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                        Maintenance of Signs and Sign Supports


            
            In This Section
        Local and Rural Road Safety Program
                Training, Tools, Guidance and Countermeasures for Locals Practitioners
                Crash Facts
                
                VII. INVENTORY
Knowing what signs are on your roads allows the agency to develop a systematic sign maintenance program as well as to determine the amount of resources that will be needed to provide the desired level of traffic sign maintenance activities contained within the agency’s sign maintenance policies. An inventory can serve many purposes:

**Sign Life** — when signs are installed, the installation date is labeled or recorded so that the age of a sign is known. Signs degrade over time and when combined with periodic night time inspections, an agency could determine when a sign has reached the end of its useful life.
	**Manage and prioritize** — an inventory that records the location of signs and recent maintenance activities can help establish the following:
	Where a single sign needs to be replaced.
		If a corridor needs sign improvements.
		When to clear back brush away from signs.
	**Minimizing tort liability** — an inventory can document the inspection and maintenance activities.
	**Budgeting** — an inventory can help manage resources for sign replacements on an annual or as-needed basis.
	**Efficiency** — combining work orders with the inventory allows the monitoring of signing activities and scheduling of maintenance activities.Inventory systems can be simple manual card systems, but with the availability of several inexpensive and even free computer software packages, computer-based inventories are much more effective and are easy to use. Also by using global positioning systems (GPS) technology, signs can be easily and accurately located and mapped on geographic information systems (GIS). Computerized sign inventories are available through sign vendors or your Local Technical Assistance Program. An example of sign inventory can be found at the Utah LTAP website: http://www.utahltap.org/.

"Photo. A sign technician uses a laptop while sitting in the cab of a parked maintenance truck."

***With a computerized sign inventory, the sign technician can easily record data while in the field.***

The key to a successful inventory program is collecting the appropriate data elements and keeping it up to date. Table 3 shows the data elements that should be considered when developing an inventory.

**Table 3. Data Elements for Sign Inventory.**

**Data Element**
			**Description**Sign Identification Number
			Unique number identifying signLocation
			Route name, distance, etc. depending on location reference system; could also be GPS latitude/longitudeSign Code
			Usually *MUTCD* designationSign Position
			Location of sign relative to road (left, right, overhead)Offset
			Distance from edge of pavementHeight
			Height of sign above road levelSign Size
			Width and height of signSheeting Type
			Grade of retroreflective materialInstallation Date
			Date when sign installedPost/Support Type
			Type of sign support (e.g. wood, tube)

**Inspection Items**
			**Description**Sign Condition
			Quality of sign based on visual inspectionRetroreflectivity
			Measured value or visual assessment conditionMaintenance Activity
			Type of maintenance last performedInspection/Maintenance Date
			Date when sign was last inspected or maintainedInspector
			Name or initials of person who inspected or maintained signComments
			Supplementary notes about the sign"Image. A scanned image of a sign dating label with an anti-theft warning is shown."

***Sign dating labels with anti-vandalism warnings can be applied to the back of the sign.***
      
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                    VIII. INSPECTION ›
                
                Book:Maintenance of Signs and Sign Supports
              I: INTRODUCTION
                II. SIGN PRINCIPLES AND TYPES
                III. SIGN MATERIALS
                IV. SIGN SUPPORTS
                V. SIGN INSTALLATION
                VI. SIGN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
                VII. INVENTORY
                VIII. INSPECTION
                IX. PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
                X. REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT
                XI. REPORTING AND RECORD KEEPING
                REFERENCES AND OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
                APPENDIX A: MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT USED IN MAINTAINING SIGNS
                APPENDIX B: CLEAR ZONE DESCRIPTION
                APPENDIX C: THREE TYPICAL WORK ZONE LAYOUTS FROM MUTCD U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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