ADA Sign Planning Guide: What Signs Does Your Building Need?

A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning ADA Braille Signs, Room Identification, Wayfinding & Building Signage

Planning signs for an office, school, medical facility, hotel, apartment building or other commercial property can be more complicated than simply counting doors. Some permanent rooms and spaces may require tactile lettering and braille, while directional and informational signs follow different accessibility requirements. Elevators, stairways, exits and restrooms may also have additional signage requirements.

This ADA sign planning guide is designed to help building owners, property managers, contractors, architects, facility managers and sign buyers perform a room-by-room survey, identify common sign types and organize the information needed to create a building sign schedule.

The guide is intended as a practical planning resource rather than a substitute for an architect, building official, accessibility specialist or authority having jurisdiction. Federal ADA requirements may be supplemented by state, local, building, fire and life-safety codes.

1. Start With a Building Sign Survey

One of the easiest ways to plan ADA and interior building signage is to physically walk through the facility with a floor plan, room list or notepad. Begin at the primary entrance and follow the route a visitor, employee, resident, patient or guest would normally travel through the building.

At each doorway and decision point, ask two questions: What is this room or space? and Does someone need a sign to identify it, locate it or understand how to use it? An unmarked doorway is a red flag, and this is where you will need to determine how to mark or identify what's behind it.

Record the room number or location, the wording you believe should appear on the sign, the number of signs required and whether the information is permanent, directional, informational or likely to change in the future. This simple survey becomes the foundation for your building sign schedule.

2. Identify Permanent Rooms & Spaces

Permanent room and space identification signs are an important part of ADA sign planning. Under the federal ADA Standards, signs identifying permanent rooms and spaces are generally required to meet tactile and visual accessibility requirements. This commonly means raised tactile characters accompanied by contracted Grade 2 braille, (along with other specified requirements for ADA braille signs).

Examples of permanent rooms and spaces that may need identification signage include:

• Conference rooms, Community Rooms
• Meeting rooms
• Classrooms
• Exam rooms
• Patient rooms
• Storage rooms, Utility Rooms, Maintenance
• Mechanical rooms, Sprinkler Riser Rooms
• Electrical rooms, Elevator Rooms, Telecommunications
• Janitor rooms, Janitor Closet
• Break rooms, Lunch Rooms, Kitchen
• Locker rooms, Laundry Rooms
• Libraries, IT Rooms
• Fitness rooms, Game Rooms
• Lunchrooms and cafeterias
• Permanent offices and suites

The key concept is that the room or space has a permanent function or designation rather than a temporary or non-permanent functionality.

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3. Identify Numbered Rooms & Unit Spaces

Next, identify every room or space that uses a permanent room number, letter or other designation. Room numbers are among the most common permanent identification signs in commercial buildings and are frequently used together with room names. Room number Identification signs that identify permanent rooms or spaces are required to have tactile text, Grade 2 braille and follow ADA sign guidelines.

Common applications include:

• Office room numbers
• Hotel / Motel guest rooms, Condo Unit ID Numbers
• Apartment or residential unit numbers where applicable
• School classrooms
• Medical exam rooms / Dental Rooms
• Patient Rooms, Hospital Rooms, Assisted Living Room ID Numbers Nursing Home Room Numbers
• Office suite ID Numbers
• Meeting and conference rooms
• Laboratories
• Other permanently numbered interior spaces

A room number sign can often include both a permanent room number and an additional room description. For example, a sign might identify 204 CONFERENCE ROOM or 312 EXAM ROOM. At a minimum, the number should tactile with braille. For more help choosing numbered room signage see our ADA Room Numbered Signs Buying Guide.

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4. Check Every Restroom

Restrooms should be one of the first areas reviewed when planning ADA signage because they are permanent spaces and frequently require tactile and braille identification. Walk through the entire facility and identify every public, employee and other restroom location.

Depending on the facility, restroom sign wording may include:

• MEN
• WOMEN
• RESTROOM.
• ALL GENDER RESTROOM / GENDER NEUTRAL RESTROOM
• FAMILY RESTROOM / FAMILY RESTRROM - BABY CHANGING AREA
• UNISEX RESTROOM
• BOYS or GIRLS

Restroom signs generally include pictograms and accessibility symbols. If the restroom is handicap accessible, an ISA symbol of accessibility (wheelchair) should be included. Some states like New York and Connecticut require the "active wheelchair" symbol when used. Often times, it is helpful to include restroom directional signs that help visitors locate the nearest restroom. State-specific requirements should also be considered. California, for example, has additional restroom signage requirements that can include geometric door signs, an additional restroom tactile wall sign, and directional signs for the nearest accessible restroom. For wall mounted braille restroom signs, accessible restroom identification, and California restroom signs see our ADA restroom signs buying guide.

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5. Plan Directional & Wayfinding Signs

After identifying rooms, think about how people will find them. Directional and wayfinding signs are particularly important in larger buildings, long corridors, multi-floor facilities and locations where visitors frequently need assistance.

Look for decision points such as:

• Building entrances and lobbies
• Hallway intersections
• Elevator lobbies
• Stairway entrances
• Reception areas
• Department intersections
• Long corridors
• Locations where a destination is not visible

Common directional messages might identify restrooms, elevators, exits, departments, suites, conference rooms or other destinations using text and arrows. Identifying important wayfinding endpoints often depends on the building function. For example schools and universities often use directional signage to direct people to lunchrooms, gymnasiums, lockers, auditoriums, restrooms, theatres and departments, whereas hospitals direct patients and visitors to check-in, restrooms, parking lots, lunchrooms, elevators, and important departments. Under federal ADA standards, signs providing direction to or information about interior spaces generally follow visual character requirements (size, spacing, fonts, etc.) rather than tactile and braille requirements.

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6. Identify Informational & Instructional Signs

Some signs do not identify a room or direct someone to a destination. Instead, they provide instructions, policies, hours of operation, operating information or other messages about the building or facility.

Common informational sign applications can include:

• PLEASE CHECK IN AT RECEPTION
• EMPLOYEES ONLY
• AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
• NO FOOD OR DRINK
• PLEASE KEEP DOOR CLOSED
• QUIET PLEASE
• NO SMOKING
• BUILDING RULES OR POLICIES
• OPERATING OR SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Informational signs generally do not require braille and tactile text. However, applicable visual accessibility requirements may still apply, and if the message is short and your budget allows, it shows "good intent" to add braille and tactile text.

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7. Determine Where Pictograms & Accessibility Symbols Are Needed

Pictograms and accessibility symbols help communicate information quickly and can be especially useful in restrooms, public facilities and buildings serving a broad range of visitors.

During your building survey, note locations where signs may use International Symbols of Accessibility and common icons which will assist in wayfinding understanding and clarification. Suggested signs where symbols and icons are generally used include:

• Men's and women's restroom pictograms / Gender Neutral Pictogram
• Wheelchair accessibility symbols
• International Symbol of Accessibility
• Stair symbols
• Elevator symbols
• Other recognized facility pictograms (No Smoking Symbol, Do NOT Enter Symbol, Phone Symbol, Baby Nursing Symbol, Fire Extinguisher, Biohazard, etc.)

When a pictogram is used as part of a sign identifying a permanent room or space, specific ADA requirements can apply to the pictogram field, text descriptor, finish and contrast.

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8. Check Elevator Signage & Braille Plates

If the building contains one or more elevators, review each elevator lobby, hoistway entrance and elevator cab separately. Elevator signage includes several specialized sign and braille requirements that differ from ordinary room identification signs.

Depending on the elevator and applicable codes, a project may involve:

• Elevator jamb braille plates that identify the floor level
• "In Case of Fire Do Not use Elevator" fire emergency signs outside the elevator
• Elevator cab control braille buttons
• Elevator capacity signs
• Fire emergency signs
• Medical emergency signs
• Elevator maintenance signs
• Emergency communication information

Because elevator requirements can involve accessibility codes, elevator codes, fire codes and local regulations, these locations deserve special attention when developing a complete building sign schedule.

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9. Check Stairwells, Exit Passageways & Exit Doors

Stairways and means-of-egress locations should be evaluated separately from ordinary room signs. Federal ADA standards require tactile identification at doors to exit stairways, exit passageways and exit discharge. Other stairwell and egress signage may also be required by building, fire and life-safety codes.

A stairwell survey may need to identify:

• Stair identification
• Floor or level identification
• Exit stair doors
• Exit passageways
• Exit discharge doors
• Roof-access information
• Floors served by the stair enclosure
• Direction to the level of exit discharge
• Areas of refuge where applicable
• Photoluminescent egress markings where required

Stairwell requirements can differ substantially according to building height, occupancy, construction type and jurisdiction. These signs should be reviewed against the building and fire codes applicable to the particular project.

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10. Don't Forget Employee, Utility & Service Areas

One common planning mistake is to survey only the areas routinely used by customers or visitors. Permanent employee and service spaces can also need identification signage.

Check for permanent spaces such as:

• EMPLOYEE RESTROOM
• BREAK ROOM
• JANITOR, JANITOR CLOSET, SOILED UTILITY, CLEAN UTILITY
• ELECTRICAL ROOM
• MECHANICAL ROOM, MAINTENANCE ROOM
• TELECOMMUNICATIONS
• SPRINKLER RISER ROOM
• ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT
• MAINTENANCE ROOM
• STORAGE
• SECURITY
• STAFF ONLY rooms

If these are permanent rooms or spaces and identification signage is provided, accessibility requirements should be considered during sign planning.

11. Separate Permanent Information From Changeable Information (The use of changeable window insert signs)

Not every piece of information on a room sign is permanent. Employee names, job titles, schedules, department assignments and other information may change regularly. Planning for these changes before ordering signs can save the cost of replacing complete signs later.

For example, an office may permanently be identified as ROOM 204 while the employee name occupying that office may change. A sign system can combine permanent tactile room identification with a replaceable insert or changeable-name area.

During your survey, mark information as either permanent or changeable. This makes it easier to determine where a standard ADA room sign, custom room ID sign or changeable window-insert sign makes the most sense.

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12. Choose a Coordinated ADA Sign System

Once you know what signs are needed, consider how the complete sign package will look throughout the building. ADA compliant signage does not need to consist of identical plain rectangular signs. A coordinated sign system can satisfy accessibility needs while complementing the architecture and interior design of the facility.

JustBrailleSigns offers multiple ADA sign design series that allow room identification signs, restroom signs, room numbers, directional signs, informational signs, pictogram signs and window insert signs to share a consistent design theme.

When choosing a building-wide sign system, consider:

• Overall architectural style
• Sign background color
• Character and graphic color
• Required light/dark contrast
• Sign shape
• Material thickness
• Decorative accents or layers
• Consistency between different sign types
• Future expansion or replacement needs

Selecting the design system before individual signs are ordered helps create a more consistent appearance throughout offices, hospitals, schools, hotels, apartments, senior living facilities, churches and other commercial interiors.

13. Check State, Local, Building & Fire Code Requirements

The federal ADA Standards are not necessarily the only requirements that apply to a sign project. State accessibility codes, local building regulations, fire codes and adopted editions of model codes can add requirements beyond the federal ADA standards.

California is an important example. California Title 24 contains additional signage provisions, including requirements affecting restroom identification, geometric restroom door symbols, stairwell signage and other interior signs.

Before finalizing a building sign schedule, confirm requirements with the project's architect, code consultant, building official, fire marshal or other authority having jurisdiction.

View California ADA & Title 24 Sign Requirements ›

14. Create a Building Sign Schedule

After completing your building survey, organize the information into a sign schedule. A sign schedule is simply a room-by-room or location-by-location list showing what sign is needed at each location.

A practical sign schedule might contain these columns:

For larger projects, adding columns for sign size, sign color, design series, mounting location, room number and approval status can make the schedule even more useful. If you are planning dozens or hundreds of signs our Complete Building ADA Sign Package Guide explains how to organize a complete coordinated facility wide sign program.

15. ADA & Interior Building Sign Planning Checklist

Use this checklist while walking through your facility. Not every item applies to every building, and checking an item does not necessarily mean a particular sign is legally required. The purpose is to make sure important locations are evaluated before the sign order is finalized.

Don't Forget ADA Sign Mounting & Installation

Selecting a compliant sign is only part of the process. Tactile ADA signs must also be mounted in the proper location and within the applicable height range. Door configuration, latch-side placement, double doors, door swing and available wall space can all affect the correct mounting location.

View ADA Braille Sign Installation Guidelines ›

Have Questions About ADA Braille Sign Requirements?

If you are unsure whether a particular room requires braille, how high an ADA sign should be mounted, whether directional signs require braille, what colors can be used or how tactile characters and braille must be designed, visit our comprehensive ADA Braille Sign FAQ.

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