings
The goal isn’t to over-engineer for unlikely scenarios. It’s to build appropriate resilience into every installation based on real-world conditions and emerging weather patterns.
Your 2025 Durability Checklist
Are you considering investing in signage updates this year? Living in an area that is prone to extreme weather? You’ll want to make sure you are taking the best steps possible to prepare yourself for any weather outcomes.
Here’s a quick durability checklist that you can use to analyze your current signage:
- When were your signs last inspected by a structural engineer?
- Do your signs meet current wind load requirements, or just the standards from when they were installed?
- Are your electrical components truly sealed against horizontal rain?
- Could your signs withstand the strongest storm in your area’s recorded history?
- Do you have an emergency response plan for signage?
If you’re unsure about any of these answers, it’s time for a professional evaluation. Our team can help you out with an analysis of your current signage and give you custom plans to help make sure your business is prepared for any weather event.
Building Resilience Into Your Brand
At Atlas Sign Industries, we’ve learned these durability lessons the hard way – through decades of disaster response and recovery. When critical infrastructure fails, your investment should stand strong.
That’s why we engineer every sign as if it will face nature’s worst. Because eventually, it might.
Don’t wait for the next storm to test your signage. Contact Atlas today for a durability assessment of your current signs and discover how proper engineering can protect your investment for years to come.
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