According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one in four adults in the United States has some type of disability. The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) was created in 1990 to protect people with disabilities from discrimination in any public place. Amongst other factors, this is where ADA signage comes into play.
In general, any sign that is used to identify a room, exit, or accessible features of a public place must meet ADA compliance. ADA signage is also used to provide direction or information about a location. Your business can risk violations if you don’t comply with these guidelines so everything must be executed properly.
ADA Signage Requirements
ADA signage is not only important but it is also required. Keep these ADA signage guidelines in mind to ensure that your business is compliant with ADA standards:
Signage should use easy-to-read sans serif typefaces such as Times New Roman, Verdana, Helvetica, and Tahoma.
Signs should have a high light-to-dark contrast between the font and the background. Additionally, the backgrounds must be distinctive from the surface that the sign is attached to.
Characters on ADA signs should have a matte finish, as opposed to a glossy finish to avoid a potential glare.
Any public space, such as a hospital, school, or government building, requires ADA signage to be present in order to guide employees and visitors around the facility. This includes restrooms, elevators, hallways, and exit and emergency signs. Commercial venues and transportation hubs must also include ADA signage since they are frequented by many diverse groups of people. Imagine trying to navigate an airport that you have never been to before without any directional signage regarding terminals, gates, or baggage information.
Accessible parking is also a requirement for ADA signage. Not only is accessible parking typically located within close proximity to the building, but it also provides clear and tactile direction for visitors to locate their vehicles. Additionally, accessible parking provides a safe route from vehicle to building for individuals.
Types of ADA Signage
ADA signage can include braille characters, tactile (or raised) characters, visual characters, and pictograms. Braille is a system of touch reading and writing using dots that is used by visually impaired or blind individuals. While tactile characters are letters that can be read by touch by individuals who have a visual impairment but cannot read Braille. However, Braille is still considered a type of tactile character because the dots can still be read by touch. Additionally, some signs may require pictograms or an accessibility symbol or icon that identifies a room, space, or direction.
ADA Exemptions
There are also exemptions as to where ADA signage needs to be included. ADA signage is not required to designate rooms that change purposes often, such as a community center’s multipurpose room. Temporary signage that is posted for seven days or less, as well as signage in non-public areas of some buildings is also exempt from ADA compliance and does not need to meet visual and tactile requirements.
ADA signage is not only required, but it is also vital to visually impaired individuals and is a step toward inclusivity for all individuals. ADA-compliant signage provides safety, guidance, and peace of mind.
Not sure where to begin when including ADA signage in your business? You can start by identifying any permanent areas that may require ADA signage, such as restrooms, exits, and stairways. Once these locations are determined, you can begin to evaluate factors such as size, contrast, materials, and tactile features required for signs in each space.
In need of ADA signage for your business? AlphaGraphics Pittsburgh can help guide you through the process to ensure that you are meeting ADA compliance requirements, from design to installation.