Signs of solidarity: Services unite to develop criteria standards

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Schneider
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  One might call it the time of the signs.

Last month, installations across all service branches were provided clear and consistent signage standards via an updated Unified Facilities Criteria publication, titled UFC 3-120-01 Design - Sign Standards.

The document, the culmination of more than three years of effort by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, applies uniformity to installation signage across the Department of Defense.

"The new document is truly unified and includes equal input from all branches of the DOD," said David Duncan, Air Force design program manager at AFCEC. "Good signage adds a great deal to the visual appeal and functionality of a base - standardizing good design practices across all DOD installations is a big step forward."

The new publication replaces UFC 3-120-01 Air Force Sign Standards, which only addressed Air Force signage and provided little guidance regarding the implementation of new or replacement signs.

"For many years, the Army used the Air Force-only signage standard document," said Zenovia Wilcox, standards and criteria program manager at USACE. "The Army had installation-specific signage standards, but believed it was time to create a unifying theme for all signage on all Army installations, and the update and completion of UFC 3-120-01 was a good place to start."

The guidelines address several design factors including color usage, material type and finish, font type and size, logo and text placement, and sign illumination. In addition to addressing the signage for individual service branch installations, the guidance also addresses joint-basing situations and clarifies requirements for entry gate and water tower signs.

Even with standards in place, there is still flexibility allowed.

"The installations should still respect their historical and architectural heritage," Duncan said. "We expect installations to keep their traditions, like the anchors placed near the entrances at Navy installations. The design standards are meant to enhance, not detract, from these traditions."

Consistent signage benefits the DOD in many ways, including making transition between installations easier for service members when they move or travel.

"Consistent way-finding and directional signage removes one more hurdle to making service member and troop transitions from one installation to another stress-free," Wilcox said. "Service men and women can expect to find clear and understandable signage at each installation with a common, understandable theme and placement."

The criteria also helps installations meet safety requirements, by ensuring signs follow building code compliance requirements, Duncan said.

There may be financial benefits as well. Installations often find that new signs experience reduced life-cycle and maintenance costs when compared to existing signs.
"Utilizing consistent signage language and requirements will save money and present a more uniform and consistent theme, as well as create the opportunity to apply the criteria effectively and efficiently on joint military installations," Wilcox said.