In addition to clarifying the meaning of disability, the ADA regulates the signage that companies (with more than 10 employees) must adhere to. Signage is intended to give people with disabilities equal and informed access to common, public areas. This includes access to buildings, bathrooms and street areas.

The US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division published the most recent finalized regulations which state that “the ADA requires that title II entities including State and local governments and title III entities including businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public, communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities.”

ADA compliant wayfinding signage must also follow the guidelines outlined below:

1. Finish and contrast

The ADA issued an advisory in the 2010 ADA Standards which stated: Signs are more legible for persons with low vision when characters contrast as much as possible with their background. Other factors that affect the ease with which the text can be distinguished from its background include shadows cast by lighting sources, surface glare and the uniformity of the text and background colors and textures. ADA compliant signs are required to utilize a non-glare finish. There must be sufficient contrast between the background and the character colors.

2. Typestyles and character height

ADA compliant signs must use a sans serif typestyle. These specifications are meant to offer a unified system that people with disabilities can rely on. Characters in compliant signage should not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative, or of other unusual forms. Characters must be selected from fonts where the width of the uppercase letter “O” is 55% minimum and 110% maximum of the height of the uppercase letter “I”. Additionally, character height measured vertically from the baseline of the character shall be 5/8-inch (16 mm) minimum and 2 inches (51 mm) maximum based on the height of the uppercase letter “I”.

3. Tactile character and braille

To be ADA compliant, tactile characters on signs shall be located 48 inches (1,220 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground surface, measured from the baseline of the lowest tactile character and 60 inches (1,525 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground surface, measured from the baseline of the highest tactile character.        

The ADA dictates that permanent room signs must include braille that sits just below the common text. If the text is multi-lined, braille shall be placed below the entire text. braille must be grade 2 braille and must be 3/8-inch from the borders. This must comply with sections 703.3 and 703.4 of the 2010 ADA Standards.

4. Pictograms

Pictograms are required to comply with 703.6. Pictograms also must have a field height of 6 inches (150 mm) minimum. Characters and braille should not be located in the pictogram field. Pictograms and their field are required to have a non-glare finish. Pictograms should contrast with their field with either a light pictogram on a dark field or a dark pictogram on a light field. Pictograms must have text descriptors located directly below the pictogram field. Text descriptors must comply with sections 703.2, 703.3, and 703.4.

5. Positioning and mounting

The positions of signs are mandated by the ADA. Persons with disabilities rely on consistent locations and positioning of signage for their own wellbeing and safety.

The requirements specify where signs must hang in rooms that have certain doors and where to properly hang signage if there isn’t ample wall space.

The 2010 Standards state:

•   Where a tactile sign is provided at a door, the sign shall be located alongside the door at the latch side.
•   Where a tactile sign is provided at double doors with one active leaf, the sign shall be located on the inactive leaf.
•   Where a tactile sign is provided at double doors with two active leaves, the sign shall be located to the right of the right-hand door.
•   Where there is no wall space at the latch side of a single door or at the right side of double doors, signs shall be located on the nearest adjacent wall. Signs containing tactile characters must be placed so that a clear floor space of 18 inches minimum by 18 inches minimum, centered on the tactile characters, is provided beyond the arc of any door swing between the closed position and 45-degree open position.

Proper mounting height must be in compliance with ADA requirements. Visual characters must be 40 inches minimum above the finish floor or ground. Exits are required to utilize both tactile and visual signage. The specific laws required by the ADA are detailed in section 216 Signs of the ADA Standards.

Are you a business owner with questions about adhering to ADA regulations for wayfinding signage? Call your local Signarama and our team of sign experts will walk you through making sure your business is in compliance with all ADA regulations for wayfinding signage in and around your business.