Telespar Posts Explained: Uses, Benefits and Buying Tips

Patented by the Unistrut Corporation since the 1960s, the Telespar square tubing system, consisting of telescopic posts and mounting hardware, has been widely used in road and parking lot signs, industrial shelving, and specialized framing systems across diverse industries. The design benefits from quick, tool-free installation, simple height adjustment and structural strength for demanding settings.

What are Telespar Posts? 

In their basic form, Telespar posts are perforated square steel tubes that can be adjusted telescopically for height without the need for cutting, drilling or extensive modifications. The unique manufacturing method used to produce a durable Telespar post allows tubing of different sizes and gauges to fit smoothly inside one another while ensuring high strength, stability and load-bearing capacity. Complementing the posts are a range of fixings and fittings, enabling signs to be mounted back-to-back. This also ensures that any changes in height, reinforcement or tube splicing are quick and straightforward. 

Key Features and Design Specifics

• Perforated square tubing: Telespar tubing features pre-punched perforations or knockouts, usually in 7/16″ or 7’8″ diameters, on all four sides, and along the entire tube length. This allows for multi-directional sign mounting, including back-to-back and side-to-side, without the need for special brackets.
• Telescoping capability: Roll-formed tubing and tight corner radii ensure smaller tubes can easily fit and slide into larger ones, providing unique height adjustability, heavy-duty splicing and simple post replacements. 
• Smooth sliding mechanism: Scarfed or flat corner bends and pre-punched holes prevent edges from catching or binding when one tube slides into another. 
• Durable construction: The use of galvanized steel ensures a Telespar post has the required rust and corrosion resistance to withstand moisture, road salt and adverse conditions. For extra weather protection, choose posts that have been treated with chromate conversion coatings and organic polymers. 

Main Benefits and Comparison to Standard Post Designs 

• Superior torsional strength: The square, tubed profile prevents posts from twisting and fluttering in strong winds. 
• Quicker and safer installation: Pre-fabricated posts can be installed or replaced by a single worker at ground level. This eliminates the need for specialized tools or heavy machinery, and reduces overall material and labour costs. 
• Breakaway compatibility: Telespar tubing is FHWA-approved. Posts are designed to act as a yielding breakaway system when hit by a vehicle,  enhancing roadside safety. In the event of an accident, posts can be quickly removed from the anchor and replaced. 

Where are Telespar Posts Used? 

The modular nature of Telespar steel tubing makes the system adaptable across a wide range of uses. Common applications include:

• Traffic and roadway signage: Telespar posts are used extensively by municipalities and transportation bodies when mounting stop signs, speed limits and directional signs. As mentioned, the design allows signs to be mounted on all four sides and facing multiple directions for easier legibility. 
• Parking meters: Telsepar mounting systems provide non-rotational support and stability for parking meters. 
• Temporary barricades and sign skids: The system is effectively utilized in temporary or portable traffic barricades, as well as signage used in roadworks and construction sites. 

Beyond regulating traffic, Telespar posts are regularly seen in industrial and commercial premises, where they are used to construct equipment supports, industrial mezzanines and indoor ceiling support grids. Framing structures made using the posts are found in general and specialized material handling, often in complex conveyor systems and warehouse shelving. Here, they provide fast, tool-free assembly, height adjustability for a variety of settings and high load-bearing capacities when optioned in thicker-gauged steel. All components can be reconfigured with changing requirements, or completely disassembled when not needed. 

Specialized uses are in residential and commercial security installation, where the posts act as sturdy mounting bases for security cameras; in agriculture and landscaping, which benefit from modularity and quick assembly in fences, animal enclosures and temporary structures and custom builds, including everything from temporary tents to information kiosks in outdoor events. 

Key Buying Considerations 

When purchasing Telespar posts, consider the following: 

• Tube gauge and wall thickness: Standard thicknesses are 10-gauge (or 0.135″) used for heavy-duty applications such as industrial shelving; 12-gauge (or 0.105″) for road signs and general framing systems; and thinner and lightweight 14-gauge (0.083″) in smaller signage and breakaway applications. 
• Size and length: External widths range from 1.25″ to 2.5″, with multiple sizes in between, ensuring smooth and safe telescoping functionality. As an illustration, most road signs are 1.75″ by 1.75″ or 2″ by 2″ in size. Standard lengths for galvanized and treated posts are 6, 8, 10, 12, 20, and 24 feet, while untreated tubing is available in lengths up to 24 feet.
• Hole configurations: Choose between pre-punched holes if you need immediate sign mounting, versatility with height adjustment, and smooth telescoping, or so-called Qwik-Punch die-cut closed knockout holes for a cleaner,  unbroken aesthetic and holes that can be punched on-site. 
• Fittings and Accessories: There’s more to Telespar systems than the tubing alone. Fasteners, including corner bolts, drive rivets, lock pins and hex nuts and bolts, provide strength, security and tamper-resistance in posts and signage that can withstand heavy rain, high winds and intentional tampering.