OPEN FOR BUSINESS: HOWARD INDUSTRIES HAS BEEN APPROVED AS A "LIFE-SUSTAINING" BUSINESS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING EMERGENCY SIGNAGE, ADA COMPLIANT REGULATORY SIGNAGE, AND RELATED SIGNAGE SERVICES TO OUR WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS NATIONWIDE

Facts You Should Know About Our Systems

1. You get everything you need: 75% recycled aluminum frame, lens, replaceable paper insert (optional), mounting instructions (ADA Compliant).
2. One flat price. Everything is manufactured here.
3. Choice of Flat or Radius profiles at no additional charge.
4. Attractive rubber dividers create individual lens sections maximizing readability and functionality
5. Optional End Caps in a variety of materials (wood, marbled acrylic and aluminum) and shapes for custom designs.
6. We provide you with templates for eay in-house printing of paper inserts, using conventional software programs.

Sell it in 5!

1. Single source both frames & ADA ready lenses in our completely modular sign system Stop paying the additional fees multiple times; get everything from the same vendor!
2. Ready for the unexpected with easy installation methods Predrilled mounting holes and VHB (Very high bond) double sided tape included
3. Nothing to sweat about Our Micro Dot backer design prevents paper wrinkling from exposure to moisture the air.
4. SAVE TIME, SAVE MONEY, AND SAVE SPACE. Not a new concept, just a great one done right.
   No need to store old signs, worry about patching or repairing walls; print the new graphic and recycle the old paper insert.
5. Predetermined sign standards for full facility applications, making big projects a breeze. Working hard to give you the confidence you need to approach large clients with a professional package.

ADA Display Showroom Options

Wall Mount	Stand Mount
Display Panels can be attached to your showroom wall with Velcro (Not supplied) or hanging on screws (Not Supplied) through holes in Panels	Display Panels can be shown on your showroom countertops with Acrylic Stand (Supplied). Panel tops can be attached together with Velcro. Spread the Panel bottoms apart and set inside Acrylic Stand as Shown

Typography & Symbols

Copy must be all upper case and raised at least 1/32". Tactile characters must be sans serif and may not be italic, not oblique, script or highly decorative.

Character Proportions

The stroke width of the upper case “I” has to be 15% of the letter height or less. The character width of the uppercase “O” must be between 55% and 110% of the height of the corresponding uppercase “I”.

Rules for Acceptable Tactile Fonts

Copy must be all upper case and raised at least 1/32". Tactile characters must be sans serif and may not be italic, not oblique, script or highly decorative.

Character Proportions

The stroke width of the upper case “I” has to be 15% of the letter height or less. The character width of the uppercase “O” must be between 55% and 110% of the height of the corresponding uppercase “I”.

Copy Height for Tactile Information

Limited to be between 5/8" and 2". (If separate visual characters are provided raised characters can be 1/2" and need not contrast with background.

Braille

Must be Grade II with contractions. Braille is to be placed directly below the corresponding raised characters. If text is multi-lined, braille is placed below entire text and separated 3/8" from any other tactile characters and 3/8" minimum from raised borders and decorative elements. The shape of braille characters must always be rounded. Almost always lower case. Uppercase is only used before the first word of sentences, proper nouns and names, individual letters of the alphabet, initials and acronyms.

Rules for Visually Read Information

The following information applies to all information that is to be read visually; it also applies to dual purpose raised graphics.

Acceptable Characters

Visual characters can not be italic or oblique, script or highly decorative.

Finish and Contrast

Characters or symbols and their background are to have a non-glare finish. The color of raised characters must contrast as much as possible with their background to make signs more legible for persons with low vision. Characters must be light on dark or dark on light. 70% contrast is a good rule of thumb.

Pictograms

Pictograms are to be located within a 6" vertical void. No characters or braille can be located within this field. Text descriptors are to be located directly below the pictogram.

Restrooms and Bathing Facilities

The International Symbol of Accessibility must be displayed at accessible restrooms and bathing facilities if all restrooms and bathing facilities are not accessible. Directional signs must be provided at the inaccessible locations, and these signs must include the International Symbol of Accessibility and follow visual character guidelines.

Means of Egress

“Means of Egress” refers to the ability to exit a structure, and is broken into three parts: the path of travel to an exit, the exit itself, and the areas of refuge. Exit doors require signs that comply with tactile and visual character requirements, while area of refuge and directional signs must comply with visual character requirements.

Copy Size vs. Horizontal Viewing Distance

Visual characters shall be 40" minimum above the finish floor or ground.

Visual Character Height Table

Height to Finish Floor or Ground from Baseline of Character	Horizontal Viewing Distance	Minimum Visual Character Height (Based on Uppercase "I"
40 inches (1015 mm) to less than or equal to 70 inches (1780 mm)	Less than 72 inches (6 feet) (1830 mm) 72 inches (6 feet) (1830 mm) and Greater	5/8 inch (16 mm) 5/8 inch (16 mm), plus 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) per foot (305 mm) of viewing distance above 72 inch (6 feet) (1830 mm)
Greater than 70 inches (1780 mm) to less than or equal to 120 inches(3050 mm)	Less than 180 inches (15 feet) (4570 mm) 180 inches (15 feet)(4570 mm) and Greater	2 inches (51 mm) 2 inches (51 mm), plus 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) per foot (305 mm) of viewing distance above 180 inches (15 feet) (4570 mm)
Greater than 120 inches (3050 mm)	Less than 252 Inches (21 feet) (6400 mm) 252 inches (21 feet)(6400 mm) and Greater	3 Inches (75 mm) 3 inches (75 mm), plus 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) per foot (305 mm) viewing distance above 252 inches (21 feet)(6400 mm)

Standard Symbols

Location of Permanent Room ID Sign

Permanent room signs are to be located at doorways:

1. This gives the visually impaired a location cue.
2. Signs mount on the strike side of the door (Primary Mounting Option)
3. Minimum Height: Baseline of lowest tactile copy, mounted no lower than 48" above floor
4. Maximum Height: Baseline of highest tactile copy, mounted no higher than 60" above floor
5. If the door opens outward:
   • To protect the tactile reader from an outward swinging door, the sign needs to be mounted outside of the arc of the door swing.
   • The raised characters on a permanent room ID are to be centered within an 18" square clear floor space.

Secondary Mounting Option

1. If there is no room for the sign on the strike side of the door, then it can be placed on the nearest adjacent wall.
2. Minimum Height: Baseline of lowest tactile copy, mounted no lower than 48" above floor
3. Maximum Height: Baseline of highest tactile copy, mounted no higher than 60" above floor

Door Mounting Option

1. If the sign is mounted on the push side of the door (that swings inward)
2. If the door automatically closes
3. If the door has no hold open devices (Restrooms, Hotel Rooms & Fire Exits)
4. Minimum Height: Baseline of lowest tactile copy, mounted no lower than 48" above floor
5. Maximum Height: Baseline of highest tactile copy, mounted no higher than 60" above floor

Double Doors

1. If only one door opens, the sign should be mounted to inactive door.
2. If both doors open, then the sign will mount to the right of the right hand door.
3. Minimum Height: Baseline of lowest tactile copy, mounted no lower than 48" above floor
4. Maximum Height: Baseline of highest tactile copy, mounted no higher than 60" above floor
5. Maximum Height: Baseline of highest tactile copy, mounted no higher than 60" above floor

1. If there is no room for the sign on the right side of the door, then it can be placed on the nearest adjacent wall.
2. Minimum Height: Baseline of lowest tactile copy, mounted no lower than 48" above floor
3. Maximum Height: Baseline of highest tactile copy, mounted no higher than 60" above floor

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all signs need to be ADA compliant? No. Several signs are exempt from ADA codes including building addresses, building directories, company names and logos, menus, occupant names, seat and row designations in assembly areas, signs in parking facilities (except accessible parking space signs), signs not located in public use areas in detention and correctional facilities, and temporary signs which are used for seven days or less. Learn more at www.ADA.gov.

What sign types need to follow ADA guidelines? All permanent rooms and spaces are required to have an ADA compliant sign providing identification. Life safety signs identifying doors at exit passage ways, exit discharge and stairwells are required to be ADA compliant and include raised characters and Braille copy. Overhead, flag-mounted and wall-mounted signs that direct or identify need to follow ADA guidelines but do not require tactile copy.

Does ADA require a name or a number to identify a space? Rooms that contain equipment that cannot easily be moved, like kitchens and restrooms, are identified by name. For spaces that may change, like offices or cubicles, alphanumerical addresses are acceptable.

Does Cubicle signage need to be ADA compliant? If cubicle furniture is not bolted to the floor, ceiling or any other part of the architecture, then it is a movable piece of furniture and not covered by the Standard. If the cubicle is not fixed then the sign attached to the cubicle is not permanent and therefore would not need to comply with the Standard. However, Howard Industries recommends compliance as if the sign were fixed as you have an obligation to provide effective communication and possibly reasonable accommodations for employees under the regulations. If cubicle furniture is affixed to the structure, alphanumerical addresses are acceptable; only the number must be ADA compliant not the changing name.

Do I have to update my current signage? If signage in existing facilities already complies with the 1991 ADA, and is not being altered, you are not required to update it with changes in the 2010 Standards.

If you need to purchase a new sign; do you have to follow the new regulations? Yes. If altering existing signage (i.e. ordering new sign or replacement parts), new regulations are required to remain ADA compliant.

Are there any ADA changes for symbol signage? Yes. Pictograms need a vertical field of 6 inches. Raised characters and Braille cannot be located in this field. The equivalent verbal description needs to be placed directly below the pictogram field.

Is Helvetica Medium (HMC) Copy Style ADA compliant? No. Though once compliant and considered the industry standard ADA copy style, HMC is no longer compliant due to the thickness of the stroke. Howard Industries recommends using Helvetica Regular (HRC) for visual consistency.

Do I need evacuation maps in my facility? Although codes vary state to state, it is highly recommended. Evacuation maps, when required, must include a floor plan with an evacuation route, location of safety items, outside meeting location, and emergency protocols. Evacuation maps do not require raised characters or Braille. Since local ordinances override federal, please verify with your municipality.

Is ADA stairwell signage necessary? Yes. A tactile/Braille sign is required on the floor side leading into the stairwell that says EXIT (a stair number and graphic can be added but do not need to be tactile). A tactile/Braille sign is also required on the inside of the stairwell next to the door that says the floor number (it can read FLOOR 6 or just 6). At the point of exit discharge from the building there needs to be an EXIT sign next to that door in tactile/Braille. Also many local fire codes require a visual-compliant minimum sign size of 18 inches high by 12 inches wide for each floor in all stairwells identifying floor level, stair level, roof access, and level of exit. Depending on building type and state code, these signs may be required to be photoluminescent. Since local ordinances override federal, please verify with your municipality.

Starting Points to an Interior Survey

Gathering as much information as possible from the client:

1. Ask for an interior floor plan: These plans should include every floor of every building you are going to sign. Ask for these plans in a .PDF format (the most user friendly file format)
2. Message schedule development:
   1. Take the floor plans and do a mock survey. Mark where you think signs should be located. Now you can probably tell if they are restrooms, but you may not know if they are Unisex/Mens/Womens/Handicap Accessible/etc. When you do the actual survey, you will be prompted to find out.
   2. Have your client start to gather a message schedule. Eventually, you are going to need to know each room’s permanent name (Linen Closet, Exam 11, Restroom, etc.). Use the chart at the top of the next colomn to help you on your survey, while your client uses it to develop a message schedule.

Room #	Map #	ADA Copy	Message	Type
Mens	35	MEN	Man Pictogram	Wall Mount
Locker Room	33	MENS LOCKER ROOM	Authorized Personnel Only	Wall Mount
G41	37	G41	Soiled Utility	Wall Mount
Elevator	Elevator	IN CASE OF FIRE DO NOT USE ELEVATOR	background color	Wall Mount
Stair A	28	STAIR A GROUND LEVEL	background color	Wall Mount
Stair A	28	EXIT STAIR A	background color	Wall Mount
Exam 27	27	EXAM 27	background color/vinyl backer	Window Mount
Exit	Exit	EXIT	background color	Wall Mount

Sign Placement Map

Use your “color coded key” to layout sign placement
If signs are mounted on a window, a vinyl backer can be applied.

Signage Options	Size	Flat	Radius
Women Handicap	8" x 8.5"	WMP-F858RWH	WMP-R858RWH
Unisex Handicap	8" x 8.5"	WMP-F858RUH	WMP-R858RUH
Men Handicap	8" x 8.5"	WMP-F858RMH	WMP-R858RMH
Unisex Shower Handicap	8" x 8.5"	WMP-F858RUSH	WMP-R858RUSH
Women	8" x 8.5"	WMP-F858RW	WMP-R858RW
Staff	8" x 8.5"	WMP-F858RS	WMP-R858RS
Men	8" x 8.5"	WMP-F858RM	WMP-R858RM
Family Handicap	8" x 8.5"	WMP-F858RFH	WMP-R858RFH

* Pricing includes printed paper insert, printed pictogram and raised tactile copy with Grade 2 Braille.

Signage Options	Size	Flat	Radius
Elevator In Case of Fire	10" x 8.5"	WMP-F8510EL	WMP-R8510EL
Area of Refuge	10" x 8.5"	WMP-F810R	WMP-R810R
Stair and Exit	4" x 8.5"	WMP-F854STEX	WMP-R854STEX
Stairwells	18" x 14"	WMP-F1418STW	WMP-R1418STW
Exit	3" x 6"	WMP-F603EX	WMP-R603EX

* Pricing includes printed paper insert, printed pictogram and raised tactile copy with Grade 2 Braille.

Signage Options	Size	Flat	Radius
Room ID-2 Lines of Copy	4" x 8.5"	WMP-F854ID2	WMP-R854ID2
Room ID-3 Lines of Copy	5" x 8.5"	WMP-F855ID3	WMP-R855ID3
Room ID-4 Lines of Copy	6" x 8.5"	WMP-F856ID4	WMP-R856ID4
Slider Room ID-4 Lines	8" x 8.5"	WMP-F858SID4	N/A
Room ID-1 Line of Tactile	3" x 8.5"	WMP-F853ID1T	WMP-R853ID1T
Room ID-2 Lines of Tactile	4" x 8.5"	WMP-F854ID2T	WMP-R854ID2T
Small Room ID-1 Line of Tactile	3" x 6"	WMP-F603ID1T	WMP-R603ID1T

* Pricing includes printed paper insert and raised tactile copy with Grade 2 Braille.

Signage Options	Size	Flat	Radius
Projection Mount-DF	6" x 12"	PWML-F612DF	PWML-R612DF
Projection Mount-SF	6" x 12"	PWML-F612SF	PWML-R612SF
Ceiling Mount-DF	6" x 12"	CML-F612DF	CML-R612DF
Ceiling Mount-SF	6" x 12"	CML-F612SF	CML-R612SF

* Pricing includes printed paper insert. Ceiling hanger hardware is an additional $76.00 a pair.