Do You Need a Custom ADA-Compliant Sign?
SignWorks Inc.'s ADA-compliant signs are built to last.
Imagine you have just bought a new building and want to put up a sign. Or perhaps you already have some signs, but they are non-compliant. The
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires most businesses and private entities that own, operate, or lease places of public accommodation to follow ADA guidelines for providing access to disabled people. Compliance with ADA can help you protect yourself from lawsuits filed by disabled customers or employees, ensure your customers and employees feel welcomed, and make sure your business fully participates in society as an active entity.
Why Is ADA Compliance Important?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in 1990. The purpose of the ADA is to protect disabled individuals from being discriminated against at work and when accessing goods, services, and information.
If a person with a disability cannot access your website or walk into your store, they can file a complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ can sue businesses if it finds that they violate the law. And while some ADA lawsuits are frivolous, the cost of defending yourself against them can be high — even if you are not found liable.
Basic Types of Custom ADA-Compliant Signs
There are two basic types of custom ADA-compliant signs you can buy:
1. Braille Signs
Braille signs are required for all permanent rooms and spaces and temporary spaces like restrooms at a convention center.
2. Other Compliant Signage
These have many different requirements, from color schemes to letter size. They must also be free of glare and strongly contrast the lettering and background colors.
How to Comply with ADA Signage Requirements
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all new construction and alterations to existing facilities include a comprehensive set of requirements for signage. These requirements are necessary because signs play an important role in providing information to people with disabilities. There are four main design principles that should be applied when creating custom ADA-compliant signs:
1. Visibility
Signs should have non-glare surfaces, and the characters should contrast sharply with their background. The visual character height should not exceed 60 inches from the ground for wall-mounted signs and should not fall below 48 inches.
2. Legibility
The text on signs should be easy to read, with no stylized lettering or decorative elements that make it difficult to understand. Characters should be uppercase, sans serif, or simple serif.
3. Operation
Any operation required for a sign must be usable without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting the wrist. Mounting hardware must also comply with these regulations, so there must be at least 1 inch between the hardware and any edges.
4. Braille Accessibility
Since tactile reading is used by many blind or visually impaired people, braille is commonly included on ADA-compliant signage. The ADA's braille standards ensure that the tactile language can be read easily and accurately by all who need it.
Common Places for ADA-Compliant Signs Placement
The following locations in your facility should have compliant signs:
- Entrances
- Exits
- Elevators
- Stairways
- Parking areas
- Restrooms
- Doors
Give Us a Shout
If you are starting a new business, let SignWorks Inc know, and we will get right on it. Complying with ADA can make your business stand out among the crowd of similar franchises and keep it up to code.
