While it isn’t always a fun experience the permit process is a very necessary one when it comes to signage. The primary reason really does revolve around safety and the need to protect the public from overhead signs that are improperly attached and could lead to potential danger. We have been working diligently with a local architectural firm and their general contractor on signage for a new downtown events company. Part of the signage represents dimensional letters mounted on 2” spacers and attached to corrugated aluminum fan blades. There will also be a neon aspect to the sign requiring us to tie into the existing electrical source behind the fascia of the building. While the aluminum fan blades are not part of the work we will be doing the building department required us to revise the drawings and clarify exactly how these aluminum fans are being attached to the building. From a safety perspective we could not have agreed more, even though it necessitated a sit down discussion with the contractor and a second trip to the downtown permit counter!
According to the building department permit counter things like the method of attachment and the type of bolts and their spacing, are needed even when materials are supplied by others and are not part of the signage itself. We were glad to comply and thought we would share this experience to let you know that the Oakland Building Permit Department is serious about public safety and doing a great job at ensuring it.
If you are working on a building renovation or re-facing requiring sign permits make sure to work with a sign company like SignWorks that will follow permit requirements to the letter. You can reach us for your sign project at (510) 357-2000 or email us at info@signworks.us.com.