Are your signs ADA compliant? Study the updated obligations to ensure accessibility to disabled individuals.
The department of justice is ultimately responsible for enforcing ADA laws (Americans with Disabilities Act) to provide better accessibility to disabled people. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 26% of the Americans had disabilities by August 2018.
ADA requirements extend to the signage used by organizations and businesses in different industries. These requirements are meant to remove barriers for people with disabilities. Not adhering to these ADA signage requirements can result in hefty fines.
Hence, high-quality ADA signs are crucial for the success of your business in 2020. Let’s review the updated ADA signage requirements for this year:
Where are ADA Signs Required?
Public building should have ADA signs. They should identify important spaces and rooms, provide information about or directions to interior spaces, and guide people to accessible features.
To comply with the Federal and State regulations, ADA signs must be installed near:
- Restrooms
- Stairwells and Ramps
- Elevators and lifts
- Telephones
- Seating areas
- Entry and exits, both regular and emergency
- Loading docks/zones
- Parking and passenger loading areas
- Speciality controls, operational machinery, and instruments
- Automated teller machines (ATMS)
- Dressing and fitting rooms
Updated ADA signage Requirements for 2020
- The latest ADA requirements specify that ADA signs should be mounted such that the raised characters are not higher than 60 inches, while the line at the bottom of the braille is no less than 48 inches high.
- Wall-mounted signs should be positioned at the center of the horizontal18-inch space beside the door.
- A wheelchair pictogram should be displayedin buildings that are wheelchair accessible. In buildings, where some places are wheelchair accessible and some places are not, the pictogram should be placed in accessible locations and a sign directing to the closest accessible location should be placed in the inaccessible region.
- Besides the wheelchair pictogram, 3 other pictograms are necessary.Internationals symbol of TTY pictogram, which identifies a public typewriter, volume control telephone pictogram, which signifies an amplified telephone, and assistive listening systems pictogram, which directs to assisted-listening devices.
How to Make Sure Your Signage is ADA-Compliant?
While these were only the basic ADA signage requirements, the in-depth requirements pertaining to the size, height, placements of different types of ADA signs and the associated technicalities can be difficult to follow.
Fully aware of the latest changes in ADA signage requirements, QC Signs Charlotte will take care of your ADA sign requirements.
We, at QCSigns Charlotte, completely understand what types of ADA signs are necessary for your business.
To get your ADA signs designed or updated, or learn more about ADA signage requirement, dial 704-247-5533 now.
