Issue to be considered:

A few years ago we had an unfortunate electrocution of a qualified sign man. the sign on the side of a fast food place had been added later. it was on the side and someone just found a lighting circuit inside the dining room and ran to the sign.

The old sign was removed. NO PROBLEM

The new sign was installed, mounted to the side of the building. The circuit breakers identified as "SIGN CIRCUIT" were off. a man on the roof leaned over the metal coping on the parapet wall, down to the feed in individual conductors waiting for the new sign, stripped one, then the other, then put strippers on the #12 hot. Current from the live dining room circuit through chest to the metal coping (grounded) on the top of the wall.

If the sign had been on a properly identified sign circuit, it may have been switched off.

I am not looking for a code reference-- a man who did not go home to his family is powerful proof that sign circuits should be sign circuits. One or More.

Security lighting (wall-pack) circuits should be for the intended purpose.

Breaker= $10
Home-run circuit in existing or new cable/conduit = $50
Sign man dead on roof. Priceless.

Lynn Adams
Inspector Escambia County

There was a fatality some years back in our town. The identifed sign circuits were turned off. An additional sign had been added to the side of the fast food establishment. It was connected tot he interior diding room lighting circuit that was 'handy'.
When the new signs were to be installed, the installer checked the sign circuit; still off. No one noted that the store was open at this time of day, and the dining room lights had been turned on. The man on the roof was sweating, and grounded to the metal coping as he reached over and down to strip the wires and connect to the new sign.
Code only says you must provide at least one sign circuit. Be careful out there

I have served as an expert witness for a case that was a sign - electrocution death. Same thing - circuit was not properly identified, and was on when they thought it was off.

I follow your post except for the last sentence -
"Code only says you must provide at least one sign circuit."

600.5(B) indicates the minimum ratings for the required sign circuit. It also makes clear that the branch circuit may supply one or more outlets for the purpose of signage, but no other loads. The intent has always been that the circuit be a dedicated circuit. So in the unfortunate incident you describe above, there is a violation that the sign was not on a dedicated circuit, as well as a violation for failure to properly identify (so as to indicate the purpose).