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Thousands of new street blades get put up every year in Canada and there are almost as many looks as there are municipalities.
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Learn how using High Intensity reflective sheeting can actually save you money.
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Sojourn Enterprises launches new Web site
 The look of Sojourn Enterprises' Internet presence has undergone a drastic change. On November 1st, the company launched a revitalized Web site aimed at informing customers about the many services provided by Sojourn.
Users will have the option of entering either the sign shop web site or one devoted to the company's traffic control division. An extensive staff contact page and samples of our work are just two highlights of the new site.
Over the next few months we will beef up the site by listing more of the specific products we offer. A comprehensive product catalogue is also in the works for 2007. View our site at: www.sojourn.ca
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The staff at Sojourn has an accumulated total of over 75 years experience in the sign industry.
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Street name blade standards - a primer
 When it comes to street name blades, if you’ve seen one you certainly haven’t seen them all. While the street name blades of most municipalities in Atlantic Canada have a lot in common they also have their own distinct features. White lettering on a green background is the most common type of street blade, but several variations exist. White on blue, black on white and yellow on green are just a few styles you will see on the streets of our region. The biggest area of variation is the font and size of the letters.
Consistency is Key
Whatever the look of a municipality’s street blades, it is essential that the look is based on a set of standards and that every blade looks essentially the same. This makes it easier for drivers and pedestrians and also gives the town or city a unified, cohesive look. The standards should specify colours, sizing and fonts. Examples of clear street blade standards can be found in Auckland, New Zealand and Estes Park, Colorado.
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is in the process of standardizing its street blades. In the past, several styles of white text was used on a green background. The result is a mixture of fonts and sizes on street blades throughout the city. HRM now uses a standard font and size as well as all upper case letters. Eventually, all street blades in HRM will look essentially the same as every replacement blade now conforms to the new standards.
All Caps or Not
There is no clear consensus on the use of all caps or mixed case street names. Using all caps guarantees that descenders (g, j p, q, y) do not get hidden by a mounting bracket. They also allow for taller letters and give every blade a consistent rectangle of text. Mixed case allows motorists and pedestrians to identify the street name by the shape of the word even before they can read the letters.
Letter Thickness - Less is More
Many sign makers use very thick or bold fonts in order to increase the legibility on signs. The effect is just the opposite. Studies have shown that legibility improves with increased spacing between letters and the use of a lighter font. Thick letters bunched closely together tend to blur into one another when viewed from a distance - thereby decreasing legibility.
Blade Size
The most common blade height is 6.5” with the length varying depending on street name. Blades eight to ten inches in height are often used for overhead signs at intersections and on roads with speed limits greater than 60 km/h.
Reflectivity
The use of High Intensity reflective material greatly increases the distance at which street blades can be read at night. It is not surprising that many municipalities now use only High Intensity reflective material. High Intensity material is three times as bright as engineer grade and retains its reflectivity longer.
Sojourn’s Role
Sojourn works with municipalities to ensure consistent and legible street blades. This winter Sojourn will be working with various municipalities to better define the street blade standards for each. We will recommend fonts and letter sizes that suit your needs. Contact one of our Sales Associates for more information.
Crank up the intensity - on reflective sheeting
 High Intensity (HI) reflective sheeting is becoming the standard for many jurisdictions in North America - and for good reason. Introduced in 1970, HI reflective sheeting is suitable for virtually all construction and regulatory sign applications but especially for areas with a lot of competing surrounding light. The findings of J.S. Smyth, backed by all similar research to date, show that for a sign to be visible to motorists at night in brightly lit areas, it must be significantly brighter than a sign in dark rural areas. Therefore, brighter signs are more effective in today's urban traffic situations.
High Intensity sheeting is nearly three times brighter than conventional Engineer Grade sheeting when viewed straight on. It's up to seven times brighter at wider angles. Approaching drivers can more easily see signs that are placed in hard-to-see locations, such as to the far left on shoulders or medians, and overhead. In short, its brightness gives drivers more time to react, making the roadway a safer place for everyone.
Using High Intensity rather than Engineer Grade sheeting can make a sign anywhere from 10 to 40% more expensive, but in the long-run it will save you money. After figuring the replacement and maintenance costs of conventional Engineer Grade sheeting, High Intensity sheeting offers more years of effective performance, better and brighter reflectivity, a longer warranty and lower total cost over time.
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