Under the 2010 ADA Standards, a sign that identifies a permanent room needs raised characters at least 1/32 in above the background, duplicated in Grade 2 braille, mounted so the baseline of the lowest tactile character is at least 48 in above the floor and the baseline of the highest is no more than 60 in. At a door it goes beside the door on the latch side. Directional and informational signs need readable visual characters only, and building directories, menus, occupant names and temporary signs are exempt.
The rules are in section 216 (which signs) and section 703 (how) of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The US Access Board publishes the same text with diagrams in its guide to chapter 7.
Which signs need braille under the ADA?
Signs that identify a permanent room or space, and signs at exit stairways and exit doors, need raised characters and braille. Signs that direct people or give information about spaces need only visual characters with a non-glare finish and good contrast.
| Sign type | What the ADA requires | Section | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Room and space identification | Raised characters, Grade 2 braille, visual characters, mounting rules | 216.2, 703 | Suite numbers, restrooms, conference room names, stairwell IDs |
| Exit doors and exit stairways | Tactile signs with raised characters and braille | 216.4.1 | Exit stair doors, exit passageways |
| Directional and informational | Visual characters only: non-glare finish, contrast, size rules | 216.3, 703.5 | Wayfinding arrows, department direction signs |
| Elevator hoistway jambs | Tactile floor number 2 in high minimum, with braille, on both jambs; a star at the main entry level | 407.2.3.1 | Floor designation plates at every landing |
| Exempt | No section 216 requirements | 216.1 exceptions | Building directories, menus, occupant names, company names and logos, temporary signs up for 7 days or less |
What are the ADA specifications for raised characters and braille?
Raised characters must be uppercase, sans serif and at least 5/8 in tall, raised at least 1/32 in, and duplicated in contracted (Grade 2) braille. The main points of section 703:
- Depth: raised characters at least 1/32 in above the background (703.2.1).
- Style: uppercase, sans serif, not italic, script or decorative (703.2.2 and 703.2.3).
- Height: 5/8 in minimum and 2 in maximum, measured on the uppercase I (703.2.5).
- Proportion: the font's uppercase O must be 55 to 110 percent as wide as the I is tall (703.2.4).
- Braille: contracted Grade 2, with capital indicators used only where the standard allows (703.3).
- Finish: characters and background non-glare, with light on dark or dark on light contrast (703.5.1).
How high should an ADA sign be mounted, and where?
Measure to the character baselines, not the sign: the lowest tactile line sits at 48 in or higher and the highest at 60 in or lower above the finished floor (703.4.1). At a single door the sign goes on the latch side. It also needs an 18 x 18 in clear floor space, centered on the tactile characters, outside the swing of the door between closed and 45 degrees open (703.4.2), so a reader is not hit by the door.
Installers often center a sign at a set height by eye, which can push a two-line sign's top line above 60 in. Give the installer the baseline measurements, not a center line. And check the room names and numbers against the building's numbering plan before ordering: the braille has to say exactly what the raised text says, so a wrong suite number means a new plate, not a sticker over the old one.
Does New York City have its own signage rules?
Yes. For new buildings and alterations, the 2022 NYC Building Code requires accessibility in accordance with the code and ICC A117.1, and the Department of Buildings states that the 2009 edition is the one referenced (DOB 2022 code update on accessibility). Chapter 11 has its own signage section, BC 1111. On a renovation, the architect of record checks the sign schedule against both.
Residential buildings also carry required notices, listed on HPD's required signage page. Among them:
- A floor number sign on every floor.
- The fire safety notice (Emergency Preparedness Notice) on the inside of every apartment entrance door and in the lobby or a common area.
- Notices of service interruptions of two hours or more, posted at least 24 hours ahead, in English and Spanish.
- The rent stabilization notice in the common area, in English and Spanish, where it applies.
- Janitor or superintendent contact details at the entrance.
We produce elevator and building notices as rigid signs for exactly this kind of compliance posting.
Acrylic, PVC or aluminum: which material suits lobby signs?
Acrylic for the front lobby and suite identification, PVC for wayfinding and notices in back-of-house areas, and aluminum for anything outdoors.
| Material | Look | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | Clear or frosted, mounted on standoffs | Lobby directories, suite and reception signs | Gloss acrylic glares; text panels need a non-glare surface to meet 703.5.1 |
| PVC (Sintra) | Rigid, matte plastic panel | Wayfinding, room signs, notices, waiting rooms | Interior or covered exterior use only |
| Aluminum | Metal panel | Exterior building and parking signs | Rust-proof and rated for permanent outdoor use |
| Adhesive vinyl | Printed or cut graphics on walls, glass and floors | Murals, floor graphics, frosted glass | Choose removable or permanent adhesive up front |
For framed art and display prints on rigid panels, see our comparison of Dibond, acrylic and foam board.
What about elevator wraps, wall murals and floor graphics?
These are decorative or promotional, so the ADA sign rules do not govern their design, but they must not cover signs that are required.
- Elevator wraps: printed vinyl on the interior walls or the outside of the doors, used for lobby advertising, amenity launches and leasing campaigns. Keep the floor designations on the hoistway jambs and any posted inspection certificate uncovered.
- Wall decals and murals: removable or permanent graphics at any scale. Removable adhesive suits rented space and short campaigns; permanent suits a lobby feature wall.
- Floor graphics: printed vinyl with a slip-rated laminate, for queue lines, directional arrows and promotions. Never apply floor graphics without the laminate.
- Menu boards: wall-mounted and illuminated menu panels. Menus are exempt from ADA section 216, so they need no braille, though a non-glare surface still helps everyone read them.
What signs does a medical office or school need?
A practice or school needs the same ADA room signs as any building, plus a layer of wayfinding and required notices specific to the setting.
- Wayfinding signage: directional and department signs for clinics and offices, so patients find radiology without asking.
- Wayfinding and room signs for schools: room numbers and ADA-compliant plates, plus interior directional signs.
- Waiting room signage: check-in, privacy and policy signs.
- Health and safety notices: required postings and infection control signs.
- Safety and compliance signage: required notices and drill instruction signs for classrooms and corridors.
More on practice print is in our medical practice printing guide, and on schools in our guide to school printing.
ADA and building signage questions
How high do ADA signs need to be mounted?
The baseline of the lowest tactile character must be at least 48 in above the finished floor, and the baseline of the highest no more than 60 in, under section 703.4.1 of the 2010 ADA Standards.
Do all signs need braille?
No. Signs identifying permanent rooms and spaces, and exit doors and stairways, need braille. Directional and informational signs need visual characters only, and directories, menus and temporary signs are exempt.
Which side of the door does an ADA sign go on?
The latch side, with an 18 x 18 in clear floor space centered on the tactile characters outside the door swing.
What grade of braille is required on ADA signs?
Contracted, or Grade 2, braille, under section 703.3.
Does a menu board need to be ADA compliant?
Menus are exempt from the ADA section 216 sign requirements, so a menu board needs no braille or raised text.
See our lobby, ADA and wayfinding signs, or send your door schedule or a floor plan and we will quote the full sign package.
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