ADA signs serve an important purpose. They help people with visual impairments and other disabilities find restrooms, exits, offices, and other permanent rooms safely and independently. They also show customers, tenants, and inspectors that your business takes accessibility seriously.
Many businesses still make mistakes with their signs, often without realizing it. A sign that looks correct to a sighted visitor may be mounted at the wrong height, missing proper Braille, or difficult to read in bright light. These errors can lead to failed inspections, costly replacements, and potential legal complaints.
At Dawn’s Sign Tech, we design, fabricate, and install ADA signs in the Merrimack Valley and North Shore that are built to meet the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Below, we outline seven of the most common ADA sign mistakes and explain how to avoid them.
Why ADA Sign Compliance Matters for Your Business
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires businesses that serve the public to make their facilities accessible. Signs that identify permanent rooms and spaces, such as restrooms, stairwells, exits, and room numbers, must follow specific requirements for tactile (raised) characters, Grade 2 Braille, mounting height and location, color contrast and non-glare finish, and font style and character size.
In Massachusetts, businesses should also consider state accessibility regulations from the Architectural Access Board, which can add requirements beyond federal standards. Working with an experienced sign provider helps ensure your signs meet every applicable standard the first time.
1. Mounting ADA Signs at the Incorrect Height
Incorrect mounting height is one of the most frequent ADA sign mistakes. A person who reads by touch needs to find tactile text at a consistent, predictable height.
What the standard requires:
The baseline of the lowest tactile character must be at least 48 inches above the finished floor, and the baseline of the highest tactile character must be no more than 60 inches above the finished floor.
Common errors include:
Mounting signs at eye level based on appearance rather than measurement, matching the height of existing decorative signs or artwork, and measuring to the bottom edge of the sign instead of the character baseline.
Even a difference of a few inches can make a sign non-compliant. Our installers measure from the finished floor to the character baseline on every installation, so your signs are placed exactly where they belong.
2. Missing or Incorrect Grade 2 Braille
Tactile signs must include Braille, and that Braille must be Grade 2 (contracted) Braille. Grade 1 Braille spells out each word letter by letter. Grade 2 uses contractions and is the standard format required for ADA signs.
Common Braille mistakes include:
Using Grade 1 Braille instead of Grade 2, placing Braille above the text instead of directly below it, leaving too little space between the Braille and the raised text (at least 3/8 inch is required), using flat-topped or poorly formed dots instead of domed or rounded dots, and omitting Braille entirely on signs that require it.
Online sign retailers and generic templates frequently get Braille wrong. Because many sighted business owners cannot read Braille, these errors often go unnoticed until an inspection or complaint. Dawn’s Sign Tech produces ADA plaques in Massachusetts with properly formatted, correctly spaced Grade 2 Braille.
3. Choosing Low-Contrast Colors
Strong contrast helps visitors with low vision read signs quickly and accurately. ADA standards require characters to contrast with their background, using either light characters on a dark background or dark characters on a light background.
Combinations that often cause problems:
Gray text on a silver or brushed metal background, beige on cream or tan, dark blue on black, and pastel colors on white are among the most common low-contrast pairings that fail accessibility standards.
Many businesses choose sign colors to match their interior décor or brand palette. That goal is reasonable, but readability must come first. Through our custom sign design services, we help you select color combinations that complement your space while maintaining the strong contrast that accessibility requires.
4. Using Non-Compliant Fonts and Character Sizes
Fonts on ADA signs are strictly regulated. A stylish typeface may look attractive, but it can make a sign difficult or impossible to read by touch.
Tactile characters must be:
Uppercase and sans serif, free of italic, oblique, script, or highly decorative styles, raised at least 1/32 inch from the sign surface, and between 5/8 inch and 2 inches tall, based on the height of the uppercase letter “I.”
Common font mistakes include:
Using serif fonts such as Times New Roman, using lowercase or mixed-case lettering on tactile text, selecting condensed or extended fonts that alter character proportions, and applying script or decorative fonts to match a brand logo.
Your brand identity can still appear on your signs through color, shape, and materials. However, the tactile characters themselves must follow ADA requirements.
5. Placing Signs in the Wrong Location
A sign mounted at the correct height can still fail compliance if it is on the wrong wall or side of the door. Visitors who are blind or have low vision rely on consistent placement to locate signs.
General placement guidelines include:
For single doors, install the sign on the latch side of the door. For double doors with one active leaf, install the sign on the inactive leaf. For double doors with two active leaves, install the sign to the right of the right-hand door. If no wall space is available, install the sign on the nearest adjacent wall.
The standards also require a clear floor space of at least 18 by 18 inches, centered on the tactile characters and located beyond the arc of the door swing. This keeps a person reading the sign from being struck by an opening door.
Placement errors are especially common with ADA compliant restroom signs in Massachusetts facilities, where signs are sometimes mounted directly on the restroom door or in a hallway that does not meet clearance requirements.
6. Overlooking Glare and Improper Finishes
Glossy surfaces can reflect overhead lighting and sunlight, which makes text difficult to read for many visitors. ADA standards require both the characters and the background of a sign to have a non-glare finish, such as matte or eggshell.
Common finish mistakes include:
Polished metal or high-gloss acrylic sign faces, clear protective coatings that add shine, glass or mirrored backgrounds, and signs placed opposite large windows without accounting for reflections are among the most common finish-related compliance issues.
Material selection matters. We fabricate ADA signs using durable, non-glare materials that stay readable under fluorescent, LED, and natural light conditions.
How Dawn’s Sign Tech Helps You Get ADA Signs Right
Dawn’s Sign Tech has served businesses throughout North Andover, Andover, Lowell, Methuen, Haverhill, Danvers, Middleton, and surrounding communities. As a full-service sign shop, we manage your ADA signage project from start to finish.
Our process includes:
We begin with a site assessment, visiting your location, reviewing your spaces, and identifying which signs are required. From there, we handle compliant design by selecting fonts, colors, materials, and Braille formatting that meet ADA standards while complementing your interior. We then move into quality fabrication, producing durable signs with properly raised characters and Grade 2 Braille, followed by professional installation, with our team mounting each sign at the correct height and location. Finally, we ensure consistent branding by matching your ADA signs to your other interior and exterior signage for a cohesive, professional appearance.
Whether you are opening a new location, renovating an office, or updating older signs, our team delivers ADA signs in North Andover and across the Merrimack Valley that you can rely on. Learn more about our ADA signs and plaques.
Request Your Free ADA Sign Estimate Today!
Accurate, compliant signage protects your business and makes your facility welcoming to every visitor. Avoid the common mistakes that lead to failed inspections and costly replacements by working with a trusted local sign professional. Learn more by contacting Dawn’s Sign Tech on our website or call (978) 208-0012.