What to record in a signage site survey

Photograph the approach and the fixing area

Take a wide view showing how a visitor reaches the location, then closer views of the proposed mounting area. Include nearby doors, cladding joints, lighting, planting and other signs that may affect placement. Mark the intended position on a reference image. Keep the unmarked photograph too, so the team can distinguish site evidence from the proposed design.

Record dimensions with clear references

Identify the available width, height and projection from the wall, and label what each measurement refers to. Note any information that could not be measured or verified during the visit. Do not treat a photograph’s apparent proportions as a reliable dimension. Ask the responsible surveyor or project team to confirm the dimensions used for fabrication and identify where a follow-up inspection is needed.

Document installation constraints

Record known wall or support materials, power availability, access routes, working hours and any restrictions on drilling or attaching to the building. Identify the person responsible for approvals. Separate observed facts from assumptions about concealed construction. A survey photograph does not establish the capacity of the support or the suitability of a fixing; those decisions need the appropriate project assessment.

Turn observations into an approval schedule

Assign one identifier to each sign and carry it through the artwork, quotation and installation drawings. Record open questions and who must answer them. Before production, reconcile the approved size and fixing detail with the surveyed location. If the site changes after the visit, update the record rather than relying on an old drawing that no longer describes the installation area.

Checklist for your brief

• Sign identifier and purpose
• Approach and fixing-area photographs
• Confirmed dimensions and unknowns
• Support, power and access details
• Approval contacts and unresolved questions

Common planning questions