Are your signs (VMS) compliant with Australian standards?

<a href="/Products/Variable-Message-Signs" title="Variable Message Signs">Variable Message Signs (VMS)</a> allow for the communication of messages to road users and are an effective traffic management tool used at work sites and for incident response. The critical nature of VMS to directly influence safety and traffic conditions means they should be 100 per cent compliant with Australian standards to ensure reliability, performance and avoid potentially life threatening safety risks. <br /><br /> <a href="/Products/Variable-Message-Signs" title="Variable Message Signs">Variable Message Signs</a> have an important influence on road safety while also reducing congestion, relaying information for road users to make informed decisions, and highlighting high-risk areas. <br /><br /> VMS board owners can take a number of steps to increase the effectiveness, safety and life of their board, such as unobstructed placement and timely maintenance. However, it’s at the manufacturing stage where Australian standards must be followed to ensure visibility, safety and performance. <br /><br /> Being unsure whether your equipment is compliant or purchasing equipment that is not up to Australian standards can put you at risk of safety hazards including injuries and loss of life. Knowing equipment is compliant gives the owner peace-of-mind and confidence in its reliability and safety. <br /><br /> <b>Meeting visibility standards</b> <br /><br /> According to <i>AS 4852.2-2009 Variable message signs – Portable signs</i>, any LED traffic management sign needs to be fully visible at viewing angles of both 45° and 30° to an axis perpendicular to the display face and have anti-glare properties. It should also have a surrounding border with a minimum of 100mm in width, all to ensure effective and prompt communication of messages to road users. <br /><br /> Displayed messages should be clearly legible in all lighting conditions. In order to do this, the sign needs light sensing capabilities that automatically adjust the output in response to external and environmental light factors. The sign should also be located well away from obstructions and take into account the observation angle. <br /><br /> <b>Providing safety measures</b> <br /><br /> The trailer supporting the VMS board needs to comply with the applicable Australian Design Rules for trailers, which encompasses door latches and hinges, trailer brake systems and more. <br /><br /> According to the Australian standard, the sign should also maintain its intended position when subjected to wind-loading conditions as stated in <i>AS/NZS 1170.2 Structural design actions: wind actions</i>. The stability of the sign should also not be unacceptably affected by wind gusts from passing vehicles. <br /><br /> <b>Optimal operational performance</b> <br /><br /> Any traffic management equipment needs to have the ability to operate and recharge the battery as required when unattended. As VMS boards are frequently located in remote locations or locations without access to power, a solar panel array is required. <br /><br /> Under Australian standards the solar panel array for a VMS board should be capable of operating ‘for a continuous period of 24 hours under a solar irradiation of 40,000lx for four hours’, while still charging the reservoir battery. The solar panels are also required to tilt to maintain the best angle for maximum sunlight collection. The reservoir battery should have the capacity to be charged and discharged continuously as required, and have a minimum life of twelve months. <br /><br /> <b>Purchase with confidence</b> <br /><br /> Mr. Venema, CEO of traffic management equipment company, Data Signs, said compliance with the Australian standard is the first thing to look for when purchasing a VMS board as it is the quickest and easiest way to know if you’re getting high-quality, reliable equipment. <br /><br /> “When we are talking about the difference between unsafe roads with major congestion and getting everyone home safely and promptly, the use of reliable VMS boards that are up to Australian standards is crucial. If it isn’t immediately visible on a suppliers website or brochure that they are compliant – they probably aren’t.” <br /><br /> “All of our VMS boards are compliant with <i>AS 4852</i> because we know what an important tool they are. Our trailers are fitted with <a href="/Products/Options" title="Ballast Tanks">ballast tanks</a> that, when filled, can keep the boards stable through winds gusts up to 134km/h. The <a href="/Products/Options" title="Solar Panels STR">solar panel array</a> can be tilted and rotated 360 degrees to maintain maximum sunlight exposure, and our LED displays are NATA certified to ensure the best visibility.”