Do you want to make the signs in your building ADA-compliant? Here’s what you need to know!
The Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA was passed as a law in 1990. The purpose of ADA was to make public spaces and highrise buildings more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities. The ADA-compliant signs are highly visible, with high-contrast colors. They are required to have Braille and raised letters to help people with visual impairments and disabilities.
Along with Braille, the ADA also requires the presence of other types of signs in public spaces to be accessible. Elevator signs, handicap parking signs, and directional signs are also required to comply with the set standards. The ADA also defines the sizes, installment methods, and placement requirements of these signs.
Criteria for ADA-sign Requirement
The ADA-compliant signs are required in a space which is designed to function in a building permanently. Therefore, any functional area in a building or public space which is designated for use for more than 7 days must have ADA-compliant signs.
Take a look at a few scenarios where the ADA-Compliant signs are mandatory or exempted:
- ADA-compliant signs are not mandatory by law for places that will be in use for less than 7 days. So, any such space in a building is not required to have ADA-compliant signage.
- There is no requirement of ADA-compliant signs in parking lots, except for the ones that have designated and accessible parking spaces. All the areas which are not open to public use and the areas that display the name or address of the business outside are also exempted from this requirement.
- All areas in the building which have signs with non-essential information are also exempted from the requirement of ADA-compliance.
- ADA-compliant signs are a requirement for areas that relate to safety. Therefore, fire exits, elevators, and stairways are all required to have signs that comply with the ADA.
Installment of ADA Signs
Now that you understand which areas need to implement the requirement of ADA-compliant signs, the next step is the proper installment of these signs. The ADA includes the guidelines for the installment and placement of signs, and we have simplified them for you below:
- For identifying a room, the ADA-compliant signs with raised letters and Braille must be installed on the side with the door latch.
- The ADA signs need to be installed at a height no lower than 48 inches and no higher than 60 inches from the ground.
- If there’s no room for the sign to be installed on the specified location, you can install it on the nearest adjacent wall that is in direct sight.
- Do not mount ADA-compliant signs directly on any doors.
