Building signage

Building digital signage uses LED displays built into façades to show information, identify companies or businesses and communicate advertising messages. The content can be updated through a compatible management system. The design should consider the architecture of the building, the position of the display and the distance from which the messages will be read.

An LED display on a façade lets you show campaigns, images and dynamic content on a large-format surface. It makes it easy to update messages without replacing printed signage and to alternate content by time of day, promotion or event through a compatible system. Its visibility depends on the size, brightness, orientation and clarity of the content, which should be adapted to the surroundings and the intended audience.

The brightness of an outdoor LED display, expressed in nits, should be selected according to the orientation of the façade, its exposure to the sun and the ambient lighting. There is no single value that suits every location: a façade in direct sunlight needs a different assessment from one in the shade. It is also worth providing for brightness control to adjust the output between day and night, and checking the conditions that apply to the site.

Installing an LED display on a façade means assessing the load-bearing capacity of the support, wind loads, the anchoring system and how it integrates into the building. The power supply, cabling, ventilation and access for maintenance must also be provided for. The project should check the permits and conditions that apply to the site before defining the installation.

A façade LED display must have protection against water and dust appropriate to its exposure. The IP rating should be checked for both the front and the rear, as they may have different levels of protection. The connections, cable routes and the temperature and humidity conditions permitted by the manufacturer should also be reviewed.

The size and pixel pitch of a façade LED display should be matched to the viewing distance and the detail of the messages. The total resolution must make images, logos and text recognisable from the intended areas. It is also worth considering the viewing angles and adapting the content to the time the audience has to see it.