ADA Signs
in Colorado Springs
& Interior Signage

Most failed ADA signs
were mounted wrong

The sign itself is usually fine. What fails is height, side, or clear floor space. The measurement is taken to the tactile characters, not to the edge of the panel, which is the detail that catches people out.

Figures below are from the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Requirements are interpreted by the authority having jurisdiction, so we confirm scope on every project.

The sign behind the reception desk is the first thing a client photographs. Dimensional logos in brushed aluminum, acrylic and painted PVC, mounted flush or on standoffs for depth and shadow.

Restrooms, stairs, exits, numbered suites and named rooms, with raised tactile characters and Grade 2 Braille where the space is permanent.

Building directories, floor directories and directional panels. Updatable inserts matter here, because tenants change more often than the frame does.

Wall graphics, frosted privacy film on glass partitions, conference room numbering and door vinyl. Fast to produce and easy to change when the space does.

How high should an ADA sign be mounted?

Under the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, tactile characters sit a minimum of 48 inches above the finish floor measured to the baseline of the lowest tactile character, and a maximum of 60 inches measured to the baseline of the highest. Note that the measurement is taken to the characters themselves, not to the top or bottom edge of the sign, which is where most incorrect installations go wrong.

Where does an ADA sign go relative to the door?

Alongside the door on the latch side, not on the door itself. At double doors with one active leaf it goes on the inactive leaf, and at double doors with two active leaves it goes to the right of the right-hand door. If there is no wall space at the latch side, it goes on the nearest adjacent wall. There also has to be an 18 by 18 inch clear floor space centered on the tactile characters, outside the arc of the door swing.

Which interior signs actually have to be ADA compliant?

Signs that identify a permanent room or space are the ones that need raised tactile characters and Grade 2 Braille. Restrooms, stairs, exits and numbered suites are the common examples. Signs that only direct or inform, such as a directory or a wayfinding panel, generally have to meet visual character requirements rather than tactile ones. A lobby logo behind a reception desk is not a room identification sign at all. Requirements are interpreted by the authority having jurisdiction, so we confirm scope as part of the project review.

What do ADA characters and Braille have to look like?

Tactile characters are raised, sans serif, uppercase and non-italic, between 5/8 inch and 2 inches tall, on a non-glare background with the characters contrasting light on dark or dark on light. Grade 2 Braille sits below the text and must be separated at least 3/8 inch from other tactile characters and from raised borders or decorative elements. Those separations are why a well designed ADA sign has more empty space on it than people expect.

How much do ADA and interior signs cost?

ADA signs are quoted per sign, since a suite of ten room identification signs is a different job from two restroom signs, and lobby signs vary by size and material. Send a door schedule or a floor plan with the rooms marked and we will price the set properly rather than guessing at a count.