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New neon regulations are in effect
Often, a new year brings change. New laws and regulations frequently take effect on January 1. So it goes with the National Electrical Code's (NEC) 2005 edition, which presents new regulations for neon installation. I previewed prospective changes in NEC's Article 600, Electric Signs and Outline Lighting, last year (see ST, April 2004, page 30).
Remember, not all municipal authorities immediately adopt the new NEC; always check with your local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). In most cases, your electrical inspector is the AHJ, and he will know which edition is applicable to your present job.
Key changes include Article 600-32 (g), which stipulates that GTO cable extend 21/2 in. beyond the conduit for wet- or dry-location signs. Prior to the 2005 NEC change, wet-location GTO had extended 4 in. past conduit; dry applications are unchanged. Also, Section 600-2 dictates that the prefabricated sign section must carry a listing mark, and that the labels state the section number and the total number of sections employed.
Moreover, I've included a section pertaining to Class 2 power supplies. However, this list focuses only upon high-voltage neon signage. For other electric-sign types, refer to the NEC's Article 600.
From my many sign inspections, I could tell more stories of improper procedures than would fit in this magazine. Often, basic requirements are simply overlooked. I'm not only referring to disreputable, fly-by-night installers who bend the rules and do shoddy, hazardous work that endangers the public. Onsite, many sign professionals simply forget to follow common sense.
To avoid a harsh wake-up call from an electrical inspector -- which could lead to red-tagging the project, hefty fines or follow-up costs -- I have compiled the following checklist, which was inspired by Les Beros, an experienced, Canadian electrical inpector, who published a similar list in the Canadian Standards Assn. newsletter.
The following checklist doesn't cover all requirements -- just the ones I see frequently overlooked. It may seem incomplete to some readers and too pedantic to others. Points that are new to the 2005 NEC are marked as such. Check with your local AHJ to verify that the 2005 NEC applies to your neon installation before you prepare the blueprints.
First, mark the heading of each checklist with the project name and location, client, installation date, name of the installer and the responsible AHJ.