City of Los Angeles Adopts CSA’s Standardized Engineering Program

[Erik Sine]

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City of Los Angeles Adopts CSA's Standardized Engineering Program

Seven months of reviews and meetings culminated in May with the City of Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety adopting CSA's Standardized Engineering for Signs program. The new program will allow CSA members in good standing to forego the expense and time associated with getting wet-stamped engineering for certain signs being installed in the City of Los Angeles. Instead, they will be allowed to use the standard engineering produced by CSA's Engineer of Record, Mike Sullaway PE.

The sign types covered by the engineering are: 1) single pole signs up to 50' tall; 2) double pole signs up to 50' tall; 3) two-, three- and four-post wood signs; 4) multiple signs on single pole; 5) flag mounted signs; 6) free-standing masonry monument signs; and, 7) channel letters and wall signs. The designs include steel details as well as angle steel and tube steel framing drawings. Footings include both anchor bolt and spread. Relative to wind speed, the LA Engineering is for 85 mph.

"This is a great new benefit for CSA members," Technical Committee Co-chairman Roy Flahive announced at the May membership meetings held in San Diego, Pomona and Los Angeles. "The Arizona Sign Association (ASA) has had standardized engineering for over 40 years and I am ecstatic that we now have it in California."

"Although the CSA standardized engineering is only recognized by the City of Los Angeles right now, it is our intention to get every city, county and AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) in California to adopt it as quickly as feasibly possible," Flahive went on to say. "Sign companies in California will quickly learn and recognize it is cheaper to be a CSA member than not to be one."

"We are still putting the finishing touches on the process members will have to undertake in order to use the engineering," CSA Executive Director Brad Walker added. "We are developing the forms both members and AHJs will use in the program."

"Initially, we are going to charge members $75.00 for each type of design they use for each location," Flahive went on to say. "For instance, let's suppose a restaurant is going to put up a pole sign, two menu signs, one monument sign and three directional signs for a single facility. They would be charged a total of $300.00 for the use of the engineering—one $75.00 charge for each type of use."

According to Sullaway, about 95% of California will be covered for the types of signs included in the program. Some of the windier parts of the state require engineering for wind speeds at 95 mph, that engineering is included in the CSA program.

"This has been an interesting project to work on to say the least," Sullaway stated. "I am very glad the City of LA has finally accepted our engineering and I look forward to working with CSA and the CSA members as we expand the program to other cities and counties around the state."

"I can't say enough good things about Mike Sullaway and the time and effort he gave to this project," Flahive noted. "He made at least seven trips to LA from San Diego on our behalf for this project. Mike showed phenomenal patience! He's a real pro."

"More information on the process and the forms members will need to fill out will be sent via a CSA Express in the next couple of weeks," Walker added. "It will be as simple a procedure as possible but we do want to make sure all of our bases are covered. Keep an eye on your email—especially if you do business in the City of LA!"