How much weight is enough?

It's very much an open ended question—and there are many factors that can increase/decrease stability.

Some of the questions you will need to consider in respect of the object you are trying to stabilise are: 

• Is it light or heavy?
• Is it sitting on an incline or on flat terrain?
• Is the surface on which it is placed smooth or rough (the latter increasing resistance to drag)?
• Is it top heavy?
• Does it have a big surface area that can be affected by wind?
• Is it flexible or is it a stiff structure?
• Will it be used indoors or outdoors—or both?

Common sense is the rule that must be applied by you, the person considering how to stabilise the object in question, and how much weight to use.

Clearly, it takes a lot more wind to move an object with a 5kg weight attached. The more weight the better, but there are other considerations to take in to account such as capacity to carry.

Commonsense would suggest that if strong winds were forecast in your area, the likelihood that even weighted signs, barriers and umbrellas, etc. might blow away would increase. You need to have an awareness of when the stabilising effect of weighting becomes less effective.

Your risk profile will also determine whether you will want to use more or less weight.

We will soon be offering some guidance by 'wind rating' the effectiveness of weights for different applications. For example, at what windspeed will a 600 x 900mm A-Frame sign begin to move:

• unweighted;
• with a 5kg weight attached;
• with a 10kg weight, etc.