How important is a site survey when planning an outdoor digital menu board project?

Many digital menu board installations are retrofits for existing sites. Most stores or quick service restaurants will require prep work to install an outdoor digital menu board. A site survey is extremely important and will eliminate the guesswork when preparing for the upcoming project. There are a number of important items to consider during the site survey to ensure a smooth transition from static to digital menu boards.

1. Cable Run

Determine what kind of network or video cabling is required for running the dynamic content on the digital menu board. Is it CAT5 or Rapid Run? A company must understand who will be providing the cabling at the site, so that everything can be wired properly and efficienty. During the site survey, the installer will be able to provide an estimate, as to how much cabling will be necessary and the logistics of running the cable.

2. Power Sources

Only one outlet is required to run most of the existing static outdoor menu boards, so the overall power to the board will also need to be upgraded. Outdoor digital menu boards will require (2) dedicated power outlets (voltage and amperage will depend on the specific enclosure solution). That being said, an additional conduit is probably necessary, which would require three conductors and one ground. One must determine who will be responsible for running the additional outlet to the site and, again, figure out the best solution for the project.

3. Footer & Pad/Pier

It is also extremely vital to evaluate the existing concrete pad and footer pattern. Most of the time, detailed footer specifications are available on an enclosure data sheet. However, just because it was big enough to hold a static menu board, does not mean that it will be large enough to keep the digital menu board in place and grounded. It is best to determine if the existing footer an

d pad are acceptable or if additional work will need to be done. The size of the pad might be large enough, but the overall mass of the footer might not be sufficient. A simple sidewalk-type base that is only a couple inches deep will most likely need to be removed and a new pad will need to be installed. Also, one must check to see what mass and depth are required by the local building codes. For example, in Pennsylvania, it is best to have a 3 foot depth, but in Florida or Texas, it may need to be a lot deeper because of sand and other factors.

4. Identify Equipment On Site

One must also Identify who is responsible for removing the static menu board. If the installer is responsible, make sure the right equipment is available the day of install. Also, what equipment is necessary for installing the outdoor digital menu board? Some companies can ship the digital menu board in pieces, so a crane may not be necessary. The size and weight of the enclosure will need to be determined, before any plans are put into place. Some signs can weigh upwards of 1,000 pounds or more!

It is extremely helpful to have all of the items listed above prior to the day(s) of installation. The right cabling and power run to the digital menu board pad/pier, in advance, will allow installation to be a clinch! However, it is possible to complete the items above during the menu board install. Always remember to factor in all of these items when estimating how long the installation will take during the day and/or night.

The majority of outdoor digital menu board installations occur at restaurants that are established.  Therefore, they do not want to inconvenience any customers. That being said, most QSRs want the installation to occur during off hours (through the night), so that normal business activities are not disturbed. Proper planning will help the installation go smoothly and quickly to ensure your drive-thru is up and running with the sleek, cool digital menus by the time that the breakfast crowd arrives. (see also 4 Simple Benefits of Digital Menu Boards)

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