ADA Signage: A Final-Walkthrough Checklist Item GCs Can't Skip

On a commercial build or tenant improvement, ADA signage is easy to push to the bottom of the punch list, right up until the final inspection flags it. Room ID signs, restroom signs, and braille-compliant wayfinding aren't optional finishing touches; they're a code requirement under the ADA and ICC A117.1, and getting them wrong (wrong mounting height, missing braille, wrong contrast) can hold up a certificate of occupancy. The sign below is a recent restroom/utility door sign Signarama Colorado Springs South produced and installed as part of a tenant buildout.

What Inspectors Actually Check

ADA and ICC A117.1 requirements cover more than most GCs expect from a sign vendor: raised characters at a minimum height paired with grade 2 braille below, specific mounting height ranges measured to the centerline of the sign, non-glare finishes, and minimum contrast between text and background. Mounting location matters too: signs need to sit on the latch side of the door, with clear floor space in front so someone can approach and read it without the door swinging into them. A sign that looks right but misses any one of these specs can fail inspection just as easily as one with no sign at all.

Where This Fits in the Build Schedule

ADA signage works best as a coordinated line item, not a last-minute scramble:

•       Early in permitting: room counts and naming get locked down so sign quantities and content are accurate.

•       Mid-construction: signs are fabricated while finishes and door hardware are being installed.

•       Final walkthrough: signs are mounted and ready before the inspector shows up, not scheduled around them.

Working from architectural drawings or a room schedule lets a sign shop quote and produce the full package at once, which keeps a GC from chasing down individual sign approvals room by room.

One Vendor, Start to Finish

Signarama Colorado Springs South designs, fabricates, and installs ADA signage in-house, working directly from a project's architectural set so room IDs, suite numbers, and code-required signage are accurate and ready before the final walkthrough. Call 719-576-9931 to get ADA signage built into your next project's schedule.