ADA-Compliant Restroom Signs: Importance And Characteristics

ADA-Compliant restroom signs are becoming increasingly important. The world has been big on inclusivity for the past few years, but the recent changes aren’t enough. Society may be in the middle of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where different sectors are undergoing digital transformation, but we are still lagging in reducing barriers for people with disabilities.

However, thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), senior citizens, the visually impaired, and the blind can have more access to their needs with fewer challenges. If you own a business or are a building manager, you must follow ADA restroom sign requirements to offer more accessibility.

The Importance of Accessibility in Business

Accessibility and inclusivity aren’t just buzzwords or marketing strategies to further your business. Yes, you can have a larger pool of potential customers, but implementing accessibility measures matters simply because it’s the right thing to do!

Being accessible not only ensures your compliance with the law, but you can also create goodwill among the people in your business, as well as form meaningful relationships within the community. When you promote inclusivity and make your establishment more accessible to people with disabilities, you’ll have a more profitable business and deeper connections with your customers.

Making Your Restroom Signs ADA-Compliant

Restroom signs may seem insignificant, but they actually play a crucial role in improving accessibility. By ensuring that your restroom signs are ADA-compliant, more people will have access to your building like everyone else and feel more comfortable going to your place of business.

Aside from making things harder for people with disabilities and the risk of facing a lawsuit, you should care about making ADA-compliant restroom signs, especially because you want to show to your community that you care about everyone who enters your facility.

The Characteristics of an ADA-Compliant Restroom Sign

Making ADA-compliant restroom signs is easier said than done, given the extensive list of requirements. If you’ve taken a look at the  2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and the Title III Regulations but still have difficulty understanding what you have to do, don’t worry!

To make things simpler for you, we’ve compiled a list of the most important characteristics an ADA-compliant restroom sign must have.

Raised Braille Characters with Pictorial Symbols

The letters and numbers on your restroom sign must be raised by 1/32 inch in uppercase, using sans serif or simple serif font. All characters must be accompanied by Grade 2 Braille and at least 5/8 to two inches high. Pictograms should have a verbal description below them.

Finish and Contrast Information

All ADA-compliant restroom signs should have finishes that have no glare, such as eggshell and matte. In addition, background and characters must have a stark contrast with the background so that they can be read clearly by anyone.

Mounting Specifications

Restroom signs that are permanently mounted to the wall should be placed on a wall adjacent to the door’s side with the latch or handle. As for double-leaf doors, the sign should be mounted on the closest adjacent wall.

Conclusion

It all starts with a seemingly minor thing—one small change in your restroom sign can mean everything to a group of people. When making your restroom signs ADA-compliant, make sure to review the resource carefully to avoid negative consequences. With ADA-compliant restroom signs, you’ll have happier customers and a more caring business!

If you’re looking for high-quality signage systems for ADA-compliant restroom signs, you’ve come to the right place! As a proud distributor of Best Sign Systems, we at SBI Contracting will get your sign system right the first time and in compliance with ADA requirements. Browse our products today!