ADA signs - Signage Compliance, Design Tips & News

January 10, 2019June 23, 2020

Signage Requirements for Newly Enacted Men’s Room Changing Station Legislation

In today’s ever evolving, modern world, we are all about equality. This has become especially evident over the past few years as men have increasingly expressed frustration with the lack of accessible baby changing facilities available to them. Additionally, society is becoming more aware of the challenges, like the lack of proper changing accommodations, for single fathers and gay couples raising children.

The Challenge of Being Dad

According to the Pew Research Center, fathers are significantly more involved in their child’s care than they were 50 years ago. Dads should never be faced with the conundrum of changing a baby on the men’s room floor or other unsanitary places, and fathers everywhere are taking note and spreading the word.

Donte Palmer, a high school teacher and father of three from Jacksonville, Florida, started the #squatforchange campaign after visiting a local steakhouse that did not offer baby changing stations in its men’s room. When his one year old son needed a diaper change, he gathered the baby and his 12 year old son and headed for the restroom. Then, in what Palmer calls his “perfect man squat”, with his older son at the ready to hand over wipes and diaper as needed, he got down to business.

Donte Palmer’s “perfect man squat”, illustrating the challenges he faces while changing his son in a public men’s room.

What is the Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation Act?

On October 7, 2016, with bipartisan support from Congress, President Barack Obama signed into law the Bathrooms in Every Situation Act (BABIES Act). This new law requires that both men’s and women’s restrooms located in publicly accessible federal buildings (for example, courthouses and US post offices) offer suitable changing facilities for infants and young toddlers. Specifically, the new law requires changing facilities to be “physically safe, sanitary, and appropriate.”

What Restrooms Are Exempt From the BABIES Act?

The Bathrooms in Every Situation Act excludes the following public spaces from compliance with the new law:

Any restroom that displays clear, concise signage indicating where changing facilities are located on the same floor of the building
Any restroom that would require new construction to comply with the law and the cost of construction is unfeasible

Do Individual States Require Changing Tables in Men’s Restrooms?

New York is the first state to adopt a law that requires fathers and other male caregivers to have a clean, safe place to care for a young child’s sanitary needs. The law, which went into effect on New Year’s Day 2019, includes restaurants, stores, movie theaters, and state facilities such as public parks, offices, and all Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) offices.

New regulations require changing facilities to be easily accessible to both females and males on all publicly accessible floors of every building. In addition, all buildings must conspicuously post restroom signs illustrating the location of the closest changing table facilities.

Now that both federal and New York State laws have been enacted requiring proper changing table facilities in both women’s and men’s rooms alike, expect other states across the country to adopt similar legislation, making changing time safer and happier for babies and caregivers everywhere.

With these new changing station regulations, it is essential to keep in mind public areas where ADA compliant signs are required by law. At Customsigns.com, we have the signs your public building needs for clearly identifying restrooms with changing table facilities and restroom signs that are ADA complaint. These signs include:

For more information on ADA requirements and restroom signs for public spaces, follow the links here:

How to Design ADA Compliant Signs

ADA Signage All Buildings Must Have

Where Should ADA Signs be Posted?

September 5, 2018November 10, 2020

How to Design ADA Compliant Signs

The Value of ADA Signage

Proper ADA signage in public spaces is required by The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) to help ensure that persons with visual, hearing, or other sensory disabilities are able to locate and read them easily, either visually or through braille or tactile touch (raised letters). In addition to improving mobility and independence for these individuals, ADA signage also supports safety in public places by ensuring that entrances and exits are clearly marked, visible, and distinguishable from other rooms.

The Basics of ADA Signage

According to the ADA, signs that must be ADA compliant include, but are not limited to, the following:

a) All informational signs (for example “Employees Only”)

b) All directional signs (for example “Exit to Lobby”)

c) All overhead signs (for example “Elevators”)

d) Signs that identify permanently dedicated rooms that will not change function, such as a lunch room, conference room, restroom, or closet

e) Signs highlighting the location of building floors, stairwells, and all exit levels

f) All restroom signs

ADA Signage Requirements

While there are many universal ADA signage requirements, it is important to check individual state laws that may have sign modifications or additional standards.

Where are ADA signs required?

ADA signs are required throughout all public access and employee areas.

Do ADA signs require braille or tactile letters?

ADA signs must include braille and tactile (raised) letters. Braille letters must be Grade 2 (shorthand braille), rounded/domed, and lowercase (other than proper nouns, letters that are part of a room number, initials, acronyms, or before the first word of sentences) and include a minimum 3/8 inch clearance on all sides. Tactile lettering must be 1/32 inch raised capital letters.

Since braille is a translation of words, signs that depict symbols or pictograms ONLY do not require braille.

Are there additional lettering specifications for ADA signs?

ADA signs must use sans-serif or other plain text and include spacing of 1/8 inch between adjoining characters for easy readability. Text height must be between 5/8 and 2 inches and printed in medium or bold font.

What makes ADA signs easily visible?

ADA signs must be made of high contrasting colors (dark/light or light/dark) for easy readability. Additionally, all signs (other than traffic and reflective parking signs) must have non-glare backgrounds and characters.

What symbols are ADA-approved for use on signage?

ADA signs may include any of the four approved accessibility symbols for pictograms:

a) Wheelchair, symbolizing mobility

b) An ear, signifying the availability of an assistive listening device

c) Keyboard, representing a text telephone (TTY)

d) Phone symbol with sound waves, representing the availability of a volume control phone

Pictograms must include a 6 inch high background area with nothing inside other than one of the four approved symbols described above.

a)Text descriptions are required for signs that include a pictogram and label rooms or spaces
<!- ->*Signs with pictograms that provide information about a space do not require text.

b) Tactile text should be directly under pictogram

c) Braille text should be directly under tactile letters

Does the ADA have special installation requirements?

The ADA lists specific installation requirements, depending on the type of sign. Generally, ADA room identification signs must be placed next to the doors they refer to, mounted between 48 inches, measured from the bottom of the lowest tactile character, and 60 inches, measured from the bottom of the highest tactile character, from the ground.

What is required for ADA parking signs?

All ADA parking signs must include the International Symbol of Accessibility, or “Wheelchair Symbol.” Signs need to be mounted a minimum of 60 inches from the floor measured from the bottom of the sign. Spaces set aside for vans must include the additional text “Van Accessible.”

For a comprehensive guide to all ADA regulations, please visit www.ADA.gov.

At CustomSigns.com, our Customer Focus Team is here to help determine your signage needs and answer any questions you may have along the way. Additionally, we make it easy for you to design your own ADA signs that meet current regulatory ADA standards.

See our other ADA blogs:

ADA Signage All Buildings Must Have
Where Should ADA Signs be Posted

August 28, 2018November 10, 2020

ADA Signage All Buildings Must Have

What is ADA Signage?

Table of Contents
What Is ADA Signage?
Why Is It Needed?
What Buildings Need It?
When Are Signs Required?
When Are Signs Not Required?
Keeping Signs Compliant
ADA Parking
ADA Sign Basics
Choosing a Manufacturer

According to the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, ADA signs are signs specifically made so that individuals, including those with visual or other sensory disabilities, are able to easily locate and read them, visually or through braille or tactile touch.

ADA signs are specially designed to be posted in most public buildings (specified below) that ensure that individuals with disabilities will have equal access to public buildings as do those without disabilities. ADA signage is required to present the same information to all people irrespective of physical limitations.

Why ADA Signage is Necessary

Federal Law mandates that all public buildings and spaces must maintain proper, up-to-date ADA signage throughout their facilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) was enacted to strictly prohibit “discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities.”

Another key reason that ensuring ADA compliant signage is properly posted throughout your buildings is to eliminate the possibility of your organization being charged with lawsuits, government penalties, and fines. While ADA requirements are simple to follow, many facilities fail to take the time or make the effort to post the appropriate signage and end up facing unnecessary and expensive consequences.

What Buildings Qualify as Commercial Buildings Needing Proper ADA Signage?

According to the ADA, any building used as a place of public accommodation is required to post ADA signage throughout. These include, but are not limited to, office buildings, school campuses, manufacturing plants and warehouses, hotels, restaurants and bars, and municipal buildings.

When Are ADA Signs Required?

Braille/tactile signs are required for:

Signs that display the locations of floors, stairwells, and all exit levels
Signs posted at every elevator
Signs that display the locations of all restrooms
Signs posted at every permanent room (such as a conference room, lunch room, storage room, or closet that will not change function for the foreseeable future)

When Are ADA Signs Not Required?

ADA compliant signs are not required for rooms including the following (among others):

Rooms that do not serve a permanent function or that are temporary in nature, such as classrooms and individual offices – these rooms can be identified with a simple room number sign
Temporary signs (posted for seven days or less)
Building directories
Building addresses
Parking signs
Advertising/marketing signs
Company logos and names

Keeping ADA Signs Compliant

ADA signage must be kept current and coincide with the latest official ADA regulations. This should be monitored regularly to ensure that your buildings are up-to-date at all times. Please visit the United States Access Board for the most recent updates and current regulations.

What Does ADA Parking Mean?

Based on availability, your parking facility will need to set aside a specified number of accessible parking spaces as found in the PDF found on ADA.gov. Spaces must measure 96 inches wide for cars and 132 inches wide for vans. An accessible parking space must include an Access Aisle adjacent to it that must be at least 60 inches wide and as long as the space itself. Access Aisles must be marked but how they are marked is based on State or local standards.

An accessible parking space must be marked with a sign bearing the International Symbol of Accessibility. Your parking sign does not require braille or tactile lettering, but needs to have a high-contrast between the background and text and symbol. ADA parking signs must be mounted at least 60 inches above the ground measured from the bottom of the sign.

ADA Sign Basics

- What are text requirements?

All ADA signs must include lowercase braille and uppercase tactile letters. Braille letters must be rounded and domed.

- What are color requirements?

All ADA signs must be made of highly contrasting colors (dark/light or light/dark) for easy readability.
All ADA signs (other than traffic and reflective parking signs) must have non-glare backgrounds and characters.

- What fonts are allowed?

All ADA signs must use sans-serif fonts

- What size font is ADA compliant?

Text must be between 5/8 inches and 2 inches tall.
Characters must be separated by 1/8 inch for easy readability.

- Where should signs be placed?

All ADA room identification signs must be placed next to the doors they refer to.

- What is ADA height for signage?

All permanent and indoor signs must be mounted between 48 and 60 inches from the ground.

ADA signs include four universal accessibility symbols:
- Wheelchair, symbolizing mobility
- An ear, signifying the availability of an assistive listening device
- Keyboard, representing a text telephone (TTY)
- Phone symbol with sound waves, representing the availability of a volume control phone

Choosing A Reputable ADA Sign Manufacturer

There are many companies that supply ADA signage and other compliant signage. When you’re equipping your buildings with required ADA signs, it is key to choose a company that is diligent about keeping up with current ADA requirements and producing appropriate ADA signage. Our Customer Focus Team at CustomSigns.com is here to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way.

See our other ADA blogs:

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