Sign and Poster Guidelines for the Forest Service
Chapter 1 Introduction and Principles
Policy and Standards
- 1.1 Policy
- 1.2 Objectives
- 1.3 Principles
- 1.4 MUTCD-Standard for Traffic Control Devices
- 1.5 Sign Coordinators
- 1.6 EM-7100-15
- 1.7 Sign and Poster Standards
- 1.8 Removing/Covering Signs
- 1.9 Temporary Signs and Posters
- 1.10 Overview of Chapters
- 1.11 References
1.1 Policy
Forest Service policy regarding signs and posters is contained in Forest Service Manual 7100, Chapter 7160 Signs and Posters. The Washington Office Director of Engineering shall approve the acquisition, installation, and use of nonstandard symbols or traffic control devices (TCDs) for use at field locations. The Regional Sign Coordinator shall approve all other deviations from standards applicable to the acquisition, design, and installation of nonstandard signs and posters.
1.2 Objectives
The objectives of the sign and poster program are to:
- Support accomplishment of direction contained in land and resource management
plans for the administration, protection, management, and use of National
Forest System lands.
- Provide information for the safety, enjoyment, and convenience of national
forest and grassland visitors, users, cooperators, and employees.
- Provide information about geographic and historical features and the use
and management of resource activities on National Forest System lands.
- Identify facilities and lands within the National Forest System.
1.3 Principles
Signs and posters shall be designed, installed, positioned, and maintained to:
- Fulfill a legal requirement or an important need.
- Command attention.
- Convey a clear, positive, friendly, simple message.
- Command respect.
- Give adequate time for viewer response.
Signs and posters should be used conservatively. Signs and posters used to excess tend to lose their effectiveness.
Signs and posters that need to be seen both day and night shall be retroreflective or illuminated.
Signs are installed on the right side of the road except where engineering judgment or engineering study determine topography or other considerations dictate a sign be placed on the left side.
Signage should consider the needs of persons with disabilities or non-English-speaking users when and where appropriate. Use of languages other than English on TCDs is not appropriate.
In addition, Forest Service signs and posters should match visitor and travel information found in current Forest Service paper and electronic media maps or other visitor information.
1.4 MUTCD—Standard for Traffic Control Devices
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the national standard for signs, markings, pavement markings, and other devices used to control traffic (traffic control devices) on all roads open to public travel. The Forest Service is required by 23 CFR 655.603 to adopt each addition of the MUTCD within 2 years of that edition becoming final through publication in the Federal Register. Traffic control devices shall be constructed, located, installed, and maintained according to the standards contained in the MUTCD. Refer to it for guidance and specific information for all standard signs and devices.
Some devices in the MUTCD have been changed, deleted, and/or added. Refer to the current edition of the MUTCD for specific guidance and target dates for compliance for these devices.
1.5 Sign Coordinators
The Washington Office, regional offices, and national forests are each required to assign the duties of sign coordinator to an individual. The sign coordinator should be an individual qualified by education, training, and experience to make decisions about the design and installation of signs and traffic control devices. The MUTCD states that this individual should be an engineer or someone under the direct supervision of an engineer. Specific duties of sign coordinators are found in FSM 7160. Forest Service employees should contact their respective unit sign coordinator when they have questions and need advice on unique signing problems. Forest sign coordinators also should review and approve sign orders and sign packages contained in contracts, as well as verify compliance of ordered signs with specifications.
1.6 EM-7100-15
1.6.1 Purpose and Use
The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide national guidance for the effective management of the Forest Service signing program. These Guidelines identify the basic signing principles for planning, designing, procuring, installing, and maintaining signs and posters. Following these principles, standards, and guidelines will result in a consistent, effective, and economic signing program that meets Forest Service objectives and conveys a professional image of the Forest Service to the public. These Guidelines provide standards and guidance for uses and situations that are specific to the Forest Service. MUTCD information typically is not repeated in this publication unless it is needed for emphasis or clarification. Detailed signing situations, sizes, and messages unique to the Forest Service and not covered in the MUTCD, as well as amplifications or explanations necessary for clarification, are contained in these Guidelines. Only English equivalent units of measure such as feet, inches, or miles per hour are used in this document.
1.6.2 Abbreviations Used in Guidelines
The following abbreviations are used in these Guidelines:
- AADT or ADT—Average annual daily traffic
or average daily traffic.
Technical terms used to quantify traffic volume.
- DOT—Department of Transportation
- FSM—Forest Service Manual
- FSH—Forest Service Handbook
- Guidelines—This book, EM-7100-15, Sign
and Poster Guidelines for the Forest Service.
- HDO—High Density Overlay plywood with hard
smooth surface(s) to which retroreflective sheeting will adhere.
- MDO—Medium Density Overlay plywood with
surface(s) similar to kraft paper that will accept routing and paint.
- ML—Road maintenance level, usually followed
by a number (1 through 5).
- MUTCD—Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices, a manual published by the United States Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration containing national signing standards used
by all public road agencies.
- NFSR—National Forest System Road.
- NFST—National Forest System Trail.
- SADT—Seasonal annual daily traffic.
- TCD—Traffic control device. Signs, markings,
pavement markings, and other devices used to give information to route users.
- VIS—Visitor Information Services.
In addition, many chapters contain abbreviations that are defined in those chapters.
1.6.3 Shall, Should, and May Defined
These Guidelines define the meaning of the following words:
- Shall is used for a statement of required, mandatory, or specifically prohibited
practice. For traffic control devices, this requires compliance with the
MUTCD and any additional guidance provided by these Guidelines. In the MUTCD, "shall" is
equal to "standard."
- Should is typically used as guidance for a recommended but not mandatory
practice with deviations allowed where engineering judgment or engineering
study indicate a deviation is appropriate. In the MUTCD, "should" is
equal to "guidance."
- May denotes a practice that is permissive and carries no requirement or recommendation. In the MUCTD, "may" is equal to "option."
Informational statements that do not convey any degree of mandate, recommendation, or prohibition will not use the verbs "shall" or "should."
1.6.4 Sign Identification
Signs are usually identified by a unique series of letters and numbers. The letters are abbreviations that refer to the type of sign. The numbers refer to the size of the sign or the sequence of the sign within a specific sign series. The most common sign abbreviations are shown below.
Figure 1-1 gives examples of how these abbreviations are used to identify specific signs.
Figure
1-1—How to read sign numbers.
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