The law requires all public buildings to use ADA-compliant signs. This rule comes from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1992 and 1998. If your building is open to the public, you must follow these rules. This includes places like schools, doctor’s offices, hospitals, government buildings, stores, restaurants, train stations, entertainment venues, and even private businesses.
Many people believe ADA signs only mean braille signs. While signs with braille and raised letters are the most common, the ADA rules include more than that. To follow the law, signs must meet several different guidelines. Also, different types of signs have different rules based on how people use them.
Almost every sign that’s part of a building’s layout must follow ADA guidelines. If a sign names a permanent room or area people often visit, it must be compliant. Signs that give directions, label public areas, or show accessible features must also follow these rules.
However, not every sign needs to meet ADA standards. You don’t have to follow these rules for signs used for advertising, marketing, company logos, temporary messages, or policy displays.
ADA and Braille signs help people find their way in public spaces. These signs make it easier for people who are blind, have low vision, or have trouble moving around to get where they need to go. This is called “wayfinding.” Wayfinding simply means giving directions to help someone reach their destination. These signs mark important places like restrooms, stairwells, elevators, and other rooms open to the public. They also point out how to find different locations inside or outside your building.
You can create custom ADA signs using wood, acrylic, metal, PVC, and other materials. However, to follow ADA rules, the surface of the sign must have a matte or flat finish. This helps reduce glare and creates strong color contrast, making the sign easier to read for people with visual impairments.
The ADA sets clear rules for the design of these signs—even down to the font size and type. These details might seem small, but they matter a lot to people with low vision. For example, the placement of the words, the border, and any decorations must not block or hide the Braille or text. Raised letters must be 1/8 inch thick and must not overlap with pictures or Braille. Also, the ADA tells you how high off the ground to place the sign so people can easily read it.
In many cases, adding pictures or symbols—called pictograms—helps people understand the signs faster. ADA rules say you must place pictograms in a clear 6-inch space along with a short text description. Underneath that description, you must include Braille, and it must be raised. The sign also needs to have strong color contrast to make it easier to see and read.
At Optimum Signs, we know how important it is to follow ADA rules. These signs don’t just help your customers—they also help your business stay safe and legal. Our team will guide you through every step, from design to installation. We’ll help you create signs that look great, follow the rules, and help everyone find their way with ease.
An ADA Sign is any type of signage that properly fits the necessary requirements outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act. These requirements include easily visible signage, use of legible fonts, and braille in order to make the signs both accessible and useful to as many people as possible. Signs that must comply with ADA regulations include room identification signs, informational or directional markers, and exit or entrance signs.
Making the signage in your building ADA compliant can benefit your business in many ways. ADA Signs are a great way to make your product available to everyone. By following these signs regulations, it helps keep your signs completely user-friendly, allowing the blind or visually impaired to access your services with ease. In addition, by making your business more accessible, you show customers that you care about them and value their business. Finally, these regulations also help make your work environment safer by allowing people to readily locate exits and entrances in case of emergencies.
Not sure whether or not your signs are required to meet ADA standards? Generally speaking, most indoor signs must fit ADA guidelines, however, there are a few exceptions. These exceptions include temporary signs, banners, logos, and the like.
Need help creating the perfect ADA compliant signs for your company? Contact us. We’re more than happy to work with you to make sure your ideal design falls under ADA regulations while staying true to your visual expectations for your signage.
