|
Summary of ADA signage accessibility
requirements
Types of signs mentioned in the
regulations are:
"Signs which designate
permanent rooms and spaces"
Permanent rooms and spaces are not defined in the regulations. The federal
office in charge of interpreting the regulations defines permanent rooms and
spaces as areas whose function will not change once they are assigned. They
will normally be used for the same purpose in the foreseeable future.
Permanent room signs have the most requirements, which include tactile and
Braille lettering.
"Signs which are temporary"
Building directories, menus and all other signs which provide temporary
information about rooms and spaces, such as occupant name signs, are not
required to comply with ADA regulations.
"Signs which provide
direction to, or information about, functional spaces"
Wall mounted signs "which provide direction to, or information about,
functional spaces" are not required to have tactile and Braille lettering.
However, they must meet requirements for character proportion and height,
finish and contrast.
"Suspended or projected
overhead"
"Suspended or projected overhead" signs need only meet requirements for
clearance, character proportion and height, sign finish and contrast.
Other Regulations Referencing
Signage:
Elements and spaces of
accessible facilities which must be identified by the International Symbol
of Accessibility are:
-
parking spaces designated as
reserved for disabled
-
accessible passenger loading
zones
-
accessible entrances when not
all are accessible
-
accessible toilet/bathing
facilities when not all are accessible
Entrances and exits which are
not accessible must have complying directional signage which indicates the
location of the nearest accessible entrance or exit.
Public telephones which are
required to be accessible must have signage complying with applicable
provisions, including identification with the international TDD symbol
and/or international symbol for hearing loss.
Each area of rescue assistance
must be identified by a sign which states "AREA OF RESCUE ASSISTANCE" and
displays the international symbol of accessibility. The sign must be
illuminated only when exit sign illumination is required. Signage must also
be installed at all inaccessible exits and where otherwise necessary to
clearly indicate the direction to areas of rescue assistance. Instructions
on the use of the area must be posted.
Parking and passenger loading
zones - Accessible parking spaces must be designated by a sign showing the
symbol of accessibility. Spaces complying with van accessibility must have
additional "Van-Accessible" information mounted near the symbol of
accessibility. The sign cannot be obscured by a vehicle parked in the space,
and, therefore should be high enough to be seen over a van. "Signs
designating parking places for disabled can be seen from a driver's seat if
the signs are mounted high enough above the ground and located at the front
of a parking space." Tactile characters and grade 2 Braille are not required
for these signs.
Elevator entrances must have
raised character and Braille floor designations provided on both jambs. The
characters must be 2" high upper case and raised 1/32". All elevator control
buttons must be designated by Braille and be raised standard alphabet
characters for letters, Arabic characters for numerals, or standard symbols
as shown in the regulations and ASME A17.1-1990.
Grade 2 Braille:
Grade 2 (contracted) Braille is
specified in the signage section. Federal regulators agree that the dot
dimensions are approximate and should be close to those approved by various
blind associations. Dot height can be from .020" (per blind foundation
specs) to 1/32", the ADA required character height. Grade 2 Braille
translator software is available from several sources. There are no
specifications on where text and grade 2 Braille should be located with
respect to each other, however, consistency in placement throughout the
facility should exist.
Regulation Recap:
Temporary signs are not required
to follow any regulation.
Permanent room signs:
 |
Must have characters raised
1/32" |
|
|
Characters must be upper case
and sans serif or "simple serif"
|
|
|
Characters must be accompanied
by Grade 2 Braille |
|
|
Raised characters must be a
minimum of 5/8" and maximum of 2" high, (based on upper case X)
|
|
|
Equivalent written description
(if any) must be placed directly below pictogram (symbol)
|
|
|
Pictogram can be any size within
a minimum field of 6" in height
|
|
|
Pictograms can be raised 1/32",
but are not required to be raised
|
|
|
Characters and background must
be eggshell, matte or other non-glare finish
|
|
|
Characters must contrast with
background (either light on dark or dark on light)
|
|
|
Must be mounted on wall adjacent
to the latch side of the door (if at all possible)
|
|
|
Must be mounted so a person can
approach within 3" and avoid door swing and protruding objects
|
|
|
Mounting height must be 60" from
floor to centerline of sign
|
Directional or informational
signs:
|
|
Characters must have a
width-to-height ratio of between 3:5 and 1:1
|
|
|
Characters must have a stroke
width-to-height ratio of between 1:5 and 1:10
|
|
|
Characters are to be sized
according to the viewing distance from which they are to be read
|
|
|
Lower case characters are
permitted |
|
|
Characters and background must
be eggshell, matte or other non-glare finish
|
|
|
Characters must contrast with
background (either light on dark or dark on light)
|
|
|
Pictograms can be any size
within any size field |
Mixed permanent and
informational signs:
Permanent portion must meet
permanent regulations; informational portion need meet only informational
signage regulations, i.e., classroom sign with permanent room name and
teacher's name on a changeable insert.
Suspended or projected
overhead signs:
|
|
Characters must have a
width-to-height ratio of between 3:5 and 1:1
|
|
|
Characters must have a stroke
width-to-height ratio of between 1:5 and 1:10
|
|
|
Characters must be a minimum of
3" in height |
|
|
Characters and background must
be eggshell, matte or other non-glare finish
|
|
|
Characters must contrast with
background (either light on dark or dark on light)
|
|
|
Must be a minimum 80" clearance
between overhead sign and floor
|
Note: The above
information is a brief summary of a complex law and set of regulations and
interpretations and is provided as a courtesy. Additional detailed
information should be obtained from the law and regulations. We assume no
liability, either expressed or implied, for errors, omissions or any damages
resulting from the use and/or interpretation of this material.
|
