Most new billboards are monopoles.  Billboard Insider asked Productivity Fabricators President  Jon Odom to explain the role and importance of each part of a a monopole.

Column

This is the huge metal tube that holds the sign up in the air.  The heaviest part of the structure.   It is the most important structural component of the sign. All the loads must be supported by the column. Not just the weight of the sign but the loads created by the wind blowing on the complete sign. The wind forces far exceed the weight of the sign forces. The column transfers these forces into the foundation which must withstand them and transfer them into the ground.

Plate

This is the steel square that is welded to the top of the column, on which the head of the sign is attached. This plate has holes in it for bolts which hold the head of the sign in place. To strengthen this plate steel gussets are welded between the bolt holes to the plate and column.

Torsion Bar

This is the big horizontal tube that attaches perpendicular to the column, creating a “T” appearance. The torsion bar is normally the second heaviest part of a billboard. It is called a torsion bar because all the wind forces continually try to twist this pipe. It must be designed and fabricated to withstand all these forces.

Outriggers

These are the steel I-beams that run perpendicular to the torsion bar, and create the angle of the two sides of the sign, also known as the “V”. These are also called spreader beams. They bolt to the torsion bar.

Uprights

These are the steel I-beams that bolt vertically to the ends of the outriggers. These hold up the advertisements on the sign.

Stringers

These are pieces of steel and angle iron that attach to the uprights. The face panels, wind frames and some digital units attach the these.

Panels

These can be made of either steel or wood, and are, as a group, of the exact dimensions of the sign. They hang on the stringers of the sign.  We haven’t shown panels in our picture in order to show the frame of the structure.

Catwalk

This is the walk mounted to the bottom of the billboard on which employees stand when they are working on the billboard or changing the vinyl.  Lights are usually mounted to the base of these. Walks may also be positioned in the rear of the sign face to allow service behind the face. When attaching vinyl straps or servicing digital units these are very useful.

Ladders

These allow access to the head of the sign when placed on the column. They are also used to access the rear walkways. They must be rigid and securely mounted to the column or other sign component.

Safety cables

These are 3/8” diameter aircraft quality steel cables, securely mounted to the structure in such a manner to allow anyone walking on the walkway to be attached to it with a lanyard. They are there to prevent accidental falls.

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