What are ADA signs?
ADA stands for American with Disabilities Act and ADA signs are required by law to have posted in public buildings or businesses. ADA signage identifies accessible features for people with disabilities to aid with navigating through buildings. They are commonly found in restaurants, stores, theaters and other public buildings across the US.
For example, restroom signs are required to have braille characters to assist people with visual impairments. Another example of a commonly found ADA sign is directional signage for elevator locations for people who require wheelchair access.
What are Compliant ADA sign regulations?
Many businesses have questions about ADA signage requirements. Review this check list below to ensure your building stays compliant with ADA regulations.
VISUALS – ADA signs can feature logos, company colors and graphics to support your branding.
- Signs should have non-glare finish and well contrasted colors.
- Pictograms can be presented on a 6-inch high field with no characters or braille sharing that field.
FONT & CHARACTERS – Do not use serif fonts. Be sure to use compliant fonts and characters. This is an important part of ADA signs.
- Characters can be upper or lowercase, but never italic, cursive, decorative or overly bold.
- ADA signs must use a sans-serif font.
BRAILLE – Braille is required for any signs to identify a room, space or area.
- Braille dots should be dome-shaped not flat or jagged.
- Braille should be located at least 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) below corresponding text and above any borders or decorate elements.
SPACING AND MEASUREMENTS – ADA guidelines dictate a series of spacing and measuring rules to ensure that signs are consistent and clear.
- Characters should be placed at least 1/8 inch apart but no more than 4 characters apart.
PLACEMENT – It’s vital that ADA signs are well-placed for optimum visibility and accessibility.
- Signs should be placed so that Braille Characters are between 48 and 60 inches above the ground, measured from the baseline of the highest tactile character.
- Ceiling or wall projection signs should measure at least 80 inches from the bottom of the sign to the floor.
Stay ADA compliant with Sequoia Signs & Graphics!
Regardless of what industry you are in, you should always be sure your property is meeting the requirements listed above. Here at Sequoia Signs & Graphics, we have extensive experience with creating ADA signage that is not only compliant, but also unique and creative. Call us today at 925-300-1066 to discuss the best ADA signage options for your business.
