How to Hang
ADA Compliant Signs
Installing your new signs may seem daunting at first blush, but not to worry! We have all the ADA installation requirements you will need to know to ensure that your signs look fantastic and are code-compliant. For instance, with ADA sign mounting height, a good rule of thumb is installing your signs at 54" from the center of the sign to your facility's floor. This mounting height ensures both ADA compliance and visual consistency. The installation video and guides on this page below will walk you through every step of the ADA sign placement process, and we are always here to help if you have further installation questions.
ADA Sign Placement Steps:
We recommend watching the installation video before proceeding. Our sign expert will walk you through the process of how to hang ADA compliant signs.
1. Prep the Surface. Start by wiping down the wall or ceiling surface, verifying it is smooth and free of any dirt or dust. Complete any wall or ceiling treatments, such as wallpapering or painting, prior to sign installation. Allow fresh paint to dry thoroughly before installing signs.
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Braille Signs - Wall Installation. For tactile signs, the ADA requires that the baseline of the lowest raised character be a minimum of 48" above the finished floor, and the baseline of the highest raised character be a maximum of 60" above the finished floor. We recommend installing our signs at 54" from the center of the sign to the floor. For wall signs located near a door, the ADA requires signs to be mounted on the latch side of the door. Where there is no wall space at the latch side of a single door, signs must be installed on the nearest adjacent wall.
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Braille Signs - Door Installation. You may install your tactile signs directly on the door only when these 3 requirements are met:
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The sign will be hung on the push side of the door.
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The door has an automatic closer that is ADA compliant.
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The door does not have a hold open device.
The ADA requires that the baseline of the lowest raised character be a minimum of 48" above the finished floor, and the baseline of the highest raised character be a maximum of 60" above the finished floor. We recommend installing our signs at 54" from the center of the sign to the floor.
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Double-Door Installation. Install the tactile sign centered on the inactive (locked) leaf of a double-door. If the double-door contains two active leafs (neither door is locked in place), the sign should be mounted on the wall to the right of the double-doors.
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Floor Clearance. When a door swings into a hallway, signs with raised characters must be centered on the letters in a clear floor space of 18" minimum by 18" minimum. This floor space must be outside of the swing of the door. If there is no room on the latch side of the door, the sign must be installed on the nearest adjacent wall with the 18" minimum clear floor space.
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Visual Character Signs. There is no set standard for the location of visual signs and they can be installed anywhere in the facility. The ADA requires visual signs with text 2" and under in height to be installed with the baseline of the lowest visual character a minimum of 40" above the finished floor, and the bottom of the highest visual character a maximum of 70" above the finished floor. We recommend installing our signs at 54" from the center of the sign to the floor.
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Perpendicular & Ceiling Signs. The ADA requires signs that project from the wall (perpendicular signs) or ceiling (overhead signs) to have a clearance of 80" from the finished floor to the bottom of the sign. Signs should not interfere with or block the function of any doors, emergency equipment, or sprinklers.
3. Measure and Mark. Using a tape measure and pencil, mark the correct placement for the sign. We suggest following the steps shown in the installation video.
4. Install Using the Appropriate Mounting Method: Install your new signs using the mounting method best suited for your wall and sign type. Adhesive strips are typically used for mounting and should be included with your order. When installing, we suggest using a level to help keep the sign straight and even.
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