ELECTRIC SIGNS AND

OUTLINE LIGHTING A. General 600-1. Scope. This article covers the installation of conductors and equipment for electric signs and outline lighting as defined in Article 100. 600-2. Disconnect Required. Each outline lighting installation, and each sign of other than the portable type, shall be controlled by an externally operable switch or breaker that will open all ungrounded conductors. (a) In Sight of Sign. The disconnecting means shall be within sight of the sign or outline lighting that it controls. Exception No. 1: A disconnecting means shall not be required for an exit directional sign connected to a circuit within the scope of Article 700. Exception No. 2: Signs or outline lighting operated by electronic or electromechanical controllers located external to the sign shall have a disconnecting means located within sight from the controller location. The disconnecting means shall disconnect the sign and the controller from all ungrounded supply conductors and shall be so designed that no pole can be operated independently. The disconnecting means shall be permitted to be in the same enclosure with the controller. The disconnecting means shall be capable of being locked in the open position. (b) Control Switch Rating. Switches, flashers, and similar devices controlling transformers shall be either rated for controlling inductive load(s) or have an ampere rating not less than twice the ampere rating of the transformer. (FPN): See Section 380-14 for rating of snap switches. 600-3. Enclosures as Pull Boxes. The wiring method used to supply signs and outline lighting shall terminate in the sign or transformer enclosures. Exception: Such signs and transformer boxes shall be permitted to be used as pull or junction boxes for conductors supplying other adjacent signs, outline lighting systems, and floodlights that are part of signs, provided the conductors extending from the equipment are protected by an overcurrent device rated 20 amperes or less. 600-4. Listing Required. Every electric sign of any type, fixed or portable, shall be listed and installed in conformance with that listing, unless otherwise permitted by special permission. 600-5. Grounding. Signs, troughs, tube terminal boxes, and other metal frames shall be grounded in the manner specified in Article 250. 70-634 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE Exception: Isolated Parts. Isolated noncurrent-carrying metal parts of outline lighting shall be permitted to be bonded by No. 14 conductors, protected from physical damage, and grounded in accordance with Article 250. 600-6. Branch Circuits. (a) Rating. Circuits that supply lamps, ballasts, and transformers, or combinations, shall be rated not to exceed 20 amperes. Circuits containing electric-discharge lighting transformers exclusively shall not be rated in excess of 30 amperes. (b) Required Branch Circuit. Each commercial building and each commercial occupancy accessible to pedestrians shall be provided at an accessible location outside the entrance to each tenant space, with at least one outlet for sign or outline lighting use. The outlet(s) shall be supplied by a 20-ampere branch circuit that supplies no other load. Exception: Interior service hallways or corridors shall not be considered outside the occupancy. (c) Computed Load. The load for the required branch circuit installed for the supply of exterior signs or outline lighting shall be computed at a minimum of 1200 volt-amperes. 600-7. Marking. (a) Signs. Signs shall be marked with the maker's name; and, for incandescent lamp signs, with the number of lampholders; and, for electricdischarge-lamp signs, with input amperes at full load and input voltage. The marking of the sign shall be visible after installation. (b) Transformers. Transformers shall be marked with the maker's name; and transformers for electric-discharge-lamp signs shall be marked with the input rating in amperes or volt-amperes, the input voltage, and the open-circuit output voltage. 600-8. Enclosures. (a) Conductors and Terminals. Conductors and terminals in sign boxes, cabinets, and outline troughs shall be enclosed in metal or other noncombustible material. Exception: The supply leads shall not be required to be enclosed. (b) Cutouts, Flashers, Etc. Cutouts, flashers, and similar devices shall be enclosed in metal boxes, the doors of which shall be arranged so they can be opened without removing obstructions or finished parts of the enclosure. (c) Strength. Enclosures shall have ample strength and rigidity. (d) Material. Signs and outline lighting shall be constructed of metal or other noncombustible material. Wood shall be permitted for external decoration if placed not less than 2 inches (50.8 mm) from the nearest lampholder or current-carrying part.