OVERVIEW OF ADA

Signage in public areas of all buildings is subject to compliance with federal, state and local code requirements, mandating the use of certain symbols, messages and graphic standards.

To provide adequate signage for all users, including persons with disabilities, the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), first published in the Federal Register on July 26, 1991 describes specific requirements for the use of type styles, minimum type sizes, message contrast, symbols, Braille characters, tactile messages, sign background gloss and sign placement.

The ADA is broken into sections (Title II and Title III) and enforced by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Title III of the ADA applies to places of public accommodation and commercial facilities open to public access and is enforced by the DOJ. Title III includes, but is not limited to, restaurants, schools, museums, public office buildings, retail and social service establishments.  The most prevalent area of signage affected by the ADA under Title III is room identification and way finding.

CALIFORNIA CODES – TITLE 24

Title 24 has a few differences related to signage.  We will focus on three key areas relating to permanent room identification.

1.  GRADE II BRAILLE – Grade II Braille incorporates the use of 189 contractions and short-form words, and is now the standard Braille used in most applications.  Title 24, which uses Grade II Braille, requires that the spacing of the individual Braille cells be further apart than that required under the original ADA.

2.  PLACEMENT OF BRAILLE – Code required Braille to be a minimum of 3/8″ from tactile characters and raised boards.  Title 24 places a maximum distance of 1/2″ from the raised characters.

3.  REST ROOMS – Title 24 requires that all accessible toilets and bathing facilities have the “International Symbol of Accessibility” (ISA) installed on the door leading into the facility.  Rest room signs shall be mounted on the door and on the wall adjacent to the door.

DOOR MOUNTED SIGNS – Rest room door signs shall NOT be tactile and Braille and should be mounted on the door at 60″ floor to center of the sign.  The color of the rest room sign should contrast with the door.  If the rest room is ADA accessible, the ISA symbol shall be indicated on the sign.

Men’s Facility – required to be identified by an equilateral triangle 1/4″ thick with 12″ sides.

Women’s Facility – required to be identified by a circle, 1/4″ thick and 12″ in diameter.

Unisex Facility – required to be identified by a circle 1/4″ thick, 12″ in diameter with a 1/4″ thick triangle on top of the circle and within the 12″ diameter.

WALL MOUNTED SIGNS – Rest room wall signs are considered permanent room ID signs and shall be tactile and Braille and be installed on the wall adjacent to the latch side of the door, 60″ on center.

Men’s , Women’s and Unisex Facilities – shall have a minimum field height of 6 inches, the icon shall be tactile and the characters shall be Braille.  The color of the rest room sign should contrast with the wall.  If the rest room is ADA accessible, the ISA symbol should be indicated on the sign.