Signs shall be designed and constructed to comply with the provisions of this code for use of materials, loads, and stresses.
1. Permits, drawings and specifications. Where a permit is required, as provided above, construction documents shall be required. These documents shall show the dimensions, material and required details of construction, including loads, stresses and anchors.
2. Wind Loads. Signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand wind pressure of ninety (90) mph with a three-second gust and as provided for in Chapter 16 of the International Building Code.
3. Seismic Load. Signs designed to withstand wind pressures shall be considered capable of withstanding earthquake loads for Seismic Category B, except as provided for in Chapter 16 of the International Building Code.
4. Working Stresses. In outdoor advertising display signs, the allowable working stresses shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 16 of the International Building Code. The working stresses of wire rope and its fastenings shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the ultimate strength of the rope or fasteners. Exceptions:
A. The allowable working stresses for steel and wood shall be in accordance with the provisions of Chapters 22 and 23 of the International Building Code.
B. The working strength of chains, cables, guys or steel rods shall not exceed one-fifth of the ultimate strength of such chains, cables, guys or steel.
5. Attachment. Signs attached to masonry, concrete or steel shall be safely and securely fastened by means of metal anchors, bolts or approved expansion screws of sufficient size and anchorage to safely support the loads applied.
6. Illumination. A sign shall not be illuminated by other than electrical means, and electrical devices and wiring shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the Electrical Code. Any open spark or flame shall not be used for display purposes unless specifically approved.
7. Internally Illuminated Signs. Except as provided for in the Building Code, where internally illuminated signs have facings of wood or approved plastic, the area of such facing section shall not be more than one hundred twenty (120) square feet and the wiring for electric lighting shall be entirely enclosed in the sign cabinet with a clearance of not less than two inches from the facing material. The dimensional limitation of one hundred twenty (120) square feet shall not apply to sign facing sections made from flame-resistant coated fabric (ordinarily known as “flexible sign face plastic”) that weighs less than twenty (20) ounces per square yard (six hundred seventy-eight and that, when tested in accordance with NFPA 701, meets the fire propagation performance requirements of both Test 1 and Test 2 or that when tested in accordance with an approved test method, exhibits an average burn time of two seconds or less and a burning extent of 5.9 inches or less for ten (10) specimens.
8. Electric Signs. Signs that require electricity shall comply with the Electrical Code.
9. Use of Combustible Materials. Wood, approved plastic or plastic veneer panels, as provided for in Chapter 26 of the Building Code, or other materials of combustible characteristics similar to wood, used for moldings, cappings, nailing blocks, letters, and latticing shall comply with provisions for ground signs and shall not be used for other ornamental features of signs, unless approved.
10. Plastic Materials. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, plastic materials which bum at a rate no faster than two and one-half inches per minute when tested in accordance with ASTM D 635 shall be deemed approved plastics and can be used as the display surface material and for the letters, decorations and facings on signs and outdoor display structures.
11. Electric Sign Faces. Individual plastic facings of electric signs shall not exceed two hundred (200) square feet in area.
12. Area Limitation. If the area of a display surface exceeds two hundred (200) square feet, the area occupied or covered by approved plastics shall be limited to two hundred (200) square feet plus fifty (50) percent of the difference between two hundred (200) square feet and the area of display surface. The area of plastic on a display surface shall not in any case exceed one thousand one hundred (1,100) square feet.
13. Plastic Appurtenances. Letters and decorations mounted on an approved plastic facing or display surface can be made of approved plastics.
14. Fail-Safe Device. Signs that contain moving sections or ornaments shall have fail-safe provisions to prevent the section or ornament from releasing and falling or shifting its center of gravity more than fifteen (15) inches. The fail-safe device shall be in addition to the mechanism and the mechanism’s housing which operate the movable section or ornament. The fail-safe device shall be capable of supporting the full dead weight of the section or ornament when the moving mechanism releases.
15. Ground Sign Height Restrictions. The structural frame of ground signs shall not be erected of combustible materials to a height of more than thirty-five (35) feet above the ground. Ground signs constructed entirely of noncombustible material shall not be erected to a height of greater than one hundred (100) feet above the ground. Greater heights are permitted where approved and located so as not to create a hazard or danger to the public.
16. Ground Sign Required Clearance. The bottom coping of every ground sign shall be not less than three feet above the ground or street level, which space can be filled with platform decorative trim or light wooden construction.
17. Wood Anchors and Supports. Where wood anchors or supports are embedded in the soil, the wood shall be pressure treated with an approved preservative.
18. Roof Signs. Roof signs shall be constructed entirely of metal or other approved noncombustible material except as provided for in subsection 9 of this section. Provisions shall be made for electric grounding of metallic parts. Where combustible materials are permitted in letters or other ornamental features, wiring and tubing shall be kept free and insulated therefrom. Roof signs shall be so constructed as to leave a clear space of not less than six feet between the roof level and the lowest part of the sign and shall have at least five feet clearance between the vertical supports thereof. No portion of any roof sign structure shall project beyond an exterior wall. Exception: Signs on flat roofs with every part of the roof accessible.
19. Bearing Plates. The bearing plates of roof signs shall distribute the load directly to or upon masonry walls, steel roof girders, columns or beams. The building shall be designed to avoid overstress of these members.
20. Height of Solid Signs. A roof sign having a solid surface shall not exceed, at any point, a height of twenty-four (24) feet, measured from the roof surface.
21. Height of Open Signs. Open roof signs in which the uniform open area is not less than forty (40) percent of total gross area shall not exceed a height of seventy-five (75) feet on buildings of Type 1 or Type 2 construction. On buildings of other construction types, the height shall not exceed forty (40) feet. Such signs shall be thoroughly secured to the building upon which they are installed, erected or constructed by iron, metal anchors, bolts, supports, chains, stranded cables, steel rods or braces and they shall be maintained in good condition.
22. Height of Closed Signs. A closed roof sign shall not be erected to a height greater than fifty (50) feet above the roof of buildings of Type 1 or Type 2 construction, or more than thirty-five (35) feet above the roof of buildings of Type 3, 4 or 5 construction.
23. Materials for Wall Signs. Wall signs which have an area exceeding forty (40) square feet shall be constructed of metal or other approved noncombustible material, except for nailing rails and as provided for in Section subsection 7.
24. Exterior Wall Mounting Details. Wall signs attached to exterior walls of solid masonry, concrete or stone shall be safely and securely attached by means of metal anchors, bolts or expansion screws of not less than three-eighths inch diameter and shall be embedded at least five inches. Wood blocks shall not be used for anchorage, except in the case of wall signs attached to buildings with walls of wood. A wall sign shall not be supported by anchorages secured to an unbraced parapet wall.
25. Wall Sign Extension. Wall signs shall not extend above the top of the wall or beyond the ends of the wall to which the signs are attached unless such signs conform to the requirements for roof signs, projecting signs or ground signs.
26. Projecting Signs. Projecting signs shall be constructed entirely of metal or other noncombustible material and securely attached to a building or structure by metal supports such as bolts, anchors, supports, chains, guys or steel rods. Staples or nails shall not be used to secure any projecting sign to any building or structure. The dead load of projecting signs not parallel to the building or structure and the load due to wind pressure shall be supported with chains, guys or steel rods having net cross-sectional dimension of not less than three-eighths inch diameter. Such supports shall be erected or maintained at an angle of at least forty-five (45) percent with the horizontal to resist the dead load and at angle of forty-five (45) percent or more with the face of the sign to resist the specified wind pressure. If such projecting sign exceeds thirty (30) square feet in one facial area, there shall be provided at least two such supports on each side not more than eight feet apart to resist the wind pressure.
27. Attachment of Supports. Supports shall be secured to a bolt or expansion screw that will develop the strength of the supporting chains, guys or steel rods, with a minimum five-eighths-inch bolt or lag screw, by an expansion shield. Turn buckles shall be placed in chains, guys or steel rods supporting projecting signs.
28. Wall Mounting Details of Projecting Signs. Chains, cables, guys or steel rods used to support the live or dead load of projecting signs are permitted to be fastened to solid masonry walls with expansion bolts or by machine screws in iron supports, but such supports shall not be attached to an unbraced parapet wall. Where the supports must be fastened to walls made of wood, the supporting anchor bolts must go through the wall and be plated or fastened on the inside in a secure manner.
29. Height Limitation of Projecting Signs. A projecting sign shall not be erected on the wall of any building so as to project above the roof or cornice wall or above the roof level where there is no cornice wall; except that a sign erected at a right angle to the building, the horizontal width of which sign is perpendicular to such a wall and does not exceed eighteen (18) inches, is permitted to be erected to a height not exceeding two feet above the roof or cornice wall or above the roof level where there is no cornice wall. A sign attached to a corner of a building and parallel to the vertical line of such corner shall be deemed to be erected at a right angle to the building wall.
30. Additional Loads for Projecting Signs. Projecting sign structures which will be used to support an individual on a ladder or other servicing device, whether or not specifically designed for the servicing device, shall be capable of supporting the anticipated additional load, but not less than a one hundred (100) pound concentrated horizontal load and a three hundred (300) pound concentrated vertical load applied at the point of assumed or most eccentric loading. The building component to which the projecting sign is attached shall also be designed to support the additional loads.
31. Materials for Marquee Signs. Marquee signs shall be constructed entirely of metal or other approved noncombustible material except as provided for in subsection 9 of this section.
32. Attachment for Marquee Signs. Marquee signs shall be attached to approved marquees that are constructed in accordance with Chapter 31 of the Building Code.
33. Dimensions for Marquee Signs. Marquee signs, whether on the front or side, shall not project beyond the perimeter of the marquee.
34. Height Limitation for Marquee Signs. Marquee signs shall not extend more than six feet above or one foot below such marquee, but under no circumstances shall the sign or signs have a vertical dimension greater than eight feet.
35. Portable Signs. Portable signs shall conform to requirements for ground, roof, projecting, flat and temporary signs where such signs are used in a similar capacity. The requirements of this section shall not be construed to require portable signs to have connections to surfaces, tie-downs or foundations where provisions are made by temporary means or configuration of the structure to provide stability for the expected duration of the installation.
36. Blade Signs. Blade signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials. Blade signs may project over public property not further than the projection of the marquee or awning, but not closer than two feet from the curb line. If a blade sign projects over public property it shall be permitted by a license to occupy. Blade signs shall maintain a minimum clearance of seven feet above the level of the sidewalk or grade immediately below, provided that any blade sign with a clearance of less than eight feet shall be suspended from a support above eight feet of clearance in a manner that allows the blade sign to swing freely if struck. Further blade signs with a clearance of less than eight feet shall not exceed a weight of twenty-five (25) pounds.
37. Billboard Signs.
A. General. Billboard signs shall be constructed of materials as specified in Chapter 16 of the Building Code. Billboard signs that are attached to, on top of, or adjacent within ten (10) feet of a building shall be a type of construction of equal or greater than that type of construction required of the building in Chapter 16 of the Building Code.
B. Design. Billboard signs shall be placed upon private property and shall be securely built, constructed and erected to conform with requirements specified in Chapter 16 of the Building Code.
C. Projection and Clearance. Billboard signs shall not project over public property or beyond a legal setback.