ADA Door Signs - Proper Location of Tactile Signs Near Doorways

ADA door signs are one of the most common sign types used for identifying rooms with doors in office buildings, hospitals, schools and businesses of all sizes.

The purchase and display of ADA signage is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to achieve compliance with ADA standards.

In order for your business to be compliant with standards listed in the Americans with Disabilities Act, you'll need to know the safe locations for hanging your tactile signs near doorways.

Proper positioning for tactile door signs

In the case of single doors, mount your tactile signs at the latch side of the door leading into the room or office. This is the most convenient area for any wayfinding signage, and is also in compliance with ADA standards.

If the room has double doors with only one door leaf actively swinging, the sign may be mounted on the inactive leaf. This means only a door that will not be used to enter the area and has been immobilized.

If the room has double doors with both door leafs actively swinging, the sign should be mounted to the right of the right-handed door.

When no wall space is available for hanging signs on the latch side for single doors or the right door side for double doors, the nearest adjacent wall should be used.

It's easy to find buildings with examples of all these door types and sign positions. I suggest visiting hospitals and office buildings to see examples of door sign location if you need further guidance.

How to determine a safe location for your ADA door signs

In order to be used safely, ADA door signs must be mounted in a safe location by the door of the room it is indicating. Visitors to the room need to be kept clear of swinging doors while searching for the rooms they want to find.

According to official ADA guidelines, a floor measurement of 18 inches (or 455 millimeters) by 18 inches minimum is used. The measurement is made from the swing of the door edge to the center of the tactile lettering of the sign.

The rules suggest using a 45 degree angle of opened door to determine if enough clearance has been allowed. The 18 inch minimum measurement from the sign face and to the right of the door swing should provide the needed clearance for safe mounting.

You can choose to leave more space if you determine that the area will experience heavy foot traffic. You will need to keep the sign close enough to the door to clearly indicate it is meant to identify that room. But as long as you remember to measure 18 inches minimum from the center of the tactile text, your door sign will be in compliance with ADA standards.

ADA compliance

These guidelines apply to permanent signage for rooms, offices and restrooms.

If you have any special needs regarding the specific uses of the rooms in your building or you have other questions, please contact the US government for more information.

However, these guidelines are acceptable for most ADA door signs available on the market today. Whether you use standard signage or custom tactile creations, proper door sign location is simple to apply and keeps your business compliant with ADA standards.

Disclaimer: The preceding information is intended as a general guide for compliance of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The author assumes no liability for its completeness or accuracy. This article is not a legal document and is not meant to be viewed as a substitute for professional legal advice.