Typography and the Code – ADA and Egress Codes 1 Other Resources

Home , Clearview (typeface), Frutiger (typeface), Highway Gothic, Transport (typeface)

Typography, Placemaking and Signs A Four-Part SFI White Paper Series Written By Craig Berger

Part III Typography 45 Center 18” Minimum Line .125” .125” .125” and the Code

Corresponding “O” Width – ADA and Egress Codes Minimum: At least 55% 55% of “I” height but no more than 110% of the “I” height

Four part white paper & webinar series profiling typography and dimensional typography in the sign making industry.

Wrtitten by Craig Berger © Signage Foundation, Inc. Typography and the Code – ADA and Egress Codes 1 Other Resources:

Four-Part Typography Typography Webinar White Paper Series. Series.

Download the other parts to this Visit the page below to view a calendar Typography White Paper Series. of the webinars we currently offer.

www.signs.org/EducationEvents/ www.signs.org/WhitePapers ISASignAcademy.aspx

2 Typography and the Code – ADA and Egress Codes © Signage Foundation, Inc. Sponsored by:

The Signage Foundation is a not-for-profit Nova Polymers is the global leader in the committed to expanding the knowledge development of materials and processing base on the use and benefits of signage equipment for the fabrication of Accessible products through peer-reviewed research and ADA compliant signage. With a to facilitate the operation within the focus on education and the continued marketplace by manufacturers, suppliers development of innovative materials that and individuals in their efforts to design, meet international accessibility guidelines, build and sell innovative products. For Nova continues to lead the sign industry and more information, visit help people with visual disabilities navigate thesignagefoundation.org the built environment. novapolymers.com

Architectural signage solutions for ADA Swell Media Group is a branding and and Wayfinding signage helping people marketing solutions provider focused on navigate their environment. Dixie lead generation and content creation. Graphics is a solution source for designers We build brands, websites and engaging and fabricators, offering material and sign marketing campaigns by working closely choice. We also offer project completions with you to understand your business and from project management to installation your clients. accessorizing. Our goal is to streamline the swellmediagroup.com manufacturing process for you. dixiegraphics.com

© Signage Foundation, Inc. Typography and the Code – ADA and Egress Codes 3 odes and guidelines govern a very Highway Administration must be integrated into large part of what is designed state laws or face withdrawal of federal money and implemented in the built and a lawsuit. C environment. From federal guidelines that mandate accessibility and design standards to ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS: States local ordinances that govern the look and feel of and localities are responsible for developing and our cities and towns, these rules are often unseen enforcing codes in their jurisdictions; they play a but play a signifi cant role in how buildings and signifi cant role in interpreting these codes with public spaces perform. In addition to planning and federal guidance. Sometimes federal agencies architecture, codes apply to graphic information also have an enforcement role, particularly including symbols and type. Designers and involving government buildings. fabricators who understand the intricacies and overlapping governance behind codes are usually ORIENTATION: When you learn how the the most eff ective at completing projects and message and sign fi ts into a system of similar achieving the most eff ective solutions. messages and signs.

While design codes may seem purely Standards, Mandates localized, there is a range of research, precedent, best practices and advocacy and Enforcement that serve as a foundation. This knowledge comes in handy when interpreting the There often is a great deal of confusion about intent of local codes. When looking at state where design codes originate and which ones to disability codes or local fire codes, knowledge follow. Instead of springing from local ordinances, of how they were developed by different codes usually come from three sources: organizations also can provide guidance in interpretation or resolving conflicts. STANDARDS BODIES: These groups, like the International Standards Organization (ISO) or the National Fire Protection Association The Americans with (NFPA) develop guidelines and standards based on research, best practices, and guidance from Disabilities Act professional–and some not so professional– experts and special interest groups. Before 1991, states developed their own versions of the Americans with Disabilities Act based on FEDERAL MANDATES: The United States guidelines established by the American National has a system where states have the power to Standards Institute (ANSI) in conjunction with develop and enforce their own laws, based on the International Code Council (ICC). When the federal guidance. Many of these mandates federal government came along with their own from organizations like the Justice Department, Justice Department Guidelines, it based much of Environmental Protection Agency or Federal it on the guidelines already developed, without

4 Typography and the Code – ADA and Egress Codes © Signage Foundation, Inc. ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)

Harmonization of the national and international guidelines with the ADA administered by the Justice Department has made interpretation and enforcement much easier, but has made change much slower.

“Why can’t someone just tell me what laws to follow so I can just focus on my work?” – A Texas designer

© Signage Foundation, Inc. Typography and the Code – ADA and Egress Codes 5 a review of their eff ectiveness. In the 20 years flourishes as opposed to Ye Olde English, but since the ADA was passed, these groups worked a lack of specificity of the language resulted to update the code based on a combination of in the rule being nearly unenforceable. Over advanced knowledge and ease of interpretation. the course of a decade, the ANSI committee States updated their codes multiple times based refined the guidelines to only include san serif on these guidelines before the federal government for tactile copy and eventually only a specific was able to update its national code in 2011. This, range of stroke widths, proportions and heights of course, produced mass confusion with diff erent could be used. states and even localities having diff erent standards and enforcement approaches.

Today the national code is “Harmonized” with “Domed. I can’t believe the International Building Code (IBC), but lingering confusion still exists. Eff ective accessibility that one word can shut designers are required to manage not only the moving target of the codes, but also their intent down my project.” and interpretation. While most states must adhere – A California designer to the national ADA, some places still maintain their own specifi c code language (California being Dual Signs: The ADA was originally developed the most well known); there is still no international as a one-size-fi ts-all code, with the needs of the consensus on disability codes. blind and the visually impaired being covered by the same code. Since these two groups had such widely divergent needs, guidelines were How Typography Codes developed to address both groups. Tactile letters would have restrictive code with very narrow in the New ADA Were standards for type selection, height, location and spacing. The visually impaired would have a Developed and Enforced wide range of serif and san serif typography to choose from as well as fl exible location, height The new ADA was the result of a number of and spacing. different organizations hashing out issues that were seen as inefficient or confusing in the first This greater fl exibility has been a good thing. code. The leading controversial areas were: However many designers and code offi cials balk at the idea of “dual” signs that duplicate San Serif Versus Simple Serif: The early information to meet these standards. Most ADA had a number of issues with unclear buildings today still follow the restrictive language that made for difficult enforcement. standards for the blind on all signs even The most damaging was language calling for though the new language has made it easier to san serif or “simple” serif type. The word diff erentiate between wayfi nding, directory and “simple” was meant to mean type with few identifi cation signs.

6 Typography and the Code – ADA and Egress Codes © Signage Foundation, Inc. 01. Clearview 02. Futura ROADWAY 03. Highway Gothic 04. Highway Sans SIGNS 05. NPS Rawlinson

06. Transport

ADA TRANSPORTATION

07. Frutiger

SIGNAGE 08. Helvetica

09. Frutiger 55 Roman 10. Helvetica Regular 11. Lucida Sans Unicode Helvetica Futura 12. Myriad Pro-Regular Bodoni Minion Myriad Garamond

DIGITAL SIGNS Frutiger Trajan Arial • Geneva Helvetica • Verdana COMMERCIAL SIGNS

There are only a small number of typefaces that can be used on tactile signs based on tight restrictions in character proportions, width and stroke width. These include early san serif type like Franklin Gothic and modern type like Helvetica. While not speciﬁ cally stated in the code, humanist type that varies stroke thickness like Optima is discouraged and the tight restrictions make almost impossible to use.

© Signage Foundation, Inc. Typography and the Code – ADA and Egress Codes 7 Rounded or Domed/Edged or Curved: The simple serif controversy has shown how one Safety and Security small change in language can produce enormous The ADA is perhaps the best-known code unintended eﬀ ects. Another issue which is still standard for signs, but there are in fact a lingering with us today are standards that allows variety of guidelines and code standards Braille to be subtly “rounded” at the top and governing safety information in the raised letters to be “edged” or sanded at the environment. From fire codes to specialized corners. While both of these standards have a sign safety codes developed for building with worthwhile goal of making tactile signs easier for specific hazards, they are becoming much more blind people to use, they have produced confusion refined and sophisticated. Unlike wayfinding that still exists today. and commercial sign codes, building owners strive to comply with specific standards instead of focusing on creativity and originality. Organizations like the National Fire Protection “Wouldn’t life be much Agency (NFPA) and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), have easier if we could just responded by focusing on the adoption of globally harmonized standards so that safety use symbols?” information could be consistent around the – A British safety oﬃ cial world. Ironically though, while there is a greater designer desire for consistent standards, there are fewer interpretive and enforcement Color: The ANSI committee that develops groups focusing on the requirements. Localities the guidelines for ADA has fought consistently can make their own codes and these can be at over the last 20 years over the introduction of odds with international or national guidelines. specific contrast criteria (70% or more contrast Egress codes, in particular, have produced between foreground and background). In a confusing array of guidelines on both the the most recent reiteration of the ADA, this national and state level. This has impacted type guideline did not work its way into the final standards in numerous ways including: code, but since then ANSI has approved this restrictive contrast guideline. This means that Symbol or Type: Around the world there states can slowly integrate the new guideline seems to be one universal standard for EXIT into their sign codes over the next few years, and that is a symbol: a person running through with activist states like California taking the a door. Unfortunately, that standard is not lead. We do not know yet what impact this being used in most of the United States which will have on enforcement, but if previous is still holding onto “EXIT” signs producing controversial issues are any guide, it will most a great deal of standards confusion. Some likely result in confusion as code officials deal innovative cities have compromised by with issues like measurement procedures, and combining the symbol with the word EXIT for materials that are difficult to measure. a hybrid approach.

8 Typography and the Code – ADA and Egress Codes © Signage Foundation, Inc. Creative dual signs produce are eﬀ ective for broad groups (Like this bathroom sign developed by Gensler, and modular system developed by Roger Whitehouse), but have not realized their full potential outside of a small number of innovative design ﬁ rms.

© Signage Foundation, Inc. Typography and the Code – ADA and Egress Codes 9 Address Systems: Any traveler to Europe communicated through word messages. As is often confused by the elevators with the of yet there is little harmonization of these ground floor being called 0 and the floors standards, either through color, type selection, above it starting with 1(Floors below start at height or location. This will most likely be the -1). Even more confusing are city codes that next frontier of safety and egress standards. require a letter and a number when below ground (B1, B2). This is one area where the Safety information relies heavily on symbols, design community seeks clarity over diversity. but effective typography is equally important, though difficult to legislate. Leading safety The ADA and Egress: The ADA has very companies like Clarion Safety Systems have tight standards for signs, but these generally responded by combining safety codes with are not related to egress signs which follow internal best practices. their own standards. This has created even greater confusion by trying to determine As the world becomes a more complex and where the ADA and egress standards meet cluttered place, there will continue to be particularly in regard to maps and stairwell efforts to rationalize signs and messages in the signs. environment, without places becoming too similar and bland. The tension between these Typography Harmonization: While there two ideals will most likely be the defining issue is a broad movement toward use of symbols of 21st century environmental design, with the in safety and egress information, there is still most creative responses balancing these two a great deal of information that needs to be often-contradictory needs.

“Code ofﬁ cials have no understanding of the nuance of the dual sign code. One ofﬁ cial required that I have tactile copy on all signs, even overhead directionals! He backed down after I told him that blind people could not jump high enough to read the code under my signs.” – A Boston environmental graphic designer

10 Typography and the Code – ADA and Egress Codes © Signage Foundation, Inc. Multiple materials and methodologies can be used in the development of ADA signs, but local oﬃ cials often have issues with this nuance. (etched zinc signs designed by Roll Barresi & Associates)

Color Contrast Metrics have been a contentious issue for decades, pitting the needs of the disabled community against the diﬃ culties of enforcement. Issues like measuring contrast with alternate materials still need to be resolved. (Clear photopolymer sign mounted on 3-form substrate fabricated by Acorn Sign Graphics)

ADA International White Papers, Resources of the National Fire Protection Nova Polymers Agency, NFPA These white papers are available on the website This organization provides a variety of guidelines and explore the nuances of accessibility codes and educational resources for egress codes. between states and countries. (http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards) (http://www.novapolymers.com/resources/ white-papers) Safety Signs and Symbols, American National Standards Institute, ANSI Resources of the United States A publication of guidelines for safety signs and Access Board, USAB graphics. The United States Access Board is a government (http://www.ansi.org) agency dedicated to education and outreach in accessibility. The organization's website has multiple tools and publications on accessibility SEGD ADA White Paper, SEGD interpretation and research. This white paper (now in its third version) provides (http://www.access-board.gov) an overview of leading accessibility issues including typography. Research by Lighthouse for the Blind, (http://segd.org/2012-ada-white-paper-update) Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute This research focuses on the development of visual cues for the blind and includes tactile signage and wayﬁ nding. (http://www.lighthouse.org/research)