11B-703 Signs

Signs as specified in Section 11B-703, or in other sections of this code, when included in the construction of new buildings or facilities, or when included, altered or replaced due to additions, alterations or renovations to existing buildings or facilities, and when a permit is required, shall comply with Sections 11B-703.1.1.1 and 11B-703.1.1.2.

Plans, specifications or other information indicating compliance with these regulations shall be submitted to the enforcing agency for review and approval.

Signs and identification devices shall be field inspected after installation and approved by the enforcing agency prior to the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy per Chapter 1, Division II, Section 111, or final approval where no certificate of occupancy is issued. The inspection shall include, but not be limited to, verification that Braille dots and cells are properly spaced and the size, proportion and type of raised characters are in compliance with these regulations.

Character height measured vertically from the baseline of the character shall be ⁵/₈ inch (15.9 mm) minimum and 2 inches (51 mm) maximum based on the height of the uppercase letter “I”.

Exception: Reserved.

Text shall be in a horizontal format.

Braille dots shall have a domed or rounded shape and shall comply with Table 11B-703.3.1. The indication of an uppercase letter or letters shall only be used before the first word of sentences, proper nouns and names, individual letters of the alphabet, initials, and acronyms.

Braille shall be positioned below the corresponding text in a horizontal format, flush left or centered. If text is multi-lined, Braille shall be placed below the entire text. Braille shall be separated ³/₈ inch (9.5 mm) minimum and ¹/₂ inch (12.7 mm) maximum from any other tactile characters and 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) minimum from raised borders and decorative elements.

Exception: Braille provided on elevator car controls shall be separated ³/₁₆ inch (4.8 mm) minimum and shall be located directly below the corresponding raised characters or symbols.

Tactile characters on signs shall be located 48 inches (1219 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground surface, measured from the baseline of the lowest Braille cells and 60 inches (1524 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground surface, measured from the baseline of the highest line of raised characters.

Exception: Tactile characters for elevator car controls shall not be required to comply with Section 11B-703.4.1.

Where a tactile sign is provided at a door, the sign shall be located alongside the door at the latch side. Where a tactile sign is provided at double doors with one active leaf, the sign shall be located on the inactive leaf. Where a tactile sign is provided at double doors with two active leafs, the sign shall be located to the right of the right hand door. Where there is no wall space at the latch side of a single door or at the right side of double doors, signs shall be located on the nearest adjacent wall. Signs containing tactile characters shall be located so that a clear floor space of 18 inches (457 mm) minimum by 18 inches (457 mm) minimum, centered on the tactile characters, is provided beyond the arc of any door swing between the closed position and 45 degree open position. Where provided, signs identifying permanent rooms and spaces shall be located at the entrance to, and outside of the room or space. Where provided, signs identifying exits shall be located at the exit door when approached in the direction of egress travel.

Exception: In alterations where sign installation locations identified in Section 11B-703.4.2 are obstructed or otherwise unavailable for sign installation, signs with tactile characters shall be permitted on the push side of doors with closers and without hold-open devices.

Visual characters shall comply with Section 11B-703.5.

Exception: Where visual characters comply with Section 11B-703.2 and are accompanied by Braille complying with Section 11B-703.3, they shall not be required to comply with Sections 11B-703.5.2 through 11B-703.5.6, 11B-703.5.8 and 11B-703.5.9.

Minimum character height shall comply with Table 11B-703.5.5. Viewing distance shall be measured as the horizontal distance between the character and an obstruction preventing further approach towards the sign. Character height shall be based on the uppercase letter “I”.

Exception: Where provided, floor plans providing emergency procedures information in accordance with Title 19 shall not be required to comply with Section 11B-703.5.5.

Visual characters shall be 40 inches (1016 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground.

Exceptions:

1. Visual characters indicating elevator car controls shall not be required to comply with Section 11B-703.5.6.
2. Floor-level exit signs complying with Chapter 10, Section 1013.7 shall not be required to comply with Section 11B-703.5.6.
3. Where provided, floor plans providing emergency procedures information in accordance with Title 19 shall not be required to comply with Section 11B-703.5.6.

Text shall be in a horizontal format.

Pictograms shall have a field height of 6 inches (152 mm) minimum. Characters and Braille shall not be located in the pictogram field.

The International Symbol of Accessibility shall comply with Figure 11B-703.7.2.1. The symbol shall consist of a white figure on a blue background. The color blue shall approximate FS 15090 in Federal Standard 595C. A border may be provided inside or outside of the minimum required International Symbol of Accessibility dimension.

Exceptions:

1. The appropriate enforcement agency may approve other colors provided the symbol contrast is light on dark or dark on light.
2. On the accessibility function button on hall call consoles in a destination-oriented elevator system the International Symbol of Accessibility shall be a white symbol on a black background.

The International Symbol of TTY shall comply with Figure 11B-703.7.2.2.

Telephones with a volume control shall be identified by a pictogram of a telephone handset with radiating sound waves on a square field such as shown in Figure 11B-703.7.2.3.

Assistive listening systems shall be identified by the International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss complying with Figure 11B-703.7.2.4.

Geometric symbols at entrances to toilet and bathing rooms shall be mounted at 58 inches (1473 mm) minimum and 60 inches (1524 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground surface measured from the centerline of the symbol. Where a door is provided the symbol shall be mounted within 1 inch (25 mm) of the vertical centerline of the door.

A triangle symbol shall be located at entrances to men’s toilet and bathing facilities. The triangle symbol shall be an equilateral triangle ¹/₄ inch (6.4 mm) thick with edges 12 inches (305 mm) long and a vertex pointing upward. The color of the triangle symbol shall contrast with the color of the door or surface on which the triangle symbol is mounted, either light on a dark background or dark on a light background.

Exception: Within secure perimeter of detention and correctional facilities, geometric symbols shall not be required to be ¹/₄ inch (6.4 mm) thick.

A circle symbol shall be located at entrances to women’s toilet and bathing facilities. The circle symbol shall be ¹/₄ inch (6.4 mm) thick and 12 inches (305 mm) in diameter. The color of the circle symbol shall contrast with the color of the door or surface on which the circle symbol is mounted, either light on a dark background or dark on a light background.

Exception: Within secure perimeter of detention and correctional facilities, geometric symbols shall not be required to be ¹/₄ inch (6.4 mm) thick.

A combined circle and triangle symbol shall be located at entrances to unisex toilet and bathing facilities. The combined circle and triangle symbol shall consist of a circle symbol 1 /4 inch (6.4 mm) thick and 12 inches (305 mm) in diameter with a 1 /4 inch (6.4 mm) thick equilateral triangle symbol superimposed on and geometrically inscribed within the 12-inch (305 mm) diameter of the circle symbol. The vertices of the triangle symbol shall be located ¹/₄ inch (6.4 mm) maximum from the edge of the circle symbol with a vertex pointing upward. The color of the triangle symbol shall contrast with the color of the circle symbol, either light on a dark background or dark on a light background. The color of the circle symbol shall contrast with the color of the door or surface on which the combined circle and triangle symbol is mounted, either light on a dark background or dark on a light background

Exception: Within secure perimeter of detention and correctional facilities, geometric symbols shall not be required to be ¹/₄ inch (6.4 mm) thick.

Edges shall be eased or rounded at ¹/₁₆ inch (1.59 mm) minimum, or chamfered at ¹/₈ inch (3.2 mm) maximum. Vertices shall be radiused between ¹/₈ inch (3.2 mm) minimum and ¹/₄ inch (6.4 mm) maximum.

Pole-supported pedestrian traffic-control buttons shall be identified with color coding consisting of a textured horizontal yellow band 2 inches (51 mm) in width encircling the pole, and a 1-inch-wide (25 mm) dark border band above and below this yellow band. Color coding shall be placed immediately above the control button. Control buttons shall be located no higher than 48 inches (1219 mm) above the ground surface adjacent to the pole.

High resolution variable message sign (VMS) characters shall comply with Sections 11B-703.5 and 11B-703.8.12 through 11B-703.8.14. Low resolution variable message sign (VMS) characters shall comply with Section 11B-703.8.

Low resolution VMS characters shall be uppercase.

Low resolution VMS characters shall be conventional in form, shall be sans serif, and shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative, or of other unusual forms.

The uppercase letter “I” shall be used to determine the allowable height of all low resolution VMS characters of a font. Viewing distance shall be measured as the horizontal distance between the character and an obstruction preventing further approach towards the sign. The uppercase letter “I” of the font shall have a minimum height complying with Table 11B-703.8.4.

Exception: In assembly seating where the maximum viewing distance is 100 feet (30.5 m) or greater, the height of the uppercase “I” of low resolution VMS fonts shall be permitted to be 1 inch (25 mm) for every 30 feet (9144 mm) of viewing distance, provided the character height is 8 inches (203 mm) minimum. Viewing distance shall be measured as the horizontal distance between the character and where someone is expected to view the sign.

The uppercase letter “O” shall be used to determine the allowable width of all low resolution VMS characters of a font. Low resolution VMS characters shall comply with the pixel count for character width in Table 11B-703.8.5.

The uppercase letter “I” shall be used to determine the allowable stroke width of all low resolution VMS characters of a font. Low resolution VMS characters shall comply with the pixel count for stroke width in Table 11B-703.8.5.

Spacing shall be measured between the two closest points of adjacent low resolution VMS characters within a message, excluding word spaces. Low resolution VMS character spacing shall comply with the pixel count for character spacing in Table 11B-703.8.5.

Low resolution VMS characters shall comply with Section 11B-703.5.9.

Low resolution VMS characters shall be 40 inches (1016 mm) minimum above the floor of the viewing position, measured to the baseline of the character. Heights of low resolution variable message sign characters shall comply with Table 11B-703.8.4, based on the size of the characters on the sign.

The background of low resolution VMS characters shall have a nonglare finish.

Low resolution VMS characters shall be light characters on a dark background.

Where a protective layer is placed over VMS characters through which the VMS characters must be viewed, the protective covering shall have a nonglare finish.

The brightness of variable message signs in exterior locations shall automatically adjust in response to change in ambient light levels.

Where a VMS message can be displayed in its entirety on a single screen, it shall be displayed on a single screen and shall remain motionless on the screen for a minimum 3 seconds or 1 second minimum for every seven characters of the message including spaces, whichever is longer.