Are you concerned about the compliance risks of not following ADA rules for indoor signs?
The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) helps in removing the barriers for people that are suffering from disabilities. In America, more than 2.5 million Americans are suffering from visual impairment, making it difficult for them to survey malls and indoor facilities.
To cater to the large segment of the country, ADA uses signs to ensure greater accessibility for seniors, the blind, and for the visually impaired.
This means that each permanent room, space, or building requires a sign of ADA compliance. However, there is a lot of confusion regarding the standards that businesses should follow to make their premises ADA compliant.
Following the ADA compliance standards prevents the negative repercussions of noncompliance. You can avoid the hefty fines and lawsuits by merely following the ADA requirements for indoor signs.
Here are some steps that you can follow to make your office space more ADA compliant.
Where are they required?
ADA compliant signs are displays that include tactile elements and are written in Braille. The signs are required when the purpose is to designate a permanent spot on the premises. According to the requirements, you should install the signage next to areas that will have the same functions for more than a week.
On the contrary, the signs are not required for a time period of less than a week. You also don’t need to install the signs in parking lots and areas outside the building, which are meant for private use only.
The signs are needed for areas that pertain to safety, meaning that you should install the signs next to fire exits, stairways, and elevators.
Height requirements
When mounting the signs, you need to follow the requirements set by the ADA. You need to ensure that you mount the signs on the same visual plane. The lowest point of the signboard should be 48 inches, while the highest point should be 60 inches.
You should ensure that you follow sign rules to avoid paying a hefty sum to the authorities. Indoor elevators, however, are excluded from following the requirement.
Compliance requirements
Here are some common reasons for fines on individual businesses from regulatory bodies monitoring the indoor signs.
Firstly, you need to ensure that you use tactile letters that are neither too big nor too small. Consider the spacing, shape, and size set by the authorities for Braille dots. Avoid using incorrect spacing between the letters. Businesses are required to use the sans serif font during the indoor signings.
You also need to ensure that you mount the sign according to the size and standards set by the authorities.
The department of Justice is ultimately responsible for the efficient monitoring of the ADA laws. The local code inspectors are responsible for assessing the signs, as citations from the department can reach a whopping $50,000 for an offense.
To learn more about the benefits of using signs and banners, get in touch with us today!
