Glossary
A glossary of terms used in the sign industry

Anatomy of a Sign

Break Away

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view and description of sign detail.

General Sign Specifications for Reynolds Sign

• GENERAL
  All fabrication and installation work is in accordance with the highest standards of the sign industry. Materials and components are new stock items, free from defects that impair strength, durability, and appearance.
  
  
• METAL PREPARATION
  Metal components are smooth and free of surface blemishes including pitting, roughness, seam, roller, and grind marks, and trade names. All aluminum is chemically cleaned, washed, and primed with acid etching primer as required by final coating manufacturer. All steel is cleaned and surface primed as required by final coating manufacturer. Internal steel framework features pre-primed components with all weld and cut locations re-primed as necessary to eliminate possibility of future rusting.
  
  
• ENGINEERING
  Displays are engineered to meet or exceed all applicable building and sign codes. Where required by local ordinance, registered structural engineers will attach their seal.
  
  
• ARTWORK / ENGINEERING / PATTERNS
  All artwork, engineering, and patterns are provided by trained industry personnel using completely computerized systems to insure exacting specifications and dimensions.
  
  
• FABRICATED CABINET CONSTRUCTION
  In most cases, .063 or .090 aluminum panels are fabricated and installed over complete internal pre-primed steel framework. Pan panels are utilized to provide the strongest possible seams, while eliminating unsightly “oil canning”. Sag rods of appropriate size and thickness are installed to prevent any possibility of cabinet distortion. Smaller cabinets typically have full-length aluminum piano hinged faces for internal accessibility. Larger cabinets are provided with hinged access doors to allow servicemen to gain entrance for needed repairs. Internal raceways are aluminum extrusions. Vents are provided for air circulation. Internal surfaces are coated with high gloss white enamel paint to insure equal light distribution.
  
  
• EXTRUDED ALUMINUM CABINETS
  Whenever possible, cabinets are constructed of specially designed aluminum extrusions. These components feature molded raceways and continuous hinges to allow face opening for service work. Sag rods of appropriate size and thickness are installed to prevent any possibility of cabinet distortion. Vents are provided for air circulation. Internal surfaces are coated with high gloss white enamel paint to insure equal light distribution.
  
  
• PAINT COATINGS
  All coatings placed on metal and plastic surfaces are formulated for the surface material on which they are applied and recommended by the manufacturer. All coatings are evenly applied without pinholes, scratches, orange peeling, dirt, application marks, dry look, and other imperfections. Reynolds uses the state-of-the-art Akzo Noble computerized color match and mix system providing polyurethane coatings for metal applications or powder coatings - depending upon the in-field application and the type of construction used.
  
  
• FLUORESCENT LIGHTING
  All internally illuminated displays using fluorescent lighting feature 800MA High Output lamps powered by rapid start electronic ballasts matched to lamp requirements. Large and/or uniquely designed displays may use metal halite lamps or even neon tubing for illumination. All components are UL labeled and all wiring is enclosed in approved raceways. Display has master on-off switch.
  
  
• INDIVIDUAL LETTERS
  Smaller letter projects are fabricated using factory pre-finished aluminum returns and are constructed on computerized letter forming equipment. Letter backs and faces are carefully matched and are fabricated on computerized routing machines. All interior surfaces are coated white to insure even light distribution. Faces are chemically bonded to color pigmented retainers sized to match the copy.
  Larger letters are fabricated from sheet aluminum with .090 backs and .063 returns with internal stiffeners as needed. Extremely large letters are built to the requirements of a particular project, often using 1/8” or thicker aluminum backs and returns with internal stiffeners and framework. Retainers on these size projects are often custom fabricated aluminum channels and angles for maximum face retention.
  
  
• WEEP HOLES
  All exterior individual letters and cabinets have required number of weep holes of appropriate size and spacing to allow the exit of any water that enters the sign.
  
  
• RACEWAYS
  All wiring raceways are constructed of extruded aluminum with snap-on service access top panels. Weep holes are included with all exterior letter sets.
  
  
• NEON
  Neon is carefully sized to fit the lighting requirements of a particular display. All engineering is by computer and each neon unit is numbered for easy replacement or repair. Electronic transformers meeting UL2161 specifications are loaded as per footage charts supplied by transformer manufacturer.
  
  
• SIGN FACES
  High impact polycarbonate faces, i.e. Lexan, are used on all smaller size cabinet signs. Hanging bars are installed at the top of each face to help insure that the face will remain straight and distortion free. Material thickness is dependent upon size and shape of the face.
  Larger faces are fabricated using 3M Panaflex 945 GPS flexible substrate material and the necessary clip mounting system built into the aluminum extrusion cabinet.
  Individual letter signs use color pigmented Rohm & Haas acrylic Plexiglas faces. Thickness and size are dependent upon sign requirements.
  

• FACE DECORATION
  Faces are decorated with 3M high performance Series 230 translucent computer generated vinyl copy and background with colors and details as per client requirements.
  
  
• UL LABEL
  Reynolds Sign is an authorized Underwriters Laboratory manufacturing facility. All displays leaving our plant carry the often required and always important UL label.