100 general provisions

731.03 Changeable Message Sign, Electrical Type.

A. General. Electrical changeable message signs consist of units or groups of units containing arrangements of pixels that use electrical circuitry to display different messages.

Place signs in weatherproof cabinets. Integrate control logic units, load switches, monitor feedback circuits, power supply, etc., within the sign cabinet or mount within a separate weatherproof enclosure as required.

B. Message Type. Furnish electrical changeable message signs of the limited message or unlimited message type.

Limited message signs contain pixels in an arrangement so that by the energizing of selected pixels two or more messages may be displayed.

Unlimited message signs contain pixels arranged in full matrix or alphanumeric type modules positioned side-by-side to provide line units of the specified length. Ensure that the line units are capable of displaying messages containing letters and numerals, limited only by the number of characters that can be accommodated. Ensure that the line units are capable of continually displaying alternating messages.

Furnish materials according to the Department’s Qualified Products List (QPL).

C. Display Type. Furnish electrical changeable message signs consisting of a lamp, light emitting diode, fiber optic, light reflecting, or hybrid types.

Lamp type changeable message signs consist of individual incandescent bulbs.

Light emitting diode changeable message signs consist of groups of individual light emitting diodes that, acting together, form individual character pixels.

Fiber optic changeable message signs consist of fiber optic bundles that transmit light from a remote source to form individual pixels.

Light reflecting changeable message signs consist of individual light reflecting panels.

Hybrid changeable message signs consist of individual light reflecting panels, each augmented by a light emitting pixel of the specified type. Ensure that the light emitting pixels are displayed when the corresponding reflecting panel is in the exposed position, and concealed or de-energized when the corresponding reflecting panel is in the unexposed position.

Furnish materials according to the Department’s Qualified Products List (QPL).

731.05 Internally Illuminated Fixed Message Sign. Furnish internally illuminated fixed message signs of the required legend and that consist of an opaque housing with a face of translucent plastic. If specified, provide double faced signs. Illuminate signs using interior lamps located so the sign face is uniformly lighted.

Furnish signs either with the legend on the exterior surface to maintain legibility when unlighted due to power failure, or with the legend on the interior surface so as to be invisible when the sign is unlighted. Apply the legend using black silk screening or by direct applied characters to white sign faces, unless otherwise specified. Design the sign faces for quick removal for maintenance, and provide faces with a safety chain or like device. If specified, shield the sign faces with sunscreens, louvering, or visors.

Furnish housings made of corrosion-resistant material that is cast, extruded, or formed. Furnish mounting hubs that are similar to traffic signal design. Furnish weatherproof signs that have drainage weepholes.

Furnish the sign with the appropriate hardware for mounting by span wire, mast arm, pedestal top, or pole type bracket arms. Include fluorescent type lamps with ballast.

Furnish materials according to the Department’s Qualified Products List (QPL).

731.06 Sign Flasher Assembly. Furnish beacons consisting of single traffic signal sections with 8 or 12-inch (200 or 300 mm) yellow lenses. Ensure that the flasher control unit flashes the beacons at a rate for each beacon of between 50 to 60 times per minute with the light period from one-half to two-thirds of the total cycle. Furnish flasher control units that have all solid state components and that meet NEMA TS-1, part 6. House control units within a weatherproof corrosion-resistant enclosure with a lockable door. Include the incandescent lamps.

Furnish materials according to the Department’s Qualified Products List (QPL).

731.07 School Speed Limit Sign Assembly. Furnish yellow beacons that are 6 inches (150 mm) or greater in size. Ensure that the flashers flash the beacons alternately at a rate for each beacon of 50 to 60 times per minute with the light period from one-half to two-thirds of the total cycle. Furnish flashers that have all solid state components and that meet NEMA TS-1, part 6. Ensure that the backing members with hardware are compatible with the method of support.

Furnish materials according to the Department’s Qualified Products List (QPL).

731.08 Flexible Conduit. Furnish galvanized steel flextube conduit with a waterproof PVC jacket according to UL 360 for wiring of lighted signs.

Furnish materials according to the Department’s Qualified Products List (QPL).

731.10 Timer with Enclosure. Furnish a timer that allows automatic sign operation for a minimum of 8 times per day and for selected days of the week. Furnish a solid state timer with a back-up battery to maintain timekeeping and program memory for at least 48 hours. Furnish a battery with a design life of 10 years under field conditions when power failures over the 10-year period would accumulate to 100 days. If installed outdoors, house the timer within a lockable, weatherproof, corrosion-resistant enclosure. Furnish each enclosure with at least one padlock complying with 631.06.

Furnish materials according to the Department’s Qualified Products List (QPL).

732 TRAFFIC SIGNAL MATERIAL

732.01 Vehicular Signal Heads, Conventional. Ensure that vehicular traffic signal heads conform to the ITE “Vehicle Traffic Control Signal Heads” standard. In conformance with the above standard, provide signal heads that are of cast nonferrous corrosion resistant metal, with plastic or glass lenses, and reflectors of either highly specular finished aluminum or silvered glass. When provided, plastic lenses are ultraviolet stabilized, weather and impact resistant, and heat resistant so that operation does not cause crazing, cracking, deformation, color change, or other changes in physical properties.

Traffic signals consist of specified assemblies of optical sections containing 8 or 12-inch (200 or 300 mm) diameter colored lenses, a housing, a door frame with stainless steel hinge pins and latching device, gasketing, visor, reflector, wiring, lamp socket and includes an incandescent or LED lamp in accordance with 732.04. The reflector and lamp socket are not required with LED lamps. Twelve-inch (300 mm) lenses are the standard wide angle type. Furnish incandescent lamp sockets that are rotatable for optimum lamp filament orientation. All hardware used to join optical sections together shall be stainless steel.

Fit each optical section with a cutaway type visor unless other type visors or louvering is specified. Ensure that the visors for 8-inch (200 mm) lenses are at least 7 inches (175 mm) long and those for 12-inch (300 mm) lenses are at least 9 1/2 inches (240 mm) long.

Ensure that optical sections are designed for assembly with all 8-inch (200 mm), all 12-inch (300 mm), or intermixed arrangements. Assemble using suitable hardware that forms weatherproof joints with no light leakage from one section to another. Ensure that the assembly arrangements contain the specified number of optical sections, lens size, lens color, and circular or arrow configuration. Assemble from one to a maximum of five sections as specified to form a signal face.

Furnish multi-way heads with appropriate top and bottom brackets with an opening in the center of the top bracket provided for mounting purposes. Correct signal face height inequalities for multi-way heads for proper accommodation between top and bottom brackets by the use of pipe spacers.

Furnish signal heads with required mounting hardware. Furnish signal face orientation to traffic by serrated rings or other devices on housing sections and mounting hardware. Permit adjustment in increments not greater than 5 degrees of rotation and not affected by wind gusts when locked. Furnish galvanized steel or aluminum spacers and drop pipes 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) in diameter. Ensure that disconnect hangers have at least twelve terminals unless a greater number is required.

Paint signal external surfaces with yellow enamel paint, Color 13655, Federal Standard 595 or gloss black to closely agree with Federal Standard 595, Color 13655 or Color 17038, as specified in the plans. Paint interior surfaces of visors flat black.

Furnish materials according to the Department’s Qualified Products List (QPL).

732.02 Vehicular Signal Heads, Optically Programmed, 12-inch (300 mm) Lens. Ensure that optically programmed signal heads incorporate an optical system projecting an indication that is programmed to be visible only within boundaries of a specific area. Ensure that the optical system is capable of being veiled anywhere to within 15 degrees of the optical axis using procedures and opaquing material according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Ensure that the signal sections conform to applicable portions of the ITE standard and 732.01. Furnish and mount optical sections with a 12-inch (300 mm) lens size alone or in combination with additional sections of optically programmed or conventional optics types to form signal faces and heads. Furnish an optically programmed signal section that includes an incandescent lamp or, if specified, a LED lamp.

Ensure that the housing design of optically programmed sections includes a 10-degree tilt adjustment from the horizontal while maintaining a fixed mounting axis.

Balance adjusters, if specified, shall have a splined eyebolt design and splined external clamping body. All assembly hardware shall be stainless steel.

Furnish a visor with each signal section.

Cable entrance adapters shall be of the tri-stud type with stainless steel hardware. A neoprene gasket placed under the clamp washer in the top signal section shall effectively seal the entrance adapter on the signal to make a weatherproof connection and shall have a minimum thickness of 3/32 inch (2.5 mm).

Furnish materials according to the Department’s Qualified Products List (QPL).

732.03 Vehicular Signal Heads, Optically Programmed, 8-inch (200 mm) Lens. Optically programmed signal heads with 8-inch (200 mm) lenses consist of a conventional 8-inch (200 mm) signal housing, reflector and door; and an extension portion which is attached in place of a conventional lens and which contains a lens system capable of optical programming. Furnish the conventional signal housing with reflector and wiring, and the optical programmable extension portion according to the applicable requirements of 732.01 and 732.02.

Furnish a cutaway visor with each signal section. Ensure that the signal sections include an incandescent lamp or when specified, a LED lamp.

Programming the 8-inch (200 mm) lens type head requires the use of an extender tool as recommended by the manufacturer to move the extension portion to the side to expose the optics for programming purposes.

Furnish materials according to the Department’s Qualified Products List (QPL).

732.04 Signal Lamps.

A. Optically Programmed and Pedestrian Signal Incandescent Lamps. Ensure that optically programmed and pedestrian signal incandescent lamps conform to the ITE A Standard for Traffic Signal Lamps and Table 732.04-1.

Table 732.04-1
Lens Configuration	Lumens min. initial	Watts max. input	Light Center Length, inches (mm)^[1]	Envelope Glass	Rated Life, hours
12-inch (300 mm) vehicular optically programmed	950^[2]	150		Sealed beam PAR-46
8-inch (200 mm) vehicular optically programmed	1260	115	2 7/16 (62)	frosted	6000
Pedestrian, type A-1	1300	120	2 7/16 (62)	clear	6000
Pedestrian, type A-2	1650	150	3 (76)	clear	6000
Pedestrian, type D-2	550	70	2 7/16 (62)	clear	6000
[1] Light center length is the distance between the filament center and the base tip.
[2] Beam intensity, integral reflector type.

Furnish materials according to the Department’s Qualified Products List (QPL).

B. Vehicular Signal Incandescent Lamps. Prequalify all traffic vehicular signal incandescent lamps with the Office of Traffic Engineering (OTE) according to Supplement 1046. Ensure that vehicular signal lamps conform to the ITE A Standard for Traffic Signal Lamps and Table 732.04-2.

Table 732.04-2
Lens Configuration	Lumens, min. initial	Watts, max. input	Light Center Length, inches (mm)[1]	Envelope Glass	Rated Life, hours
12-inch (300 mm) vehicular	1650	150	3 (76)	clear	8000
8-inch (200 mm) vehicular (YELLOW)	550	70	2 7/16 (62)	clear	8000
8-inch (200 mm) vehicular (GRN/RED)	1260	116	2 7/16 (62)	clear	8000
[1] Light center length is the distance between the filament center and the base tip.