SignPlot and SignLoad Professional now allow sign foundations to be designed and specified incorporating these sockets. These products enable signs to be rapidly removed for special events and exceptional loads, as well as permitting the quick and economical replacement of damaged supports.

SignLoad Professional is a stand-alone design package for traffic signs to EN 12899. It covers the design of the sign face, supports and foundations and includes checks for passive safety to EN 12767. It is used throughout Europe and is available in Norwegian as well as English. For UK users, it is also an integral part of SignPlot, the leading sign face design package that automates most aspects of TSRGD and the Traffic Signs Manual, to ensure correct design.

The NAL Retention Socket system is a patented range of fittings developed to secure all types of illuminated and non-illuminated street furniture, enabling a quick installation and removal with a key and a spanner. It is available with a choice of base types to suit all applications, such as bollards, signposts, seating, railing, litter bins, barriers, cycle stands, bus stop posts.

The new software enables the correct model of socket to be selected and illustrated on the screen and printout, including the ‘duck-foot’ versions with a cable entry. It provides foundation dimensions in accordance with NAL recommendations and the necessary standards and shows the total length of each support, taking into account the portion inserted into the socket.

Simon Morgan, chairman of Buchanan Computing and original author of the software, commented, “We were delighted to work closely with NAL Ltd on this development. This enhancement will be highly beneficial to all highway and traffic engineers to facilitate the increasingly frequent requirement for socket-mounted sign supports, and we are happy to recommend the extensive and dependable range from NAL for this purpose.”

Ben Parsons, GB Sales Manager at NAL, said, “Our Technical Business Development Managers are really excited about this news. They spend a lot of time working with designers and consultants, demonstrating the benefits in terms of installation and future maintenance when utilising our Retention Socket System. However, clients were often left frustrated when unable to design the solution easily, creating extra work for all. Whilst keeping all their software users at the forefront, Buchanan and in particular Simon, have been fantastic in supporting us through this process and we look forward to working with them in the future.”

SignLoad Professional 3.66 is now ready to be downloaded by those with current support contracts. An equivalent upgrade to SignPlot will follow shortly.

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