3.01.2 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.
(a) General. The supports of all signs shall be placed in or upon private property and shall be securely built, constructed and erected in conformance with the requirements of this code.
(b) Materials. Materials of construction for signs shall be of the quality and grade specified for buildings by the building code. In the absence of specified requirements, the materials and details of construction of all signs shall conform to the following:
(1) a. Structural steel shall be of that quality specified by AISC-LRFD, AISC 335 or AISC-HSS. Secondary members in contact with or directly supporting the display surface may be formed of light gauge steel, provided such members are galvanized and are designed in accordance with the specifications of the design of light gauge steel in accordance with Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing - General Provisions, American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI - General) and AISI-NASPEC. Secondary members, when formed integrally with the display surface, shall be not less than No. 24 gauge in thickness. When not formed integrally with the display surface, the minimum thickness of the secondary members shall be No. 12 gauge.
b. The minimum thickness of hot-rolled steel members furnishing structural support for signs shall be one-fourth inch except that, if galvanized, such members shall be not less than three-sixteenths-inch thick.
c. Steel members may be connected with one galvanized bolt provided the connection is adequate to transfer the stresses to the members.
(2) Anchors and supports, when wood and embedded in the soil or within six inches of the soil, shall be completely heartwood of a durable species or shall be pressure-treated with an approved preservative. Such members shall be marked or branded by an approved agency.
(c) Restrictions on combustible materials.
(1) All signs erected in the “H” central business district shall have structural members of noncombustible materials. In other than “H” central business district, detached signs may be constructed of any material meeting the requirements of this code.
(2) Combination signs, attached signs, projecting signs and marquee signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section. No combustible materials other than approved plastics shall be used in the construction of signs containing electrical wiring.
(d) Nonstructural trim. Nonstructural trim and portable display surfaces may be wood, metal, plastics or any combination thereof, or other approved materials.
(e) Anchorage.
(1) Members supporting unbraced signs shall be so proportioned that the bearing loads imposed on the soil, either horizontally or vertically, shall not exceed the safe values. Braced detached signs shall be anchored to resist the specified wind load acting in any direction. Anchors and supports shall be designed for safe bearing loads on the soil and for an effective resistance-to-pull-out amounting to a force 25% greater than the required resistance- to-overturning. Anchors and supports shall penetrate to a depth below ground greater than that of the frost line.
(2) Signs attached to masonry, concrete or steel shall be safely and securely fastened thereto by means of metal anchors, bolts or approved expansion screws of sufficient size and anchorage to support safely the loads applied.
(3) No wooden blocks or plugs or anchors with wood used in connection with screws or nails shall be considered proper anchorage, except in the case of signs attached to wood framing.
(4) No anchor or support of any sign shall be connected to, or supported by, any unbraced parapet wall, unless such wall is designed for such load as required by the building code.
(f) Display surfaces.
(1) Display surfaces in all types of signs may be made of metal, glass, plastics or other approved materials. Glass display surfaces shall conform to the following specifications:
Size, Thickness and Type of Glass Panels in Signs
Any Dimension (in inches) | Area (in square inches) | Minimum Thickness of Glass (in inches) | Type of Glass
30 | 500 | 1/8 | Plain, plate or wired
45 | 700 | 3/16 | Plain, plate or wired
144 | 3,600 | 1/4 | Plain, plate or wired
Over 144 | Over 3,600 | 1/4 | Wired glass
(2) Sections of approved plastic on wall signs shall not exceed 150 square feet in area. Sections of approved plastics on wall signs shall be separated three feet laterally and six feet vertically by required exterior wall construction.
(3) Upon the approval of the building official, sections of approved plastics on signs other than wall signs may be of unlimited area. Sections may not be required to be separated by required exterior wall construction if approved by the building official.
(g) Approved plastics. The building official may require that technical data be submitted to substantiate the safety and feasibility of the proposed use of any plastic sign material as a condition of approval of such proposed use. Such data shall include information concerning the strength of such material.
