ADA compliance is a baseline, not a feature.
For any commercial, healthcare, government, or educational facility, ADA-compliant interior signage isn't optional. The 2010 ADA Standards specify what must be tactile, where Braille is required, how characters must be sized and finished, what mounting heights apply, and where pictograms must be used. Get any of it wrong and the facility fails inspection — or worse, faces a complaint from an accessibility advocate or a Department of Justice review. Signs PQ fabricates ADA signage to the 2010 Standards as a baseline. Compliance is built into the standard product, not an upcharge.
What ADA compliance actually requires.
The 2010 Standards govern several things at once. Tactile characters must be raised 1/32 inch minimum from the surface, sans-serif, between 5/8" and 2" in height, with proportional spacing and finished in a non-glare, non-reflective material. Braille must be Grade 2, positioned below the corresponding text, with specific dot diameter and spacing. Pictograms representing permanent rooms or spaces must be at least 6" tall with the field of the pictogram. Mounting heights and locations are specified to the centerline of the sign. Finish contrast between character and background must meet a 70% minimum. Each of these is a place where non-compliant signage gets installed — usually because the vendor didn't know the rule. We do.
Material and finishing standards.
Our standard ADA signage construction uses photopolymer or laser-cut acrylic substrates with subsurface-applied or laser-etched typography. Tactile characters and Braille are integral to the substrate — not adhesive-applied — meaning the sign survives daily disinfection in healthcare environments and high-traffic abuse in school and commercial settings. Substrates are available in multiple finishes — brushed aluminum, painted, photopolymer with applied color — depending on the facility's design intent. For sensitive environments (clean rooms, MRI suites, surgical corridors), we specify materials compatible with those requirements.
Beyond minimum compliance.
Meeting the ADA Standards isn't the same as serving users with disabilities well. For clients who care about accessibility as a value, not just a compliance line item, we design signage that serves the standard and the user: high-contrast typography that exceeds the 70% minimum, sans-serif faces with proven legibility for low-vision readers, pictogram systems that match international accessibility conventions, and mounting strategies that account for how a user with a cane or wheelchair actually approaches and reads the sign. The result is signage that doesn't just pass inspection — it works.
Frequently Asked
How do I know which rooms require tactile/Braille signage?
The 2010 ADA Standards govern "rooms and spaces of permanent identification" — restrooms, exit stairs, exit doors, mechanical/electrical rooms, and rooms with permanent function. Many other rooms benefit from compliant signage even when not strictly required. Our schedule audit identifies what's required and recommends what should be included.
Can you match an existing interior sign family?
Yes. For facilities adding or replacing signs in an existing system, we match substrate, finish, typography, and color to extend the system without an obvious break.
Do you handle Braille translation in-house?
Braille is translated to Grade 2 standards by certified translators and verified for accuracy before fabrication. The verification is documented in the project record.