Signage in public areas of all buildings is subject compliance with
federal, state and local code requirements, requiring the use of
certain symbols, messages and graphic standards (Fig. 1).
To provide adequate signing for all users, including persons with
disabilities, the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), first
published in the Federal Register on July 26, 1991 describes specific
requirements for the use of typestyles, minimum type sizes, message
contrast, symbols, Braille characters, tactile messages, sign
background gloss and sign placement. A summation of the ADA as it
applies to signage can be found in the Society for Environmental
Graphic Design “White Paper”, available through the SEGD, 401 F
Street N. W., Suite 333, Washington, D.C. 20001. An Overview
of the ADA Law is provided below.
State and local sign codes vary considerably, such as symbol signs
for toilet room doors required in California (Fig. 2).
Building
Directories mounted behind glass must use non-glare glass.
Character
proportions must meet the proper width to height ratio.
Characters
and backgrounds of signs must be of an eggshell, matte or other
non-glare finish.
Characters
and symbols must contrast with their background (light background
with dark letters or dark background with light letters).
Directories can
be installed either as a projecting unit or integrated into a wall
surface. Projecting units, however, must provide a skirt or “cane
strike” to meet ADA requirements (Fig. 3).
Meeting these
requirements will make informational signage easier to read for
everyone. To determine sign requirements for state and local codes,
contact your local Sign
Biz Sign Design Professional.
(FIGURE
1.0)
(Figure
2.0)
OVERVIEW
OF THE LAW
SUMMARY
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) went into
effect on January 26, 1992. The law requires these
establishments to remove architectural and
communication barriers where "readily
achievable". This means established business must
make a good faith effort to accomodate the disabled,
which includes the installation of ADA tactile and
braille signage for the benefit of the visually
impaired.
ENFORCEMENT
The ADA is an extension of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, with similar enforcement provisions, which are
as follows:
A. Any person may file a federal lawsuit, either for
individual discrimination or as a class action.
B. Any person may request the Department of Justice to
investigate and act upon an ADA discrimination claim.
C. The attorney General may also file a civil action
suit in cases of general public importance.
LEGAL REMEDIES
The courts can:
A. Order a facility made ADA accessible.
B. Award monetary damages of up to $50,000 for the
first ADA violation and $100,000 for each subsequent
violation.
BENEFITS
Tax deductions of up to $15,000 for expenses incurred
in the removal of architectural barriers are allowed
by the IRS.
EFFECTIVE
DATES AND STANDARDS ADA OF COMPLIANCE
Existing Facilities--Existing facilities defined as
public accommodations must take steps to remove
"architectural and communications barriers"
by January 26, 1992, where such removal is
"readily achievable" or easily
accomplishable and able to be carried out without much
difficulty or expense".
Alterations--Alterations to existing facilities
defined as public accomodations or commercial
facilities must generally be "readily accessible
to and usable by the disabled, to the maximum extent
feasible" if the alterations is begun after
January 26, 1992. When ADA alterations are made to a
"primary function area" an accessible path
of travel" to the altered area, and the restrooms
area, telephones and drinking fountains must be made.
The additional accessibility costs need not be
"disproportionate" relative to the overall
alteration.
New Construction--New construction of public
accomodations or commercial facilities must be
"readily accessible and usable by "the
disabled if the ADA facility is first occupied after
January 26, 1993, assuming the last official permits
were issued after January 26, 1992.
1. Lodging
2. Food/drink service
3.Exhibition/entertainment
4. Public gathering
5. Sales/rentals
6. Service
7. Transportation station
8. Public display/collection
9. Recreation
10. Education
11. Social service
12. Exercise/recreation
Commercial Facility--An ADA facility whose operations
will affect commerce, that are intended for
non-residential use by a private entity, and
facilities that are not either covered or expressly
exempted from coverage under the Fair Housing Act of
1968, or ADA act of 1992, and cannot be aircraft or
railroad cars.
Exemption--Any private club, religious entity, or
government entity.
EFFECTIVE
DATES AND STANDARDS OF ADA COMPLIANCE
Existing Facilities-- Existing facilities defined as
public accommodations must take steps to remove
"architectural and communications barriers"
by January 26, 1992, where such removal is
"readily achievable" or "easily
accomplishable and able to be carried out without much
difficulty or expense". priority should be given
to ADA measures that will enable individuals with
disabilities to "get in the front door",
followed by measures providing ADA access to goods and
services and providing access to restroom facilities.
If physical barrier removal is not "readily
achievable", the facility may be required to take
appropriate alternative ADA measures, such as having
store employees assist in removing articles from high
shelves.
Alterations-- alterations to existing facilities
defined as public accommodations or commercial
facilities must be "readily accessible to and
usable by the disabled, to the maximum extent
feasible" if the ADA alteration is begun after
January 26, 1992. When alterations are made to a
"primary functions area," an accessible path
of travel" to the altered area, and the
restrooms, telephones and drinking fountains must be
made. The additional ADA accessibility costs need not
be "disproportionate" relative to the
overall alteration.
New Construction-- New construction of public
accommodations or commercial facilities must be
"readily accessible and usable by" the
disabled if the facility is first occupied after
January 26, 1993, assuming the last official permits
were issued after January 26, 1992. The standard of
ADA compliance is highest for new construction and is
not limited by "disproportionate cost" or
"readily achievable" regulations.
SIGNAGE
GUIDELINES
Applicable law sections are 4.30.1 through 4.30.8.
ADA classifications:
_____________________________________________________________
Permanent Signs
Signs which designate permanent rooms and spaces.
Regulations require that ADA signage have raised
lettering, braille and pictograms as well as being
mounted in a specific location. Recommended sign
types:
Room Identification
Departmental I.D.
Regulatory.
_____________________________________________________________
Directional and Informational Signs
Signs which provide direction to, or information about
functional spaces of a building. Regulations require
signs to comply with character proportion, height,
finish and contrast rules. Lowercase is acceptable and
braille is not required.
_____________________________________________________________
Overhead Signage
Signs which are "Projected or suspended
overhead" must meet ADA requirements for
clearance, character proportion, finish and contrast.
_____________________________________________________________
Temporary Signage
"Building directories, menu boards and all other
signs which provide temporary information about rooms
and spaces, such as the current occupant's name, are
not required to comply" with the ADA guidelines.
ADA
SIGN REQUIREMENTS
Minimum requirements:
_____________________________________________________________
Tactile Characters
Raised 1/32"
Accompanied by Grade 2 braille
_____________________________________________________________
Typestyles
Upper case & sans serif
Width-to-height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1
Stroke width-to-height ratio between 1:5 and 1:10
_____________________________________________________________
Character height
Tactile ADA characters at least 5/8" high, but no
higher than 2"
Minimum 3" high
Sized to viewing distance
_____________________________________________________________
Pictograms
Text equivalent directly below
Text outside of background area
Background area 6" high
_____________________________________________________________
Finish/Contrast of Characters/Background:
Eggshell, or matte non-glare finish 70% contrast
between backgrounds
_____________________________________________________________
Placement
On wall next to latch side of door
Avoids swinging doors
Avoids protruding objects
60" from floor to sign centerline
Minimum 80" clearance from floor
(Figure
3.0)
FIRST
IMPRESSIONS
