What is this? From this page you can use the Social Web links to save Hampton, VA – ADA Signs Require Adhering to Specific Guidelines to a social bookmarking site, or the E-mail form to send a link via e-mail.

Social Web

E-mail

E-mail It
August 28, 2019

Hampton, VA – ADA Signs Require Adhering to Specific Guidelines

Posted in: Industry News

About ADA Signs

The passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 impacted government agencies and commercial sites conducting business with the public in some important ways. This legislation seeks to improve access to public locations for disabled people. The statute contemplated changes to signage to ensure everyone obtains ready access to permanent features (including exits and bathrooms). While the provisions of the ADA don’t apply to purely marketing or promotional signage, they do cover so-called “architectural” signage.

The 2010 ADA Standards For Accessible Design

During the Obama Administration, The American National Standards Institute A117.1 Committee approved signage standards for ADA compliant architectural signs. These “2010 ADA Standards” control many aspects of ADA signs. Posted in hospitals, government buildings, schools, and businesses, these signs offer vital assistance to handicapped and disabled people during emergencies.

The people responsible for creating these standards hoped to ensure that everyone could gain access to and from public locations. Navigating easily through buildings appeals to everyone. In the past, people with impaired vision sometimes lacked the ability to reach certain sites conveniently. Consequently, one aspect of ADA signage rules involves the use of Braille, a textural “alphabet”.

Specific ADA Signage Regulations

The 2010 ADA Standards For Accessible Design set forth a number of rules for ADA signs. Many locations must now post this type of signage as a matter of law. Property owners may choose to display separate ADA signs for sighted and blind people, or they may post signs containing both letters and Braille in the same sign. The regulations require the use of upper case sans serif characters. Several specific character spacing rules apply. The rule makers specify the use of “non-glare” backgrounds to assist the visually impaired.

The standards also provide highly specific sign posting instructions. Since blind people can only access Braille via touch, the placement of architectural ADA signs matters a lot. Disabled people require the ability to scan the face of this type of signage easily. Working closely with a knowledgeable ADA signage company offers the best way to comply fully with these detailed placement rules.

Further Information

Customers seeking assistance with ADA signs in Newport News, Virginia and outlying communities rely upon James River Signs. We offer knowledgeable, customized service. Call us at 757-598-4036 to discuss any projects involving this type of closely regulated signage.


Return to: Hampton, VA – ADA Signs Require Adhering to Specific Guidelines