Vantage LED: Permitting

Showing posts with label Permitting. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

A year+ in review - Articles from the Vantage LED team for your edification & education.

-Deacon Wardlow

It's been a little over a year now since we first started the blog. We've delivered new content 2x/week every week since the start (including this post, that's 123 articles in 13 months or an average of 9 articles every month). When we first started off, some friends and colleagues asked if we'd run out of things to write. The great thing about DS (Digital Signage) is it's constantly evolving and there's always something new to learn/share.

We're taking a short break (the next post will start up again from August 6). After the short break, we'll continue to bring you fact-based approaches to education on DS issues relating to technology, sales, end-user support, technology, and more. If you'd like to see something in particular, please email us (deacon@vantageled.com) and we'll be happy to get right on it for you.

For all of our fellow Americans, "Happy Fourth of July!" Play safe and come back with all your fingers and such intact on the other side of the holiday (there've been a few times I wasn't as careful as I should have been and am grateful for nothing more than a slight burn to teach me a lesson...).

So you don't have to sort/search and dig around for what you need, I've broken the articles into categories. Here's everything going back to last May 2012:

Digital Signage Sign Tech & Spec:

Digital Signage Content:

Professional Content is a Must!
Real World Effects of LEDs per Pixel on Outdoor Digital Signage
Time and Temperature on LED Signs...to Be or Not to Be
Quality LED Signs Managed Responsibly Improve the Community
Professional Quality Content on LED Signs Benefit Resellers Directly
How 'LinkedIn' is Digital Signage for you/your clients?
Why DS Fails
Keeping Content Current/interesting
Ensuring text comes through LOUD AND CLEAR
LED Signs & Free Speech
Create a call to action with Digital Signage
The benefits of PSAs (Public Service Announcement)
Get the most from your website (Digital Signage is online as well)
Being a good neighbor with LED Signage
Content scheduling/creation (planning ahead)

Digital Signage Sales 101:

Why LED Signage?:

Costs for Digital Signage:

How much can an LED Sign Cost?
Short term gain, long term costs (cost of a "cheap" LED Sign)
"Value Line" vs. Single Level of quality (i.e. why there aren't iPhone or Droid "lite" versions)
Is an LED Sign (or any Digital Signage) an investment or a purchase?
Selling the value of a Digital Signage Solution (LED Sign, LCD, or other)

Digital Signage 'How To':

Digital Signage 'Need To Know':

-DW

*I invite you to comment here and/or email me directly with requests at deacon@vantageled.com. Vantage LED has white paper resources and more educational material on the website (http://www.vantageled.com), please check it out when you have a moment. Note my posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically noted.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Finding a Quality Sign Installer for an EMC or LED Sign Project

Finding a good company to install your very expensive LED sign can be challenging. You want to get a good price and high quality work but there are some obstacles to overcome. Some areas have many companies to choose from, others have very few. How do you find the best installer for your money?

I would like to share some tips I’ve learned over the years, and hopefully save some time and money for those who are entering the world of LED Signs, Video Boards and Electronic Message Centers.

Research is Key
The internet has provided many sources and ways to research any topic, sign installation included. I’ve listed a few good sources below:

SignSearch: This site allows you to search for anything sign related, installation included. I usually select “Have a sign installed” and simply put “Pole Sign” or “Wall Sign” in the description field. Companies are then listed, and you can check out their services, contact info and website.
Google Maps: This is pretty straight forward. Just search your organization's address. Once it pops up on the map, click the “Search Nearby” link, and type “Sign Installation” or something similar. This will show a nice geographic location of businesses in your area that have something to do with signs and/or installation.
SignWeb: This has some good directories, similar to SignSearch.

Referrals are also a great way to find good installers. Ask your neighbors who they used for their sign installation, and if they had a good experience. Also, your LED sign supplier might have some good contacts for you.

Qualities to Look For

Equipment “In-House”: I have used several companies in the past that outsourced their entire crew and have done an outstanding job. But for the most part, having cranes, bucket trucks, and installation crews all in-house is preferable. In-house equipment means that scheduling and implementing your installation happens much more quickly than someone who is relying on a third party.

Sign Company or “Install Only” Company: I have had success with both types of businesses, but I tend to lean toward finding a company who just does installations. If you need fabrication done (pole covers, painting, ect..) in addition to the installation, a sign company that also specializes in installations might be the way to go.

Experience With LED signs: More and more business are using LED signs, so many installers have at least a little bit of experience with LED signs.

Licensing and Insurance: Every installer should be licensed and insured in the state/county/city they do work in. Using unlicensed or non-insured installers can cause many long term installation and legal issues. Most installers will give you their license number to verify.

Fast Communication: How quickly a company responds to a quote request, is often a signal of how quickly they will execute your installation. Avoid installers who never seem to be available via telephone, or email. This can signify a lack of organization that will ultimately affect your installation schedule.

Getting Quotes
Narrow your search, but try to get quotes from 3-5 different companies.. This will help you get a better feel for a reasonable cost for your installation and give you more chances to see how quickly each company will respond during the quote process.

Make sure to be very clear on the “Scope of Work” for your installation, so there are no unexpected charges. Here are some general items that should be covered:

Pre-Installation Site Survey: The installer should see the site prior to installation to verify power, access, existing structures, and other important items
Permits: Are they required? (See my series on permits) If so, who will be pulling them, and how much will it cost. City/County fees vary, but the labor fees for installers to pull permits is usually an hourly rate. In my experience it usually doesn’t go over $300, unless you have to get a special sign variance.
Installation of the LED Sign: Where will it be going, how high, how many faces, etc...
Electrical Connection: Most installers will make the final connection to existing power within 5 ft of the sign, as long at there is no digging involved. Make sure this is clear.
Terms: Layout your expected terms in the quote request. Common terms are 50% down payment, and 50% after the installation is completed.

Once you get the quotes back, take note of the following items:

Is the price reasonable? Getting more than one quote will help you determine this. If you get (4) quotes back for $2000 and (1) quote back for $600 chances are the low price is either because the installer isn’t quoting the entire scope, or they are under quoting to secure the job, and will increase the cost during or after the installation. The key is to get as many reasonable quotes as possible, to help you get a feel for the “Market Price”.

How quickly did they get it back to you? Most of the time a 1-2 day turnaround is good. If the quote comes back to quickly, verify that the installer is actually quoting all the work and not just throwing a cheap price out there. If it takes too long, you may want to avoid that particular installer. They might be overly busy, or under organized.

Does the quote include the entire scope in your original quote request? Double check your quote and make sure you are comparing apples to apples between the quotes.

When securing the final installer, make sure the agreement and scope are very clear. I commonly use the phrase “if it’s not in writing, it doesn’t exist” when talking about any kind of service or agreement between two parties. Make sure you have a clear and complete quote and/or agreement for any installation. Email is useful here, and can serve as a good place to verify and keep pertinent information available.

- Scott Hofheins

* I welcome ALL constructive comments. Please feel free to comment and add anything I’ve missed, or additional tips you may have regarding this topic. Please visit www.vantageled.com for any other resources, white papers, and of course: Great looking LED Signs!

**All posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

National Electrical Code Compliance and YOU!

- Mike Prongue

My dear wife, a former fire inspector and fire fighter once attempted to share “sage advice” with me regarding fire codes with the statement “behind every fire code is a tragedy”. Government regulation, regardless of an individual’s political opinion, has at its core the intention to help further and validate an industry and more importantly, in the case of safety regulation - to save lives.

The Electronic Message Center (EMC) industry, Digital Sign Industry, is not exempt from this regulation and most business owners familiar with these requirement look toward the National Electrical Code (NEC) particularly Section 600, for guidance and conformance. Like any regulation there are ambiguities regarding the NEC but EMCs are required to be inspected to NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) standards. That is clear.

In the early development of the NEC, the term UL, for Underwriters Laboratory, was used in lieu of today’s reference of "NRTL". Many UL equivalent organizations have come to the forefront since OSHA changed its terminology to reflect it’s choice of “NRTL” in 1988, a few examples are: MET, CSA, NSF, TUV, ETL (Intertek) and others.

Regardless of the NRTL chosen to inspect and approve the EMC at the factory, this inspection has to occur and the inspection is to the same standards regardless of the NRTL used.

When a code inspector signs off on an installation, a NRTL certification listing label number is the permission required for him to not open up the display and inspect the components contained therein. Without this certification listing the local code enforcement body can ask that the EMC be removed. Some sign companies lean heavily on the NRTL certification of the power supplies alone, to convince the inspector that the EMC conforms to the NEC. This is bypassing the intent of the NEC and opens the sign company up to liability if damage, injury or death were to occur as a result of a faulty EMC product.

In addition to false claims by sign companies engaged in the actual installation, many overseas manufacturers are quite liberal with use of the NRTL certification label. Displaying a UL certification label (for example) on a website could cause the reader to think the total EMC is UL certified rather than just subcomponents such as a power supply. This is not the same as the completed, total EMC assembly having a UL certification. The same non-compliance penalty exists regarding removing the EMC from the structure after installation due to non-compliance of the certification requirement.

Many documented issues exist regarding EMCs produced offshore and their claim to be NRTL approved- ETL, MET or others. If it does not have a NRTL certification listing label number issued by the manufacturer, the EMC project should be suspect. If it does have a listing label number and the sign dealer wants to be sure it is legitimate, every NRTL has a toll-free line to validate the certificate. Many offshore produced EMC units have the claim to be NRTL certified but investigation of this claim will prove that only subcomponents have been inspected to NEC standards.

Also, with regards to offshore produced EMCs, this writer has been told by many company representatives that the EMC model submitted for NRTL inspection bears little resemblance to the EMC models eventually delivered to the USA. The components offered for inspection are top-grade, the electrical connections and wiring are to standard, and installation has been completed with meticulous detail. This sets up a NRTL quandary similar to the magician’s trick of “three cups and a pea”. What cup is the NRTL certification under?

It’s the responsibility of the sign dealer to make sure their product meets the standards of the National Electrical Code. You get what YOU inspect.

**Note all posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

LED Signs and Free Speech

I read an article last week (read here) about a church in Virginia who was cited by the county government for changing their LED sign more than twice in 24 hours. The church was apparently unaware of this particular restriction and tried to work with the county on a compromise. Unfortunately they couldn’t reach an agreement so the church is now suing the county saying that the law restricts their free speech and free exercise of religion.

I agree with the church, and not just because I work in the LED sign industry. I believe super restrictive sign codes are wrong in general. Signs are usually the first communication that organizations have with the local community. LED signs have taken this communication to the next level, allowing clear and specific messages to be given. This country was built on free speech, free exercise of religion, entrepreneurship, and hard work. I believe overly restricting the ability of organizations to communicate goes against these principles. That being said, I understand the need to make sure we don’t have giant digital billboards shining into a residential area.

Reasonable restrictions and guidelines are necessary, but limiting message changes to only two per 24 hours is going too far and might be overreaction by the county, worried about turning the area into a mini Las Vegas. This “Las Vegas” fear has its roots in the fact that LED signs are still relatively new to the commercial market. In the beginning, only organizations with deep pockets (like casinos) could afford the full color high quality signs. Additionally, these new LED signs were purchased not just to communicate, but to be an attraction on their own, seeing who could make the biggest and fanciest sign on the strip.
LED signs are much more affordable, and are now used regularly for churches, businesses, schools and other smaller organizations. Unfortunately, the old idea of an LED sign’s purpose continues to affect sign codes across the country today. This story has received more coverage than normal, but it is by no means an uncommon situation. I have personally been involved with a number of these type of situations across the country and they can be extremely frustrating for the organization involved, who in most cases just wants to replace old technology and better communicate to the public.

I am glad to see this church fighting for their free speech rights, and that this story has received national press. It will be interesting to see how it turns out. The county has already backed off from there original stance (see update here), and many local officials have agreed with the churches position. Supervisor Pat S. Herrity (R-Springfield) is quoted in the updated article saying “This is what happens when you’re not careful with regulation.” Hopefully this inspires other organizations facing similar issues to stand their ground and work with the local government for more reasonable sign codes.

LED signs are the future, they will be around for a long time. Rejecting them in the sign code is like rejecting the car because it goes faster than a horse and buggy. Obviously, this is the wrong way to approach the situation. Speed limits are put in place, better roads are built, stoplights are utilized and fair traffic laws are developed. This same level headed approach should be taken with LED signs. Fair regulations will promote a higher quality product and safer installations that benefit the public, organizations, and the industry in general.

- Scott Hofheins.

I hope this post has been informative and helpful. As usual, I welcome ALL constructive comments. Please feel free to comment and add anything I’ve missed, or additional tips you may have regarding this topic. Please visit www.vantageled.com for many other resources, white papers, and of course: Great looking LED Signs!

**All posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Permitting LED Signs - Part 3: Research the Code Yourself

This post is a continuation of my Permitting LED Signs series. Part 1 can be viewed here and Part 2 here

In this post, I will focus on obtaining and researching the code yourself. This will take a bit longer than calling the city but it can allow you to learn things that the city planners may not know, or just not tell you. I have personally come across this multiple times, usually in larger cities where I had to correct the planner on the code and confirm the right information.

THE INITIAL STEPS
Google is a major resource when getting this done. Be sure to get all the information listed below before diving into the sign code. It will save time in the long run.

1. Determine your property’s Zoning District:
Many cities now have zoning maps online. They are not always up to date, but serve as a good guide. Find your city website and look for any link that has to do with Zoning or Planning. This will usually guide you to the zoning map. If you have trouble, you can always just google “zoning map” and “city name”, or call the city as detailed in Part 2. Most maps will have a Key, that will let you know your zoning code. (like GC for General Commercial, or R1 for Residential - Type 1).

2. Determine who regulates your sign code:
When you look at the zoning map, you may find that your property isn’t actually in the city boundaries. You will then need to contact the County and determine your Zoning District and get the sign code and regulations. Counties usually have a website too with this information.

3. Get your property “Plat Map”:
This is a map of your property lines and measurements. It can usually be found by calling your County Tax Assessor/Collector or going to the website and doing a “property search”. Many counties have a direct link to online mapping services (sometimes call GIS) that will allow you to search a live/updated property map.

OBTAIN THE SIGN CODE
You are now ready to get the sign code.The City or County websites will usually have a link in the Zoning, Development, or Land Use section. Search google for “Sign Code ‘city name’ “ or “ Municipal Code”.
There are also two very common code providers online. Both sites have many codes hosted and are used by many cities to host the code directly.
www.municode.com.
www.amlegal.com

LOCATE THE SPECIFIC SIGN CODE SECTION(S) IN THE MAIN CODE
Most codes have 3-5 main areas that deal with the sign code specifically:

General Regulation.

Rules Specific for Zoning Districts

Rules Specific for “Special Districts” like historic areas or “downtown” areas.

Prohibited Signs.

Exemptions and Misc. Regulations.

Different cities organize these differently, some examples:

Example #1 Some may have a large General Regulation section, that covers every type of sign. It will only list “exceptions” to the main regulation for each zoning district. Each zoning district has its own “prohibited” signs section.

Example #2 They might have a very small General Section but each zoning district has a full description of what is allowed, and what is not allowed. It also has a Special Exceptions section where certain entities are allowed different regulations. Typically this will apply to Churches and Schools.

Example #3 Some codes only include specific sign regulations for specific Zoning districts. Any districts not listed falls under the General Regulations.

READ THE CODE AND GET YOUR SPECIFIC REGULATIONS
I always start with the prohibited section. Sometimes this only applies to certain districts, but sometime it can apply to the entire city. Unfortunately some places do try to prohibit LED signs altogether. You can save time by reading this section first.

Read through the General Section, and your specific regulations for your zoning district. You are trying to answer the following questions:

What types of signs are allowed?

Common terms for general signage:

Monument Signs: Low lying signs, usually with a wide base no visible pole or structure. Think neighborhood subdivision entrance sign.

Pole Signs, or Pylon Signs: Signs on poles, usually higher up off the ground.

Building or Roof Sign: Identification signs mounted to the building itself.

Multi-Tenant Signs: Signs with multiple business advertised. Think strip mall, or shopping center.

Common terms for LED signs:

Electronic Message Center

Electronic Changeable Copy Signs

LED Message Center

Electronic Marqee

Scrolling Message Center

Scrolling Sign

Are there any specific restrictions to LED signs?

This can be display time, animation, or brightness restrictions. Some cities require a “Special Use Agreement” that you must sign, agreeing to adhere to the restrictions.

How is the allowable surface area calculated?

This is usually done by the amount of street frontage your property has. This is the reason you have the “Plat Map” to get an official measurement of your street frontage. Typically this is something like: “...2 square ft allowed, per linear foot of street frontage, not to exceed 50 square feet...”

What is counted as “sign” surface area, and what is counted as just “structure”?

See my post in Part 2 regarding this. Signs vary greatly in shape size. How does your city measure oddly shaped signs?

How high can the sign be?

How many signs (of each type) can you have on the property?

If you have more than one “street frontage” you are often allowed signs on each frontage.

Where can the signs be located?

How far back from the property line does the sign need to be?

This is often called setback. It is usually in the General Section. If you can’t find it, ask the city planner.

If LED signs are not allowed, is there a variance process?

Often, the code will reference other sections like: “...these signs are allowed per section 11.202.3, with the following restrictions...” This can be tedious, but stick to it and read through the sections.

Write down each section number and reference that pertains to your situation so you can quickly find the information later. The Copy and Paste functions on your computer can be very helpful with this. As you see a section that pertains to you, just copy and paste the section into a word doc, or email. This will help you greatly if you need to call the city to confirm something, or verify your information.

VERIFY WITH THE CITY/COUNTY
I recommend to always verify with the city planner. Write down any questions as you are reading, so you can be prepared when you call. Most planners are very nice and easy to talk to, but as I said in the previous posts, they MUST give you a specific reference in the code for any restrictions. It is not rude to ask nicely for these references, even if it sounds like the planner may not want to take the time to look it up. Make sure you are 100% comfortable with the answers, and your understanding of the code. Its worth the extra time to talk with them to make sure you are clear on everything.

Remember to always be polite. Arguing with a planner on how the code was made, or why it was written a certain way will not do you any good. Get the facts, and if you disagree with the regulations bring it up with the city council. If you feel that the planner isn’t very familiar with the sign code, politely ask to speak with someone who is.

Getting into the sign code itself can be a challenge but it is worth the extra effort to make sure you know the regulations for your property. Hopefully this series has provided good insight into the task, and can be a resource for a variety of people in a variety of situations.

* I welcome ALL constructive comments. Please feel free to comment and add anything I’ve missed, or additional tips you may have regarding this topic. Please visit www.vantageled.com for many other resources, white papers, and of course: Great looking LED Signs

**All posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Permitting LED Signs - Part 2: Calling the Local Government

This post is a continuation of my Permitting LED Signs series. Part 1 can be viewed here.

In this post, I will focus on calling your local government. This is usually the best method to start with. You can still run into problems and mis-information but it can save some time and effort and get you pointed in the right direction.

(1) DETERMINE WHO REGULATES YOUR SIGN

In most cases either the City, or County will regulate the sign code for your property address. However, there are some areas where you may be located in the County, but the City still regulates the sign code. This is usually called an ETJ, or Extended Territorial Jurisdiction.

Start with the City Planning Department. Every city will have an organization like this in some form or another. They are in charge of zoning, and land use regulations. Go to your city website and look for any links that have to do with Planning and/or Zoning. Most sites will also have a “General Information” line to call if you can’t find the direct number on the website.

Tell them you are interested in permitting an LED Sign, and need to know who governs the sign code for your address. If they do not govern the sign code, they should be able to tell you who does (usually the County) and give you a number for their planning dept.

(2) TALKING TO THE PLANNER (CITY OR COUNTY)

When you are talking to the planner, use the following guide and keep a pen handy to write down any important information:

Determine your Zoning District and write it down for verification.

Determine if LED signs are permissible in your district. If not, ask them to point out the specific reference in the sign code.

Determine the restrictions required so you can make sure to design and purchase the right size LED sign.

The planner may also have access to your property “Plat Drawing” information. This land drawing shows property lines and measurements. If they have it you can get the length of your street frontage. If not they should be able to refer you to someone who can.

(3) IF LED SIGNS ARE ALLOWED
If LED signs are allowed, there will be certain restrictions based on square footage, height, content, and display times.

The permissibility, height and square footage are usually determined by the Zoning District of your property, then by the linear street frontage of your property line.

Be sure to ask them what makes up the "allowable sign area" or "sign square footage". Signs are not always rectangles. They can incorporate many shapes, sizes, trim, pole covers, etc...You need to know how these are dealt with in the city code. Some examples are shown below:

This method only counts the actual signage with text.

This method includes the entire sign design and pole cover

Remember, the methods used will vary so make sure you know how your specific city/county determines sign area.

(4) IF LED SIGNS ARE NOT ALLOWED
Sometimes LED signs are specifically prohibited and sometimes they are prohibited by a general description - I.E. “No signs shall be installed that change messages or color by electrical means...”

Be sure to ask the planner to kindly to direct you to the specific ordinance text that forbids them. There are usually multiple references; write them down so you can verify later.
Many areas have “special use” permits and/or a “Variance Review” process that can allow organizations with disadvantages or special needs to use signs that wouldn't be allowed otherwise. Be sure to ask the planner about these options and any required paperwork.

(5) ALWAYS VERIFY
Verify the information you receive, good or bad. Humans do make mistakes, and if you feel in any way that the planner isn’t familiar with the sign code, ask to talk to a supervisor and verify. Always be very polite.

Sometimes trying to contact the city government can look overwhelming on the surface, but usually all it takes is a quick call to the general information line to get you in touch with the right person. The people you need to speak to are almost always in the Zoning/Planning department.

My next post (Part 3) will be about researching and verifying the code and regulations yourself. This is usually a good idea, even if the city planner tells you the sign is permissible. Nobody wants to be in a situation where they’ve put down good money for a sign, only to find out that the planner gave you incorrect information.

-Scott Hofheins

* I welcome ALL constructive comments. Please feel free to comment and add anything I’ve missed, or additional tips you may have regarding this topic. Please visit www.vantageled.com for many other resources, white papers, and of course: Great looking LED Signs!

**All posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do
not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc.
unless specifically stated.