How & where to install ADA sign guide
ADA Sign Installation Guidelines
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Signage Placement Requirements
Ensure compliance and accessibility for all building occupants
1. GENERAL MOUNTING HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Tactile/Braille Signs (e.g., Room IDs, Restrooms):
Mount 48" minimum and 60" maximum from the finished floor to the baseline of the lowest and highest raised characters, respectively.
✅ Recommended: Mount tactile characters at 54” from the floor for consistency.
2. MOUNTING LOCATION — WALL ADJACENT TO DOOR
Where to Place Signs:
Install signs on the wall adjacent to the latch side of the door.
➤ If there is no wall space on the latch side (e.g., double doors), place it on the nearest adjacent wall.
Double Doors with One Active Leaf:
Mount sign on the latch side of the active door.
Doors Without Latches (e.g., restrooms):
Mount on the nearest adjacent wall to the right-hand side when possible.
3. SPACING FROM DOOR FRAME
Place sign so that the edge of the sign is 18" minimum from the swing of the door, to prevent the door from obstructing visibility or causing injury.
4. SPECIALTY SIGN TYPES & LOCATIONS
| Sign Type | Location Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Restroom ID | Wall next to the latch side of the door |
| Room Number/Name | Wall adjacent to the room entrance door, latch side preferred |
| Exit Signs (Tactile) | Wall adjacent to exit doors, not on the door itself |
| Elevator Floor ID | Inside elevator cab, centered at 60” height |
| Stairwell Signs | Wall on hinge side of stairwell door, with tactile & Braille + floor info |
| Directional Signs | Wall-mounted at eye level, recommended at 60" from floor |
✅ 5. KEY INSTALLATION TIPS
Use double-sided tape or screw mounting depending on wall surface.
For Braille/tactile signs, do not mount on swinging doors.
Ensure high-contrast lettering per ADA.
Avoid obstructions — signs should have clear floor space of 18"x18" minimum in front.
Recommended Tools
- Measuring tape
- Level
- Pencil for marking
- ADA height template (optional but helpful)
- Mounting tape or screws (as applicable)
ADA Sign Placement by Door Type
1. Single Doors
- Standard Placement: Mount the tactile sign on the wall adjacent to the latch side of the door.
- No Wall Space: If there's no space on the latch side, place the sign on the nearest adjacent wall.
2. Double Doors
- One Active Leaf: Install the sign on the inactive (fixed) leaf of the door.
- Two Active Leaves: Place the sign on the wall to the right of the right-hand door.
3. Doors Without Wall Space
- If there's insufficient space on the latch side (e.g., due to glass panels), mount the sign on the nearest adjacent wall, ensuring it's outside the door's swing path.
4. Mounting Signs Directly on Doors
- Signs may be mounted directly on the push side of doors only if all the following conditions are met:
- The door has an automatic closer.
- There is no hold-open device.There's no available wall space for mounting.
Mounting Height Requirements
- Tactile Characters: 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.
- Visual Characters: For signs with visual characters only, the baseline of the lowest character should be at least 40 inches above the floor, and the top of the highest character should be no more than 70 inches above the floor.
Clear Floor Space
An unobstructed floor space of at least 18 inches by 18 inches must be centered on the tactile characters of the sign. This space should be located beyond the arc of any door swing (i.e., outside the path of the door when opened to 45 degrees) to ensure safe and accessible reading by touch.
Installation Tips
- Consistency: Maintain uniform sign placement throughout the facility to aid in wayfinding.
- Visibility: Ensure signs have a non-glare finish and high contrast between characters and background for readability.