Here are some frequently asked questions that you might have. If you have a question not listed do not hesitate to give us a call or email.
Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) guarantees the civil rights of people with disabilities in the United States. It protects these individuals from discrimination on the basis of disability. The ADA extends comprehensive civil rights protections in areas including public accommodations, state and local government services, and employment.
Section 4.30
4:30.1 General – Signage required to be accessible by 4.1 shall comply with the applicable provisions of 4.30. In building complexes where finding locations independently on a routine basis may be a necessity (for example, college campuses), tactile maps or prerecorded instructions can be very helpful to visually impaired people. Several maps and auditory instructions have been developed and tested for specific applications. The type of map or instructions used must be based on the information to be communicated, which depends highly on the type of buildings or users.
4.30.2 Character Proportion – Tactile letters and numbers on signs shall have a width-to-height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1 and a stroke-width-to-height ratio between 1:5 and 1:10. The legibility of printed characters is a function of the viewing distance, character height, the ratio of the stroke width to the height of the character, the contrast of color between character and background, and print font. The size of characters must be based upon the intended viewing distance. A severely nearsighted person may have to be much closer to recognize a character of a given size than a person with normal visual acuity.
4.30.3 Character Height – Characters and numbers on signs shall be sized according to the viewing distance from which they are to be read. The minimum height is measured using an upper case X. Lower case characters are permitted.
Height above minimum finished floor character height – suspended or projected 3 in (75mm).
Overhead in minimum compliance with 4.4.2
4.30.4 Raised and Brailled Characters and Pictoral Symbol Signs (Pictograms) – Letters and numerals shall be raised 1/32 in, upper case, sans serif or simple serif type and shall be accompanied with Grade 2 Braille. Raised characters shall be at least 5/8 in (16mm) high, but no higher than 2 in (50mm). Pictograms shall be accompanied by the equivalent verbal description placed directly below the pictogram. The border dimension of the pictogram shall be 6 in (152mm) minimum in height. Raised borders around signs containing raised characters may make them confusing to read unless the border is set far away from the characters.
4.30.5 Finish and Contrast – The characters and background of signs shall be eggshell, matt or other non-glare finish. Characters and symbols shall contrast with their background – either light characters on a dark background or dark characters on a light background.
Note: An eggshell finish (11 to 19 degree gloss on 60 degree glossimeter) is recommended. Research indicates that signs are more legible for persons with low vision when characters contrast with their background by at least 70 percent. Contrast in percent shall be determined by:
Contrast = [(B1 – B2)/B1] x 100 where B1 = light reflectance value (LRV) of the lighter area and B2 = light reflectance value (LRV) of the darker area. Note that in any application both white and black are never absolute; thus, B1 never equals 100 and B2 is always greater than 0. The greatest readability is usually achieved through the use of light-colored characters or symbols on a dark background.
4.30.6 Mounting Location and Height – Where permanent identification is provided for rooms and spaces, signs shall be installed on the wall adjacent to the latch side of the door. Where there is no wall space to the latch side of the door, including at double leaf doors, signs shall be placed on the nearest adjacent wall. Mounting height shall be 60 in (1525mm) above the finish floor to the center line of the sign. Mounting location for such signage shall be so that a person may approach within 3 in (76mm) of signage without encountering protruding objects or standing within the swing of a door.
4.30.7 Symbols of Accessibility – (1) Facilities and elements required to be identified as accessible by 4.1 shall use the international sign of accessibility.
ADA MATERIALS AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
The U.S. Department of Justice provides free ADA materials. Printed materials may be ordered by calling the ADA Information Line (1-800-514-0301 (Voice) or 1-800-514-0383 (TDD)). Automated service is available 24-hours a day for recorded information and to order publications.
Publications are available in standard print as well as large print, audiotape, Braille, and computer disk for people with disabilities.
Many of these materials are available from an automated fax system that is available 24-hours a day. To order a publication by fax, call the ADA Information Line and follow the directions for placing a fax order. When prompted to enter the document number, enter the specific number from the following publication list. http://www.access-board.gov/gs.htm
Send us your blueprints and you will be assigned a Sales Representative
who will come up with a sign location plan. We will send
a proposal with pricing and the recommended catalog for your
property, all free of charge..
When you contact us, you will be assigned a Sales Representative.
We can provide a free site survey of the property or you can send
a list of sizes and signs needed. Let us know if new signage needs
to cover areas for existing signs or if the walls will be repainted
or covered. Your Sales Representative will send a proposal with
pricing and the recommended catalog for your property, all free of
charge.
If custom signage has been approved for your property, your
Sales Representative will work with you and our Graphics
Department to come up with a design that meets your needs.
We can work from hand drawn sketches, carpet or wall vinyl
samples or just an idea. We will provide drawings and a sample, also free of charge. We have a large base of materials
and can match any color to give your signs a look no one else has.
We have a standard 4- to 6-week lead time using standard materials and 6 to 8 weeks for a custom sign package.
If you need your sign package sooner, your Sales Representative will work with you.
An additional fee may be charged for quick turnaround.
If the installation is not included in the contract with your General Contractor, we can provide installation for
an additional charge or we can provide you with installation instructions and ADA specifications showing how
and where to install your signs. Signs are mounted with industrial grade clear silicone adhesive. We recommend
GE 1200 (purple tube). Double-sided foam tape is used in addition to the silicone to hold the signs in place
while the silicone sets up which will take 8-12 hours.
Although we offer installation as part of our package plan we understand that you may want to install the signs on your own. We have provided a guide for you to do so below. Please print and give this guide to the person who will be installing your signs.
Download Installation GuideRising Signs will see your project to completion. Your completed sign package is kept on file for future reference
and follow up orders. We will make sure future orders match the original package. You can email or send a fax
on company letterhead with details of your request. A Sales Representative will look up your information and
send a confirmation in the form of a work order for your review. If needed, we can provide you with layouts for
approval as well..
If Rising Signs did not produce your original sign package, we will be
happy to match your existing signs. We have a wide variety of materials
available to ensure your new signs will match. You may be asked to give
specific color information or send samples for matching. Your Sales
Representative will work with our Graphics Department to provide
layouts for your approval.
• Brass
• Solid Surface
• Aluminum
• Marble & Granite Glass
• Stone
• Acrylic
• Wood
• Photopolymer Designer Acrylics & Ecoresin
• Polished Acrylic Phenolic (Resin) Signs
• Vinyl Window & Door Graphics
• Chemetal
• Wilson Art Laminate
All sign finishes are very durable and easy to maintain to look as good as new for many years.
• Use a lint-free cloth to remove dust and light debris.
• To remove any surface stain, use a mild non-abrasive cleaning agent and lint-free cloth.