Signs: Balancing Marketing Objectives With Artistic Ideals

If you own a commercial building, you must provide accessible wayfinding solutions for everyone using the facility. That's why signage is critical. However, signage comes in various types. Therefore, you must invest in the correct signage solutions to get the most out of them. For instance, consider the visually impaired. Can they easily find their way around your building? You must invest in the correct signage to help them navigate your building effortlessly. Here's where braille tactile signs come in. This guide has all you need to know about them.

What Are They?

Braille tactile signs are a type of signage that is more easily read through physical touch. They can be in the form of symbols or letters, designed with patterns of raised dots that enable the visually impaired to read or recognize the sign's meaning. Generally, they have 3D lettering and can be used with pictograms to make wayfinding easy.

Do You Need Them?

Your business or commercial building will serve all kinds of people. Therefore, you must make it easily accessible to everyone. But aside from this, having braille tactile signs will typically be a legal regulation you will need to follow. Most governments have this law in place to protect the rights of people living with disabilities, including the visually impaired or those with vision problems. And, like with all laws, failing to install these signs will often come with penalties.

Where Should You Install Them?

Several factors will dictate where to install your braille tactile signs. Take the material, for instance. Some materials work best indoors, while others will be most suitable for outdoor use. With that in mind, acrylic, stainless steel, aluminium and brass are standard braille tactile materials you will find. Generally, all materials are ideal for indoor use. However, acrylic will be less durable in outdoor settings than other materials.

Braille tactile signs are also essential for labelling or identifying different spaces in your building, like exit doors, including exit stairways and passageways and "NO SMOKING" zones.

What Are The Installation Standards?

Specific guidelines and standards exist around the installation of braille tactile signs. For instance, lettering must be done in uppercase, and the edges must be smooth. In addition, you will need to emboss or raise the tactile characters to a specified height. Other considerations include luminance contrast, lighting and left or right-hand transfer-accessible toilets. All these guidelines are designed to ensure compliance with regulations from relevant authorities. Therefore, work with your signage contractor to ensure you get everything right.