Where are ADA Signs Required?
In order to keep your business in compliance with ADA standards, it is important to know in which rooms, and in which places to post braille signs. In 2012, the ADA latest 2010 rules were put into use, and if your business has been in operation for many years, your signage may not be up to date. (The 2010 standards were an update of the 1991 regulations.) Government regulations and documents are often difficult to understand or are open to interpretation. This blog will help clear up any confusion about where your ADA signs should be hanging.
Which Rooms are Required to Have ADA Signs?
Although it is good practice to provide ADA signage for every room, there are certain rooms that are required to have these signs. Any room or area that is designated for a specific use that will not change frequently, such as a restroom or vending area, is required to post ADA signs. It is important, and often vital, to help disabled or sightless patrons safely navigate your building. Therefore, rooms that are permanent spaces for a specific use should be marked with ADA signs. Also, if the sign features a pictogram, there must be tactile lettering to accompany the imagery. Spaces that are required to have ADA signs include restrooms, vending areas, numbered rooms, floor numbers and any space that is used for a specific purpose that is not likely to change. Rooms that are open to interpretation, or used for different purposes, may include meeting rooms, classrooms and offices.
What is the ADA Compliant Height for Signage?
When considering where to hang ADA or braille signs, think of people who are sightless or who are navigating your building at the height of a wheelchair. The latest ADA regulations state that compliant signs must hang no lower than 48 inches above the floor, measured from the bottom of the lowest characters, and no higher than 60 inches, measured from the bottom of the highest characters, above the floor. This means that any person who is visually impaired or seated in a wheelchair must be able to touch and interpret the sign. During an emergency, a disabled patron should be able to safely find their way out of your building without confusion. Visually impaired and disabled people are aware of where ADA signs should be located, and if they are not hanging in the correct area or location, this could cause disorientation or even danger in the case of an emergency.
What is Required for ADA Parking Signs?
Your parking facility needs to clearly mark accessible parking spaces accordingly. ADA.gov hosts a PDF file that lists the number of accessible spaces required depending on the total number within your facility. Compliant parking signs require very little in comparison with indoor ADA signs. In order to meet ADA standards, your parking sign’s text needs to highly contrast against its background. If you have van accessible parking, the additional text “Van Accessible” must be included. When mounting your sign, it must be a minimum of 60 inches, measured from the bottom of the sign, from the floor or ground. This allows other drivers and facility security to more easily see that the space is reserved for the disabled.
Providing the right ADA braille signs is not only required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is an act of courtesy from business owner to business patron. These signs do not cost much, and they can significantly increase safety and ease of navigation within your building. They will also show that you support the needs of every customer or visitor. You can create an ADA sign to meet your needs at CustomSigns.com. We will ensure that your sign is created to meet the latest regulations. These common signs should be posted in any building that offers access to a restroom, whether it be a public building or a workplace.
For more information on signage standards, you can access the 2010 ADA standards here.
See our other ADA posts:
How to Design ADA Compliant Signs
ADA Signage All Buildings Must Have
