The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Tactile & Braille Signage Code is based on civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination based on disabilities. The lack of accessibility to buildings and essential services can be considered discriminatory, regardless of whom it actually affects. The result is that there is a need for ADA compliant signs to ensure access to buildings and services that are generally available to the general public.  These laws ensure that individuals with disabilities can navigate commercial buildings based on signage that will facilitate such navigation and affords them full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, or accommodations!

When the laws first came into effect ADA signs were not esthetically pleasing.  Thankfully this has changes over time and the color and contrast choices are many.  At SignWorks we have worked with Architects and contractors alike to design and fabricate ADA compliant signs for restrooms, stairwells, room and tenant signs, directories and parking stalls.  In addition, evacuation maps, especially those with Braille, like the ones we did years ago for Muni in San Francisco, require that the Braille be certified as accurate by organizations like Light House for the blind.

One of our Turner Construction projects that concluded last year involved various types of ADA signage throughout a 20 story building in San Francisco.  Though the guidelines do define font size, contrast and other criteria, the law is flexible when it comes to the specific design criteria and aesthetics as shown in the 75 Hawthorne evacuation map pictured above.  Letter height, Braille placement, font, and color contrast make only a minimal impact on the visual appearance, so things like color choices and material selection can make ADA signs much more visually attractive.  The type of sign frame and the use of printed inserts into windowed component signs can change the entire look of a once bland room sign!

SignWorks has been involved in many projects involving ADA compliant signs.  We invite you to peruse our website and familiarize yourself with the ADA signage projects we have been a part of.  Contact us if a recent or upcoming renovation requires an update to your building and/or evacuation signs, or matching existing onsite ADA compliant signs.  You can reach us at (510) 357-2000  or through our website.  Check out our blog posts and photos to see if your project is similar to one you’re doing and let us know if we can help.