Breakaway Sign Posts

Yes, our breakaway sign posts are designed with versatile mounting options to ensure compatibility with various foundations.

For soil or asphalt installations, we offer direct-drive in-ground anchors, often utilizing systems like soil sleeves. For concrete or paved surfaces, we provide surface mount breakaway hardware, such as slip bases, allowing for secure attachment. This flexibility ensures you can install FHWA-compliant breakaway systems correctly regardless of the ground conditions, as detailed in resources like the FHWA guide on breakaway supports (PDF).

Many of our breakaway sign post systems are engineered for fast and straightforward installation, often manageable by a single person.

A common two-piece system involves driving an anchor into the ground first. Then, the sign post, like this municipal grade breakaway post, is secured to the anchor using the specialized breakaway mechanism. For precise guidance, always consult the product-specific installation guide which provides simple, step-by-step instructions. Proper installation also involves adhering to placement standards, such as mounting height requirements in the MUTCD.

After a vehicle impact, breakaway sign posts are designed so that primarily the top section of the post and the specialized breakaway hardware absorb the damage and break away as intended.

The crucial part is that the buried anchor or base unit typically remains undamaged and secure in the ground. This feature allows for quick and cost-effective post-impact repair; you only need to replace the damaged above-ground post section and the replacement breakaway hardware, not the entire foundation. This reusability aligns with the principles of FHWA-approved crashworthy supports.

While many breakaway systems are intended for permanent setups, we do offer specific temporary and portable solutions that incorporate crashworthy features.

Options include various portable sign stands or lightweight post systems specifically designed for temporary applications like construction zones or event traffic control. These portable systems are also engineered to meet crashworthy standards (such as MASH approval), ensuring they provide a high level of safety even in temporary installations, consistent with guidelines like the MUTCD Part 6F for temporary traffic control.