§ 64.404. Electric signs.

(a)

Code requirements: All electric signs shall meet the requirements set forth in the National Electric Code and the state building code.

(b)

Face retainers, etc.: All face retainers shall be of thickness design and construction as to properly support the plastic panels of the sign faces. Frames and retainers shall structurally be continuous around the entire panel or group of panels of the sign face, supporting such plastic panels independently. Panels larger than thirty-two (32) square feet must be either hinged or provided with another suitable access method.

(c)

Accessibility:

(1)

If doors for access are not locked they shall be fastened by means of screws, bolts, or similar means.

(2)

Ballasts, transformers, lamp, neon tubing, sockets and splices in wireways shall be made accessible in a manner approved by the state building code, through hinged faces or panels designed to slide or raintight doors, without the dismantling of the sign.

(3)

Whenever hinged faces are used, an approved mechanical method shall be provided to hold such face in an open locked position while servicing. All framing and molding for such faces shall be of adequate strength and durability to safely support such face when in either the open or closed position. Accessibility to the interior of the sign shall be made possible without requiring the removal of any of the sign supports after erection.

(4)

All framing and hinging shall be structurally designed and constructed to adequately support each panel or face when such face is used for access. Hinges shall be of nonferrous metal or rust-resistant type.

(d)

Ventilation: Plastic electric signs shall be vented with either screened or insect-proof louvered vents to prevent the entrance of insects and moisture. The vents shall be placed at the top and bottom of the vertical portions of the exterior sign, and arranged to provide adequate circulation of air over the ballasts. (Exception: Single-faced signs may have the vents located on the back of the sign where the structural design is such that venting on the end is difficult. In such cases, however, these vents shall be located to provide adequate circulation of air over the ballasts and signs vented on the back shall be held a minimum of one-half inch from the surface on which they are erected.)

(e)

Conductors: Electrical conductors, such as nonmetallic sheathed cable, BX, rubber cords and armoured cable, shall not be used for signs permanently wired. Conductors with a heat- and moisture-resistant quality of not less than ninety (90) degrees Centigrade, such as AWM type, shall be permitted for secondary connections to ballasts. All primary conductors, except those that are part of the ballast, connecting to and becoming part of a branch circuit shall be of the general purpose type and shall have a minimum moisture- and heat-resistant quality of seventy-five (75) degrees Centigrade, such as a RHW, THWN.

(f)

Wireway: Wireways shall be kept at least one-half inch from the bottom of a sign, except where the sign spreader is incorporated as a part of the wireway, in which case a method approved by the state building code shall be provided to keep all conductors, ballasts and transformers at least one-half inch from the bottom of the wireway. All conductors shall be protected from sharp edges of sheet metal enclosures. Wire gutters shall be assembled and jointed together in an approved manner. Where one gutter is joined to another creating one continuous wireway, the adjoining ends shall be rounded and connected together in an approved manner. Approved bushings shall be used where conductors pass through a sheet metal divider. Covers of the wireway shall be "broken" over the upper sides or tops of the wire gutters so as to prevent the entrance of moisture. All screws for such covers shall be accessible from the open face or access doors of the sign.

(g)

Ballast:

(1)

Ballasts or transformers shall be of the outdoor type and shall be mounted in such a manner as to be held rigid and at least one-half inch or more from the bottom of the sign or wireway. No ballasts shall be enclosed more than one half its height into a wireway. Adequate metal supports for ballasts shall be provided to ensure proper heat dissipation.

(2)

Ballasts, transformers, sockets, lamp-holders and any other electrical equipment where there is a possibility of an excessive rise above their rated temperature shall be kept a minimum of two (2) inches from all plastics.

(3)

Fluorescent lamps placed in a vertical position shall be provided with a moisture deflection washer at the lower lamp socket.

(h)

Face limitation:

(1)

Single-faced flat wall signs. Unless the plastic faces are hinged, access to the interior of the sign shall be provided for in a manner without dismantling any major portion of the sign as stated above. Where the plastic panel removal is required for access, no panel to be removed shall be more than thirty-two (32) square feet in area. Moulding shall be of such lengths as to provide for the removal of each panel independently.

(2)

Double-faced and extended signs. Where the access to the interior of the sign is required through the face, such face shall be hinged or designed to slide as stated above, for panels that exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area. All moulding and retainers for sign faces shall be constructed so as to be structurally able to properly support each plastic panel as provided above.