ADA Signs for Toilet Room Entry Doors

 

There are many requirements for public toilet rooms to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Signage at the entry door for a public toilet room is one of these requirements. 2010 ADA Standards 216.8 and 703 cover these requirements for toilet rooms. Recently on a road trip in Florida, I found an installation that exceeds these requirements. Please see the photo on the right.

In the photo above there are two signs at this entry door to an accessible Men’s toilet room. Only one is required by the ADA Standards, the one on the right. See the requirements below

ADA Toilet Rooms and Bathing Rooms, states, “Where existing toilet rooms or bathing rooms do not comply with [Standard] 603, directional signs indicating the location of the nearest toilet room or bathing room complying with [Standard] 603 within the facility shall be provided. Signs shall comply with nd shall include the International Symbol of Accessibility complying with [Standard] 703.7.2.1. Where existing toilet rooms or bathing rooms do not comply with [Standard] 603, the toilet rooms or bathing rooms complying with shall be identified by the International Symbol of Accessibility [ISA] complying with [Standard] 703.7.2.1. Where clustered single user toilet rooms or bathing facilities are permitted to use exceptions to [Standard] 213.2, toilet rooms or bathing facilities complying with [Standard] 603 shall be identified by the International Symbol of Accessibility complying with [Standard] 703.7.2.1 unless all toilet rooms and bathing facilities comply with [Standard] 603.” An example of the ISA is shown above.

2010 ADA Standard 703.4.2, [Signs] Location, states, “Where a tactile sign is provided at a door, the sign shall be located alongside the door at the latch side. Where a tactile sign is provided at double doors with one active leaf, the sign shall be located on the inactive leaf. Where a tactile sign is provided at double doors with two active [leaves], the sign shall be located to the right of the right hand door. Where there is no wall space at the latch side of a single door or at the right side of double doors, signs shall be located on the nearest adjacent wall. Signs containing tactile characters shall be located so that a clear floor space of 18 inches (455 mm) minimum by 18 inches (455 mm) minimum, centered on the tactile characters, is provided beyond the arc of any door swing between the closed position and 45 degree open position. EXCEPTION: Signs with tactile characters shall be permitted on the push side of doors with closers and without hold-open devices.” In other words, for most installations the sign is required on the wall adjacent to the latch side of the door. The graphic below is representative of this Standard.