ADA Signs for Toilet Room Entry Doors
Signage at a Men’s Toilet Room Entry Door
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.
ISA Symbol
2010 ADA Standard 216.8, [Signs] 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 [Standard] 703.5 and 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 [Standard] 603 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.
ADA Sign Required on the Wall Adjacent to the Latch Side of the Door
Directional Sign at an Accessible Men’s Room
Going back up to the discussion about the photo above, it was noted that there are two signs at this Men’s toilet room. The one on the wall to the right of the door is required. The one on the door is actually not required by the ADA. But this is an example of an entity going beyond the requirements of the ADA. Remember, the ADA Standards are the minimum requirements for compliance. It is allowed that entities can exceed these requirements, and that is what has happened here. In order to make it clear to all patrons, this restaurant has installed a directional sign to tell individuals who are not disabled where the toilet rooms for them are located. See the photo on the right.
SUMMARY: Signs are required at most ADA accessible toilet rooms. The requirements for signage in the ADA are minimums. Exceeding these requirements is allowed and in some cases can serve all individuals well, disabled and not disabled. This article provides an example of an entity exceeding the ADA Standards for signage at toilet rooms.
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