CUSTOM METAL EXTERIOR ADA SIGNS DESIGN GUIDE

1st SIGN DESIGN STEP – METAL TYPE & BACKGROUND COLOR

Aluminum, brass and bronze are available to choose from for custom metal signs.  The base material is painted any one color, and raised letters and pictograms have either vertical or horizontal brush marks.  Over both paint and metal a clear coat determines gloss level.

For compliance, a high contrast is required between letters and background.  This means if your aesthetic dictates a particular paint color it limits your metal options, and vice versa.

Aluminum is the most cost effective material option.  Being pretty close to white, it also has a wider range of contrasting paint colors than bronze or brass.  Aluminum is also lighter, making it easier to install.

As you can see here, with a red background only aluminum meets ADA sign contrast requirements.

Brass and bronze are similar in appearance, offering a warm color and perhaps implying more permanence and luxury than aluminum.  Between the two, sign performance is the same and as of 2022, cost is highly comparable.  Some designers consider bronze a more classic look, as it was used historically for exterior plaques and similar applications.  Conversely, brass works well with many modern interior fixtures and color schemes.

The clear topcoat may be either satin or matte.  If the signs are used indoors, we recommend matte.  For exterior signs, satin is usually best as dust and dirt decrease gloss level during normal use.  Gloss coatings are not ADA compliant.

To communicate paint color, feel free to use the paints codes from any major paint maker, hex or Pantone colors.

If color and material are not critical for your project, we recommend selecting aluminum with black satin paint.  It’s cost effective, easy to read and has the fastest turn around time.

2nd SIGN DESIGN STEP – CONTENT & SIZE/SPAN

A standard restroom sign, with one row of lettering, can be as small as 6″ x 8″.  However, many restroom signs utilize two rows of lettering, in which case 6″ x 9″ accommodates two rows.  As a result, we recommend standardizing sizes for all restroom signs to 6″ x 9″ or larger.  The same size rules apply to accessible entrance signage.

For exterior tactile signs identifying rooms that don’t require pictograms, size can be driven by the amount of text.  Three digit room number signs are often 3″ x 5″ or larger, and if your facility needs two rows of tactile copy, 4″ x 7″ is a great minimum size accommodating two rows of 10 – 12 characters meeting ADA sign requirements.

Rather than many different sizes, it’s best to standardize your base size as much as possible.  Just shoot us an email with your least and most copy if you need size guidance.

3rd SIGN DESIGN STEP – INSTALLATION METHOD

Exterior ADA signs, made of metal, are heavier than most interior signs.  Additionally, exterior application methods need to be more robust in order to accommodate differing thermal and hygroscopic expansion and contraction rates as well as freeze – thaw cycles.

As a result, most custom metal signs are installed with studs.  A paper pattern for the signs showing exact stud locations are taped on the wall where they will hang.  Holes are drilled through the pattern and into the wall.

Silicone or similar adhesive is applied to the studs and back of sign, then the sign slides into place.  Press against the wall for a few seconds and you are done.  In some cases a wall may be out of plumb, causing signs to fall before silicone cure.  In this type of situation, painters tape across the face of the sign can be used to hold the sign in place.

As shown here, a blind tapped hole accommodates precise stud locations and easy install.

Depending on the wall other installation methods may be appropriate.  Custom cut spacers and extra long studs can secure signs on curved or highly textured surfaces.  Through holes with decorative face covers can work better in hard to reach spots.  Cleats are the fastest way to install making them great for limited installation time windows, though more shop time and material is required.  Last but not least, for windows high grade VHB and silicone work well.

If you have an extreme installation requirement, feel free to reach out and I’m sure we can find the right solution.

SPECIFY METAL OUTDOOR SIGNAGE

Download product data sheets, CSI 3-Part Specification, sign BIM drawings and third-party sustainability certifications for your indoor and outdoor signage specifications.  Feel free to copy, paste and edit these architect approved documents to fit your building project’s needs.

Specification Downloads

INDUSTRY BEST EXTERIOR ADA SIGNS WARRANTY

Green Dot Sign® outdoor restroom signs and other exterior ADA signs are practically indestructible and come with a lifetime warranty. Instead of plastic, our signs for outdoor purposes are made from machined solid aluminum, brass or bronze plates. Each sign is then painted, sanded to expose letters and pictograms in the natural metal and lastly dressed with a top coat. Because metal sign construction does not have layers, there are not materials with different rates of thermal or hygroscopic expansion waiting to fail after temperature or humidity swing.  All paints are automotive grade, two-part catalyzed paints with the longest possible exterior life. Fading will occur around 10 years, but usable life is much longer.

Outdoor ADA signs are an often overlooked aspect of building sign systems. All too often, designers specify the same materials for both interior and exterior sign applications. This oversight leads to disastrous results, as typical interior signs fail when exposed to outdoor conditions. Plastic exterior ADA sign failures usually fall into one of these four categories.

1. Adhesive holding layers of plastic together delaminates due to thermal or hygroscopic expansion
2. Plastic integrity fails due to temperature swing and UV exposure
3. Braille balls fall off due to material integrity failure
4. UV exposure causes colors to fade and not meet ADA sign contrast requirements

BUY NOW – STANDARD OUTDOOR RESTROOM SIGNS

Shop our standard All Gender, Men’s and Women’s Exterior ADA signs for fast delivery.

• Standard outdoor restroom signage is available with a black sign background and aluminum sign content
• All our metal signs come with a lifetime warranty
• Always ADA-compliant, our metal signs take the guesswork out of whether your exterior ADA signs will pass inspection

Shop Outdoor Restroom Signs

 EXTERIOR ADA SIGNAGE OVERVIEW

EXTERIOR ADA SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS

Signs use words and symbols to communicate messages. “ADA sign” refers to signage marking U.S. public building rooms, spaces or features that are regulated by the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).   The U.S. Department of Justice published the ADA in order to prohibit discrimination against those with disabilities.  Federally regulated signage provides the 7.5 million Americans that are legally blind or visually impaired equal access to public spaces across the U.S.

ADA sign requirements enforced today were released as part of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (SAD). Detailed federal signage requirements direct the location and content of identification, directional and informational signs. Some, but not all, door signs are regulated by the ADA.

Take the guesswork out of whether your Handicapped Accessibility signs will pass inspection with Green Dot Sign® ADA compliant braille signs. Review our ADA Signage Requirements FAQs to learn about federal accessibility signage guidelines.

U.S public buildings are required to post exterior ADA signage in two instances. First, if not all building entrances are handicap accessible, signage must direct toward the nearest accessible entrance.  Additionally, if not all entrances are accessible, handicapped accessible entrance(s) must be marked with ADA signs that include the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA or person in a wheelchair pictogram).

Signage that directs towards an accessible building entrance does not need to contain braille or raised characters. It is best practice to place wayfinding signs at every turn along the route to the accessible alternative. When no turns are required, directional signs should be posted every 35 to 50 feet.

Second, exterior tactile signage is required if an outdoor space is part of a building structure, such as a courtyard or shared rooftop patio. ADA signage with braille and raised characters identifying outdoor building spaces must be placed at doorways leading back inside the building.  However, exterior ADA sign is not necessary at building doors leading to parking lots or sidewalks.

WHEN DO I NEED TO HAVE AN EXTERIOR ADA SIGN?

If your facility has an outside door to a permanent room or space, such as restrooms at a park, a tactile ADA sign is required. Additionally, if not all entrances for your facility are accessible, a sign meeting ADA visual character requirements must direct towards the nearest accessible entrance, and that entrance must be marked with the ISA.  Best practice is to also mark the entrance with a sign that contains tactile characters and braille.

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON EXTERIOR ADA SIGNS?

The most common exterior ADA signs are restroom and accessible entrance signs. Many buildings feature rooftop areas, enclosed or semi-enclosed foyers and similar spaces.  The doors leading inside from these spaces also require tactile ADA signs.

THE BEST EXTERIOR ADA SIGNS

Reach out to schedule a no obligation custom metal signs consultation or to get a quote.