7.5  Additions and Alterations

§141.0(a)1, §141.0(b)2H

All new signs, regardless of whether they are installed in conjunction with an indoor or outdoor addition or alteration to a building or lighting system, must meet the requirements in §110.9, §130.0, §130.3, and §140.8.

7.5.1      Sign Alterations

§141.0(b)2M

Existing indoor and outdoor internally and externally illuminated signs that are altered as specified by §141.0(b)2M are required to meet the sign lighting power requirements in §140.8|topic=SECTION 140.8 – PRESCRIPTIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR SIGNS. Altered components of existing indoor and outdoor internally and externally illuminated signs must also meet the requirements in §130.0.

The sign lighting power requirements (either maximum-allowed power or alternate lighting sources) 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)2M:

•    The connected lighting power is increased.

•    More than 50 percent of the ballasts are replaced and rewired.

•    The sign is relocated to a different location on the same site or on a different site.

These requirements are not triggered when only 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 vice 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: Replacing More Than 50 Percent of Ballasts

Question

We are replacing 60 percent of the ballasts in a sign. Must we replace the remaining ballasts in the sign to comply with the Energy Code?

Answer

If more than 50 percent of the ballasts are being replaced, and the replacement involves rewiring the ballasts, then the requirements of §140.8|topic=SECTION 140.8 – PRESCRIPTIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR SIGNS 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 compliance with §140.8|topic=SECTION 140.8 – PRESCRIPTIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR SIGNS is not required. However, when existing wiring will allow the direct replacement of a magnetic ballast with a high-efficiency, high-frequency electronic fluorescent ballast, the owner may wish to do this, even though it is not required.

Example 7-8: Altering Existing Signs

Question

I have a strip mall full of signs, and I will be altering some of them. Must I immediately bring all signs into compliance?

Picture showing a strip mall with a number of tenant signs.

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 a different property) must comply with the sign lighting power requirements. All newly installed signs must comply with sign lighting control requirements and sign lighting power requirements.