SECTION 17: SIGNS AND OUTLINE LIGHTING

SECTION 17

SIGNS AND OUTLINE LIGHTING

17.1 SCOPE

(1) This provisions of this Section apply to the installation of signs and outline lighting wherein the
source of light are:

a) incandescent lamps,
b) fluorescent lamps,
c) high-voltage luminous discharge tubes including neon tubes, and
d) high intensity discharge lamps.

Note: The word "sign", when used throughout this Section, includes those of the through-wall type.

17.2 NORMATIVE REFERENCES

(1) The following references contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute
provisions of the Ethiopian Building Code Standard on Electrical Installation of Buildings.

a) IEE:1970 The Institute of Electrical Engineers, Regulation for the

Electrical Equipment of Buildings, Fourteenth Edition (1966),
Incorporating Amendments.

b) C22.1: 1990 Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1, Safety Standard for Electrical
Installation, Sixteenth Edition

17.3 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

17.3.1 Construction

(1) All signs and outline lighting apparatus, accessories, and fittings manufactured wholly or in part in the
field shall comply with the relevant requirements of:

a) this Code; and

b) the applicable international standards, if any, except so far as these requirements may be modified
by this Code.

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SECTION 17: SIGNS AND OUTLINE LIGHTING

17.3.2 Disconnecting Means

(1) Each outline lighting installation and each sign other than the portable type shall be provided with a
disconnecting means which shall:

a) open all unearthed conductors;

b) be suitable for condition of installation such as exposure to weather; and
c) be integral with the sign or outline lighting.

17.3.3 Rating of Disconnecting Means and Control Devices

(1) Switches, flashers, and similar devices breaking inductive loads shall be either of a type approved for
the purpose or have a current rating of not less than twice the current rating of the loads.

17.3.4 Thermal Protection

(1) Ballasts of the thermally-protected type shall be required for all signs and outline lighting which
employ fluorescent lamps except where the ballasts are of the simple reactance type.

17.3.5 Branch Circuit Capacity

(1) Circuits shall be arranged so that the load imposed by lamps and associated gears shall not exceed
80% of the branch circuit overcurrent protection.

17.3.6 Location

(1) Signs and outline lighting shall be located so that all the following requirement are met:

a) Any person working thereon is not likely to come into contact with overhead conductors.
b) No part of the sign or its support will interfere with normal work operations performed on
electrical and communication utility lines.
c) No part of the sign or its support is in such proximity to overhead conductors as to constitute a
hazard.

d) Unless mechanical protection is provided to prevent persons or vehicles from coming into contact
with the electrical components of the sign, no part of the sign, other than its support, shall be
located within 2.2m above grade.

17.3.7 Bonding

(1) All conductive non-current-carrying parts of the lighting installation shall be bonded to earth in
accordance with the requirements of Section 7 except for conductive parts of letters attached to the
building and illuminated from the rear.

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SECTION 17: SIGNS AND OUTLINE LIGHTING

17.3.8 Protection of Sign Leads

(1) Sign leads which pass through the walls or partitions of the sign structure shall be protected by non-
combustible, moisture-absorption resisting bushings.

17.3.9 Installation of Conductors

(1) Conductors for sign and outlying lighting shall be installed in accordance with the requirement of
Section 8.

17.3.10 Fuse holders and Flashers

(1) Fuseholder, flashers, etc. shall be enclosed in metal and shall-be accessible without the necessity of
removing obstructions or, otherwise, dismantling the sign.

17.4 HIGH-VOLTAGE LUMINOUS DISCHARGE TUBE SIGNSAND OUTLINELIGHTING

17.4.1 Enclosure

17.4.1.1 General

(1) Enclosure for transformers, switches, timers, relays, sequencing units and other similar devices shall
be of metal or of heat and moisture resistant, non-combustible material.

17.4.1.2 Construction

(1) The enclosure shall be constructed to prevent the emission of flames or any burning or ignited
material.

17.4.1.3 Ventilation

(1) Openings for ventilation shall be arranged to comply with the requirement of 17.4.1.2 and shall at
least be 100.0mm from live parts.

17.4.1.4 Thickness

(1) Metal enclosures shall not be less than 0.8mm thick and at the point where it is intended that the
supply connections be made, the enclosure shall be of not less than 1.6mm in thickness.

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SECTION 17: SIGNS AND OUTLINE LIGHTING

17.4.1.5 Marking

(1) Each enclosure housing a transformer shall be marked in accordance with the requirements of Clause
2.4.6.

17.4.2 Protection of Uninsulated Part

(1) Doors or covers accessible to the general public and which give access to uninsulated parts of indoor
signs or outline lighting shall either be provided with interlock switches which, on the opening of the
doors or covers, disconnect the primary circuit or shall be fastened so that the use of other than ordinary
tools will be necessary to open them.

17.4.3 Transformers

17.4.3.1 Secondary voltage

(1) The rated secondary open-circuit voltage of transformers shall not exceed 15.0kV, except as in (2)
below.
(2) In end-earthed transformers, rated secondary open-circuit voltage shall not exceed 7.5kV.

17.4.3.2 Open core-and-coil type transformer

(1) Open core-and-coil type transformers shall only be used indoor.

17.4.3.3 Transformers used outdoors

(1) Transformers used outdoor shall be of the weather-proof type or shall be enclosed in the sign body or
in a separate weather-proof box.

17.4.3.4 Installation

(1) Transformers shall be installed in such location that they are accessible and capable of being removed
and replaced.

(2) They shall be supported by attachment to the enclosure in which they are housed by at least two studs
or bolts.

17.4.3.5 Overcurrent protection

(1) Each transformer shall be protected by an overcurrent device except that two or more transformers
may be protected by one overcurrent device if their combined load does not exceed 12.0A.

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SECTION 17: SIGNS AND OUTLINE LIGHTING

17.4.4 High-Voltage Wiring Methods

17.4.4.1 Conductor installation

(1) High-voltage conductors shall be installed in:

a) transformer enclosure,
b) sign enclosure,
c) flexible metal conduit,
d) rigid conduit, or
e) other acceptable type of raceways except for surface raceways.

17.4.4.2 Conductors run

(1) High-voltage conductors may be run from the ends of gas tubes to the earthed midpoint of
transformers which have terminals at the midpoint.

17.4.4.3 Bends

(1) There shall be no bends in high-voltage conductors.

17.4.4.4 Type of conductors

(1) All high voltage conductors installed inside metal sign enclosures shall be of the luminous-tube-sign
type cables.

17.4.4.5 Length of cable from transformers

(1) In a metallic raceway and in a non-metallic raceway, cables not more than a total of 6.0m and 16.0m,
respectively, shall be run from transformer to other parts of the sign.

17.4.4.6 Connection of conductors

(1) Connection of high-voltage conductors to neon tubing outside the building or structure shall be made
by means of one of the following.

a) an electrode receptacle;
b) a direct connection in the neon tubing outside the building or structure wall provided that not
more than 1.0m of high-voltage wiring extends beyond the end of the raceway;
c) any other acceptable methods.

Note: The connection in (b) shall be electrically secure and provided with acceptable wrapping of insulating tape.

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