FDOT Standard Plans · FY 2026-27 · Series 700: Signing, Pavement Markings and Lighting
FDOT Standard Plans Index 700-031: External Lighting for Signs
Short answer
Index 700-031 is the FDOT Standard Plan for External Lighting for Signs, part of Series 700 (Signing, Pavement Markings and Lighting). The sections below are extracted from FDOT's Standard Plans Instructions (SPI) for this index — design criteria, assumptions and limitations, and what your plans must show.
Design Criteria
Design Criteria AASHTO LRFD Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaires and Traffic Signals (LRFDLTS-1) ; Structures Manual (SM) , Volume 3, FDOT Modifications to LRFDLTS-1; FDOT Design Manual (FDM)
Design Assumptions and Limitations
Design Assumptions and Limitations Use external lighting of overhead signs only where permitted. For criteria see FDM 230 . Design wind speed is 170 MPH, and is applied in one direction at a time while mounted at 32 feet or less above the surrounding terrain.
Luminaire is LED with maximum weight of 38 lbs and an EPA (estimated pressure area) of 2.35 sf. Assembly with luminaire is mounted to two steel pipes attached directly to the vertical I-beams that support the overhead sign. Mounting of the horizontal pipes close to a horizontal Z bar (wind beam) is to limit prying action.
Turning mechanism is for maintenance of the sign and luminaire. Design for the assembly including luminaire with the shear pin removed and rotated 90 degrees, was checked for a maximum 80 mph wind load. Horizontal distance measured from the front of sign panel to the center of the luminaire is a maximum of 6 ft.
The centerline of the light is 1 ft below bottom of the sign panel. Maximum distance from the bottom connection (horizontal pipe) is 6 ft above the bottom of the sign.
Payment
Payment Item number Item Description Unit Measure 700-3-2BB Sign Panel with Lighting (Project Specific) EA See the BOE and Specification 700 for additional information on payment, pay item use and compensation.
What your plans must show
Plan Content Requirements for this index — the SPI's checklist for designers.
- Include a completed “ Guide Sign Worksheet ”, with luminaire spacing and arm length, and height of sign. See the FDM 940 .
How PDFDepth uses this index
When a plan set cites Index 700-031, PDFDepth's AI Plan Review cross-references the set against the Plan Content Requirements for the FDOT indexes it cites and flags items that appear to be missing — each with a citation to the sheet. A human reviewer verifies every flag before it counts.
Related indexes in Series 700
- Index 700-010 — Single Column Ground Signs
- Index 700-011 — Single Column Cantilever Ground Mounted Sign
- Index 700-012 — Single Post Sign Support Barrier Side-Mounted
- Index 700-013 — Single Post Sign Support Barrier Top-Mounted
- Index 700-020 — Multi-Column Ground Sign
- Index 700-030 — Wind and Hanger Beams for Overhead Signs
- Index 700-040 — Cantilever Sign Structure
- Index 700-041 — Span Sign Structure
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Start for FreeText extracted from FDOT Standard Plans FY 2026-27, a public-domain Florida state publication. Always verify against the current edition at fdot.gov. PDFDepth is not affiliated with FDOT.