Status:

Complete

Type:

Appeal - Building Official

Address:

1720 W SPEEDWAY BL

Apply Date:

06/08/2023

Applicant:

Andrew

Description:

Building Code Appeal Project Narrative & Justifications Permit Number TS-PRM-0323-00251 June 8, 2023 This is a request by the applicant to obtain Building Code Appeal to allow a new Digital Menu Board at a height of 6’ tall, with 24.58 square foot Outdoor Digital Menu Board (ODMB) located along the drive-thru lane at an existing Taco Bell restaurant located at 1720 W. Speedway Blvd (Permit Number TS-PRM-0323-00251), with the appeal is specifically requesting the Outdoor Digital Menu Board to produce a minimum brightness of 380 NITs instead of the code’s minimum 200 NITs. The product is manufactured by STRATACACHE, Inc., the industry’s leading provider of intelligent digital signage, and will be installed by Everbrite, LLC and Fluoresco Services, LLC. Usually there are parameters, such as distance from the light source and ambient light interference, that translate NITs into a more practical visual brightness level. However, the applicant is confident that the products utilized in the proposed Digital Menu Board will meet or exceed the intent of the bylaw requirements. Tangible points that support the applicant’s views are: 1. All our outdoor rated LCD products come with an ambient light sensor. This sensor detects the ambient light level in the general area in front of our menu board and automatically adjusts the LCD brightness up or down. 2. All LCDs included within outdoor display products use an LED backlight (as do ours). Varying brightness level of the LEDs is achieved by using a pulse width modulated drive voltage. The bigger the pulse, the brighter the image. The narrower the pulse, the dimmer the image. On the bottom end, the smallest pulse will generate the lowest level of brightness. If the pulse width is below the threshold required by the LEDs to emit light, the LEDs brightness will suddenly fall and emit no light. 3. Most LED driven LCDs can achieve a minimum brightness level of approximately 20% of full brightness. Our LCDs can be dimmed down to between 10-12% of full brightness. 4. Our lowest brightness level is achieved by driving the LEDs with the smallest possible pulse without triggering the LEDs to shut down. 5. The brightness level of a FULL-WHITE image, measured right at the surface of the LCD is approximately 250 NITs. We call this night sky brightness. 6. Layered over the LCD is a sheet of protective glass which contains an Anti-Reflective film on both the inside and outside surfaces. The protective glass and the film layers will slightly decrease the amount of LCD light exiting our menu board enclosure. 7. When viewing our menu board at a direct 90 degree angle, the image would be at its brightest. If the sightline to the menu board is off center, the brightness level decreases exponentially. Therefore, full night sky brightness exposure is limited to the vehicle sitting in front of the menu board. 8. At an average distance of 5 to 7 feet from the menu board (typical vehicle in the drive-thru lane), a 240 to 250 nit brightness level supports a comfortable ergonomic view to the menu items. 9. For practical menu board purposes, a FULL-WHITE image is never displayed. Unless the store is closed, menu item content will always be displayed. During store closed hours, to minimize LED wear and conserve power, the LEDs within the menu board are programmed to automatically turn off. 10. When advising our customers, we promote the use of white background menu content during daylight hours and dark or muted background colors during night sky conditions. Our customers understand that having a white background menu under night sky conditions decreases focus on menu items they are trying to promote. The Taco Bell marketing team has selected background colors that align with their brand and support excellent ergonomic visuals during night sky conditions. 11. Our menu board products are installed throughout North America, South America and Europe. In many locations throughout these regions there are strict night sky brightness restrictions. For example, in the USA, our menu boards are installed within the limits of the Palomar Observatory in Southern California. The same brightness concerns expressed in Tucson were considered during the permitting process of these locations. 12. Most static menu board signs, deployed years ago, used florescent lighting which cannot be dimmed. As a selling feature, we used to promote a photo cell controlled backlight that automatically turned on at night. The brightness level we openly promoted was 600 cd/m during night conditions. Today, we understand the reasons why lower brightness at night is a requirement by most municipalities. We therefore kept this application need in mind during the design phase of all our outdoor products. 13. Proof of performance is physically available to anyone interested. Digital drive-thru menu board enabled lanes are installed in over 40 thousand locations throughout the USA. I challenge anyone to compare the night sky ergonomics of our menu board solution Vs those of our competitors. Our menu boards achieve the lowest level of night sky brightness while maintaining ergonomic appeal to the consumer. 14. In the 7 years STRATACACHE, Inc. has been deploying outdoor products, I am not aware of any location that did not allow installation of our products because of a night sky brightness concern. Given the information above, we believe the brightness emitted by the menu board during night sky conditions will be less than or equal to the ambient light emitted by parking lot or street luminaries at ground level. Thank you.

Architects:

Andrew Chi Planning

Contractors: