Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Any person may file a federal lawsuit, either for individual discrimination or as a class action. Any person may request the Department of Justice to investigate. The Attorney General may also file a civil action suit in cases of general importance. Monetary damages may be awarded up to $50,000 for the first violation and $100,000 for subsequent violations. The law mandates sign locations, type sizes and styles, sign colors, and requires Grade II Braille. All facilities, both public and private, with 10 or more employees are affected. Title III of the ADA requires all permanent room identifications within publicly accessible facilities to meet specific regulations as follows:

Contrast

A minimum 70% LRV contrast is required between copy and background colors. ADAAG section A4.30.5 establishes the procedure for measuring contrast. View Takeform’s contrast calculator for determining proper contrast of our standard finishes.

Character Requirements

Typography for permanent room signs shall be upper case (fig.1) and raised 1/32” (fig.2) with a duplicate message in Braille. Characters shall be a minimum of 5/8” and no more than 2” in height. Only san serif fonts shall be utilized (fig.3). Proper character height, width and stroke ratios to be maintained as outlined in ANSI: A117.1-2003/ section 7.

Pictogram Requirements

Pictograms of accessibility shall have a field of 6” minimum in height. Description or Braille shall not be located in the pictogram field. Where text descriptors are used, they shall be located directly below pictogram field. ANSI: A117.1-2003/ section 7.

Braille Requirements

Braille translations shall be Grade II. Braille dots shall be domed. Flat, square cornered Braille shall be avoided (fig.4).

Sign Locations

Room Identification. Where a tactile sign is provided at a door, the sign shall be located on 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 to the right of the right-hand door. Where there is no wall space on the latch side of a single door, or to the right side of double doors, signs shall be on the nearest adjacent wall. Signs containing tactile characters shall be located so that a clear floor area 18 inches (455 mm) by 18 inches (455 mm), centered on the tactile characters, is provided beyond the arc of any door swing between the closed position and 45 degree open position ( ANSI: A117.1-2003/ section 7 ). Mounting height of room identification to be as follows: Tactile characters shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) minimum above the floor, measured to the baseline of the lowest tactile characters and 60 inches (1525 mm) maximum above the floor, measured to the baseline of the highest tactile character ( ANSI: A117.1-2003/ section7 ).

EXCEPTION: Signs with tactile characters shall be permitted on the push side of doors with closers and without hold-open devices ( ANSI: A117.1-2003/ section7 ).

Overhead signs are to be mounted a minimum of 80" from floor to bottom of sign. A 3” character cap height is required for overhead signage. Raised characters and Braille are not required. Upper and lower case characters are acceptable.

Flag mounted signs are to be mounted a minimum of 80" from floor to bottom of sign if the projection from wall is 4" or greater.

Directories are to be mounted a minimum of 27" from floor with no more than 80" to top.

The above guidelines are taken from: Federal ADAAG 4.30 as amended through 2002 & ANSI A117.1-2003 section 7 .