Being a Better Resource With ADA Signs

For a company to be sustainable there needs to be growth. Specifically, there needs to be the right kind of growth — not just in the number of customers or products sold, but also in expanding value and services to your customers. Producing ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) signage and understanding the rules for a compliant production process is an excellent combination that will lead to growth and success. However, ADA signage leads to questions regarding compliance, and without compliance there is no signage. The current standard, known as the “2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design,” became mandatory in March of 2012. But as with any regulation, full understanding had to come before industry adoption. In the Beginning The first step of any regulatory standard is to read the rule. Those applicable to the sign industry are found in section 216 of Chapter 2: Scoping Requirements, which tells you when and where ADA signs are required; and in section 703 of Chapter 7: Communication Elements and Features, which describes the technical aspects of the signs to be fabricated. The next step is to then understand what the requirements mean. The revised standard is much clearer on the requirements than the previous version, and there are exemptions and advisories included within the text to point out any variances — so be sure to read whether or not your sign is compliant before assuming that it is. Whether you have produced ADA signs before or you are thinking of offering this type of sign, you have an obligation to produce signs that meet the ADA standards. In turn, you will have the opportunity to add knowledge and value to your services beyond manufacturing by advising your customers on the regulations. Then and Now In the past, ADA signs were very clinical and simplistic (e.g., white letters with blue background). Now, the revised rules are easier to follow and, they allow ADA signs to be made with aesthetics in mind. Coupled with the latest production technologies, there are many more options for design, materials and color. Still, we find customers that have a particular design they want for their ADA signs, which may or may not be a compliant design. Giving a customer what they want and not what they need for ADA compliance doesn’t do you or them any favors. If you know the standard, you are in the perfect position to provide advice and guidance for a legal ADA sign. The majority of issues with non-compliant ADA signs stem from the technical aspects that are addressed under section 703 of the standard. The following are a few of the common topics raised and excerpts of the associated requirements:  Raised Characters Simple mistakes are made with case and style of the raised characters. In short, the standard calls for upper case and sans serif. It does not state a specific font style:

• 703.2.1 Depth. Raised characters shall be 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) minimum above their background;
• 703.2.2 Case. Characters shall be uppercase.
• 703.2.3 Style. Characters shall be sans serif. Characters shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative, or of other unusual forms

The size of the character is often overlooked or ignored when a specific size of a sign is requested and when not all of the elements will fit properly. For tactile purposes, the rule is clear and must be followed:

• 703.2.5 Character Height. Character height measured vertically from the baseline of the character shall be 5/8 inch (16 millimeter) minimum and 2 inches (51 millimeter) maximum based on the height of the uppercase letter “I”.

Another challenge is with the spacing of the raised characters. The revised standard calls for specific spacing, which may differ from typical design spacing of visual messages. This can lead to the message appearing misaligned to the person designing the message, but what may seem like a correction to the designer will actually be an ADA violation. This issue can also affect the size of the sign and customer-requested specifications:

• 703.2.7 Character Spacing. Character spacing shall be measured between the two closest points of adjacent raised characters within a message, excluding word spaces. Where characters have rectangular cross sections, spacing between individual raised characters shall be 1/8 inch (3.2 millimeter) minimum and 4 times the raised character stroke width maximum. Where characters have other cross sections, spacing between individual raised characters shall be 1/16 inch (1.6 millimeter) minimum and 4 times the raised character stroke width maximum at the base of the cross sections, and 1/8 inch (3.2 millimeter) minimum and 4 times the raised character stroke width maximum at the top of the cross sections. Characters shall be separated from raised borders and decorative elements 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) minimum.

Braille As with raised characters, the size, placement and spacing of the Braille are very specific. Each of these elements needs to be considered and incorporated into the sign design. The new standard, as well as the guidance document, have enough references and tables to assist in the fabrication process for Braille:

• 703.3.1 Dimensions and Capitalization. Braille dots shall have a domed or rounded shape. The indication of an uppercase letter or letters shall only be used before the first word of sentences, proper nouns and names, individual letters of the alphabet, initials, and acronyms.
• 703.3.2 Position. Braille shall be positioned below the corresponding text. If text is multi-lined, Braille shall be placed below the entire text. Braille shall be separated 3/8 inch (9.5 millimeter) minimum from any other tactile characters and 3/8 inch (9.5 millimeter) minimum from raised borders and decorative elements.

Installation Height and Location Under the new standard, ADA signs have different mounting requirements. The new measurements are set between 48–60 inches. The mounting height of the sign is based on the height of the characters above the finished floor:

• 703.4.1 Height Above Finish Floor or Ground. Tactile characters on signs shall be located 48 inches (1220 millimeter) minimum above the finish floor or ground surface, measured from the baseline of the lowest tactile character and 60 inches (1525 millimeter) maximum above the finish floor or ground surface, measured from the baseline of the highest tactile character.

These topics are by no means inclusive. There are other issues that can arise with ADA signs and specific interpretations can be explored. However, if you take the time to learn and work within the ADA rules, you can better navigate, respond and plan your sign projects with long-term benefits for you and your customers — setting you apart from your competitors as the resource for all ADA signage needs.