7.5
Additions and Alterations
All new signs, regardless of whether they are installed in
conjunction with an indoor or outdoor addition or alteration to a building or outdoor lighting system, must
meet the requirements for newly installed equipment, as required by §110.9,
§130.0, §130.3 and §140.8.
7.5.1 Sign
Alterations
Existing indoor and outdoor internally illuminated and
externally illuminated signs that are altered as specified by §141.0(b)1K are
required to meet the requirements of §140.8. Altered components of
existing indoor and outdoor internally and externally illuminated signs must
also meet the requirements of §130.0.
The lighting power requirements (either specific technology
or watts per square foot) are triggered by alterations to existing internally or
externally illuminated signs when any of the following occurs as result of the
alteration as
specified in §141.0(b)2:
A.
The connected lighting power is increased.
B.
More than 50 percent of the ballasts are replaced and rewired.
C.
The sign is relocated
to a different location on the same site or on a different site.
The lighting power requirements are not triggered when just
the lamps are replaced, the sign face is replaced or the ballasts are replaced
(without rewiring).
Sign ballast rewiring that triggers the alterations
requirements generally involves rewiring from parallel to series or visa versa,
or when a ballast(s) is relocated within the same sign requiring relocating the
wires. This does not include routine in-place ballast replacements.
Example
7-7
Question
We are replacing 60 percent of
the ballasts in a sign. Must we replace the remaining ballasts in the sign in
order to comply with the Standards?
Answer
It depends. If more than 50 percent of the ballasts are
being replaced, and the replacement involves rewiring the ballasts, then the
alteration requirements apply to the whole sign. If more than 50 percent of the
ballasts are being replaced during regular maintenance, and the ballasts are not
being rewired, then the sign is not required to meet the Standards requirements.
However, when existing wiring will allow the direct replacement of a magnetic
ballast with a high efficiency high frequency electronic fluorescent ballast,
even though Standards do not require the electronic ballast, the sign owner is
encouraged to replace the magnetic ballasts with an electronic ballast.
Example 7-8
Question
I have a strip mall full of
signs. Must I immediately bring all of these signs into compliance even if
I’m not going to alter them?
Answer
No, only those signs in which at
least 50 percent of the ballasts are replaced and rewired, or those signs that
are moved to a new location (on the same property or different property) must
comply with the sign lighting energy requirements. Also, all newly installed
signs must also comply with the sign lighting energy requirements.