I would hope not

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

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We have a local inspector using ACA 7-16 as a reason to demand engineering on all wall signs. I dont read it that way. A wall mounted channel letter sign isn't a structure I'm thinking

Give some under qualified over paid poorly selected idiot the chance they will always come up with nonsense in an effort to justify their incompetence.

It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)

How should I go about finding the exact laws to show him so he will back off

Since this is the language/grammar skills forum....

I'm trying to work out whether the OP wants to know whether asce compliance is necessary, or whether asce compliance can only be achieved through the application of engineering processes.

I think we should be told.

Quote (Chris Pack)

How should I go about finding the exact laws to show him so he will back off

Tracking down what the standards and the laws actually say is a good education - you will certainly have a better understanding of them than you had before you started (though you may be left with doubts and questions you didn't have before) but I think it's a mistake to assume that an inspector with the bit between their teeth will back off in the face of logic.

A.

In the past we have always used engineered drawings for freestanding signs. The new inspector is turning permits for channel letter signs down unless we have stamped engineered drawings
When I told him wall signs don't require engineering,he said I'm wrong and cited Asce 7-16

"When I told him wall signs don't require engineering, he said I'm wrong and cited Asce 7-16"

This is not my area of expertise, so I don't know the answer. In a case like this I would ask the inspector to cite the specific section(s) of ASCE 7-16.

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--Winston S. Churchill

ASCE 7-16 Chapter 13.5 has the (seismic) requirements for architectural and mechanical (non-structural) components, including signs attached to buildings. However that is for Seismic loading, and other than freestanding signs for windloading I don't see other requirements. Definitely ask for the section reference.

I met with them today lol here goes, They said anything constructed needs to meet all the International building codes, But they haven't adopted chapter 10 lol Chapter 10 is all the sign codes, They then said they don't care what's in the engineering as long as there is a stamp. Idiots! Going to county counsel next