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Sign Panel
 | To aid location of the sign, the sign panel should be colour
and tone contrasted with the background e.g. Wall or door colour. |
| The surface of the sign panel should be in a non reflective
material or paint. In a matt finish or with a gloss factor of not more than 15 %. |
| The sign panel should not have any sharp edges and if fitted
into a frame then the frame should not have any sharp edges. |
Sign Border
| To enable a sign to be located on both light and dark
backgrounds a border can be incorporated on the sign. For example a dark grey sign board
with a white border can be located on both light and dark backgrounds. |
| A border of around 15mm is recommended for a room
identification sign i.e. 300mm(l) x 80mm(h).This can then be increased proportionately for
larger signs. |
Characters
| For embossed characters the thickness of the embossing
should be 1mm - 1.5mm and not engraved. |
| Character height should be between 15mm and 50mm capital
height depending on the sign type used. |
| The typestyle should be a Helvetica type Sans Serif font or
similar uncomplicated style. The use of Serifs is permissible but care should be taken
when using these. |
| The stroke width should allow for both sides of the embossed
letter or number to be felt with the fingers in a single pass. |
| Symbols and pictograms should be of standard design, if
possible, and should be easy to understand. |
| The inter character spacing should be increased between 20
& 30% depending upon the chosen font to be used. |
| Inter word spacing should be increased by around 25%. |
| The use of upper and lower case text should be used in
preference to all upper case, e.g. " Special Care Baby Unit". |
| The character colour should contrast with the sign board
colour. |
| The characters should be in a non reflective material or
finish as per the sign board. |
| The characters should not have any sharp edges but must
equally be clearly defined by being slightly rounded or chamfered. |
Braille
| Braille should be used if possible wherever embossed
characters are used. |
| The Braille used should be English Standard Braille. |
| The Braille dot should be dome shaped. |
| Grade I Braille should be used for single words and short
descriptions, e.g. "Push Bar to Open". |
| Grade II Braille should be used for longer descriptions and
sentences. |
| A Braille locator is a very useful aid to include on the
sign. |
Sign Functional Requirements
| The location of signs should ideally be part of the process
of planning the building and environment. |
| Signs should not be located where the glare of the lights
reduce the legibility. |
| All signs should be in contrasting colours to their
background. |
| The characters should contrast with the sign background. |
| Signs should be non reflective both for the sign background
and characters. |
| Sign content should be simple, short and easily understood. |
| Text and lettering should be of a clear uncomplicated font. |
| Ensure the wording and use of pictograms is consistent
throughout the building. |
| Signs need to be suitably illuminated either by adequate
lighting or by the use of back illumination. |
| At key decision points the relevant sign type should be
located. |
| Signs should be grouped in to one of three categories as
follows; |
| - Information e.g. Floor plans and directories. |
| - Directional e.g. Lift lobby areas and corridors |
| - Identification e.g. Door signs & wall signs |
| At the main entrance or at a designated location on the
floor of entry, a floor plan and or a directory should be installed to advise of the
position of the main building components. This should include instructions for the
visually impaired to enable them to locate lifts, stair cases and other points of interest
. |
| Floor plans and directories should be kept as uncomplicated
as possible,using easily distinguishable symbols to locate areas. They should be situated
in an open location, so as not to create an obstruction. |
| Lift car signs should have tactile and Braille floor
identification preferably embossed on the buttons or by the use of an overlay. |
| Lift call signs should be easily identified and at a
suitable height. |
| Corridors should have wall signs at each point of entry. |
| Longer corridors will benefit from the use of additional
signs. |
| Wash room facilities should be adequately signed from all
around the premises. |
| Exits and Fire exits should be adequately signed to follow
statutory requirements, from all around the premises |
| Wall signs should be correctly positioned, and in a
contrasting colour to the background they are situated on. |
| Door location signs should be correctly positioned, and in a
contrasting colour to the background. It is recommended that they should be situated on
the wall next to the door in case the door is left open or is opened when the sign is
being read. |
| The use of suspended signs should be avoided wherever
possible. However if they are required the sign and text size should be adequate to allow
for a suitable reading distance. |
| Where appropriate, signs (with the exception of suspended
signs ) should have tactile embossed text, pictograms and arrows together with Braille if
possible. |
| In addition, the use of tactile embossed signs with Braille
is recommended at appropriate locations. |
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