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Articles

Issue 10: Signage required by the BCA

Extract from the Human Rights Commission website: © Australian Human Rights Commission

ISSUE 10:
Signage required by the
Building Code of Australia (BCA)

Importance of the feature

Most of us benefit from the availability of good and clear signage. This is particularly so for people with a vision and/or hearing impairment, people with a cognitive and/or intellectual disability and people with a brain injury. Many of the signs we find around the built environment are not easy to comprehend due to their location, type of font styles used and the colours chosen.

Lack of raised tactile and Braille in signs require people with a vision impairment to rely on others to assist them. 

Many people with cognitive disabilities are less able to comprehend a sign if it is all in upper case, however if the sign is in sentence case with upper and lower case, the accessibility of signs is improved.

Nine out of ten legally blind people have some usable residual vision; it is this group plus those with low vision that particularly benefit from the correct use of luminance contrast and the use of a sans serif font style such as Arial or Helvetica medium. This also makes the signs more user friendly for the remainder of our community, especially those 1 in 10 males in Australia who have a colour deficiency, often referred to as colour blindness.

The location of signs is vital if they are to be easily identified and read, particularly signs indicating facilities for people with disabilities.

Code requirements

Signage requirements in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) in D3.6 are limited to the identification of accessible facilities, services and features. D3.6 refers to and requires compliance with relevant parts of AS1428.1.

AS 1428.1 specifies technical details such as dimensioning, and design criteria of the signage and symbols to be used.

Clear toilet signage
Photo 1

Photo 1 shows clear signage for toilets

AS1428.1 provides information on the international symbol for disability access and deafness along with their design criteria and colours to be used. These signs are used to indicate where an accessible facility has been provided.

In addition to D3.6 there is another section titled Specification D3.6 which sets out the parameters in good sign design and covers issues such as placement heights, font types, use of raised tactile and Braille, luminance contrast requirements of lettering and lighting requirements.

Even though the BCA has limited application to required signage if a building owner wishes to improve other signage to assist everyone who uses the building (such as other wayfinding signage, building occupant directories and room names) the good design parameters set out in Specification D3.6 should be applied to the other signs as far as possible.

Achieving best results

To be effective signs must be within the design criteria set out in BCA specification D3.6 and AS1428.1.

This is achieved by ensuring:

  • Mounted within the required height range.
  • Use of raised tactile and Braille on signs identifying facilities for people with disabilities.
  • Correct use of luminance contrast and font size and type.
  • Good provision of lighting without glare.

Common problems and misinterpretations

1. Font styles and symbols used

Incorrect font on signage

Photo 2

Incorrect font on signage

Photo 3

Incorrect font on signage

Photo 4

Incorrect stylised version of wheelchair graphic

Photo 5

The signs in photos 2, 3 and 4 have all used incorrect fonts. The sign in photo 2 has used a serif type font and in upper case, which can make it difficult for people with a vision impairment to understand the sign due to the varying thicknesses in the font.

The signs in photos 3 and 4 have also used all upper case instead of sentence case, which can create an access problem for people with cognitive disabilities who may have difficulty comprehending what the signs are telling them.

The international symbols for disability used in photos 2 and 3 do not meet the requirements of the standard as the symbol must always be white on a blue background, which makes it instantly recognizable.

Photo 5 shows a stylized version which may be quite unrecognizable by many people with cognitive or intellectual disabilities.

The sign in photo 3 has a line between the male and female figures, which indicates a separate accessible facility for each gender. Accessible facilities must always be non-gender specific to enable a male occupant and their female carer or assistant (or visa versa) to enter an accessible facility through a non specific gender area.

Correct signage

Photo 6

Correct signage

Photo 7

Both signs in photos 6 and 7 have used the correct symbol and colours for disability and required font styles along with the Braille. Note: the arrow on the sign has been repeated in the Braille section of the signs.

Photo 7 shows the correct symbols to be used identifying a unisex accessible facility without a dividing line between the male and female figures.

2. Location of signs

Sign too high
Photo 8

Sign too low
Photo 9

The sign in photo 8 is definitely too high being outside the 1200mm to 1600mm range above the finished floor level required by AS 1428.1. People in a seated position in a wheelchair may not be able to tilt their head back on an angle to read a sign higher than 1600mm above the finished floor level due to their disability.

The sign in photo 9 is definitely too low as it would not be possible for a person to read the Braille unless they were laying on the ground.

Sign in correct height range
Photo 10

The sign in photo 10 is within the correct height range, which allows it to be read in relative comfort by all members of the community.

 

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Issue 9: Reception desks and counters

Extract from the Human Rights Commission website: © Australian Human Rights Commission

ISSUE 9:
Reception desks and counters

Importance of the feature

While not an issue covered by the BCA many reception desks and counters are far too high for people with disabilities who use wheelchairs or for people who are of short stature.

Read more …

Issue 8: Door thresholds

Extract from the Human Rights Commission website: © Australian Human Rights Commission

ISSUE 8:
Door thresholds

Importance of the feature

Door thresholds (steps) at the entrances to businesses present access problems for people who use wheelchairs and those with ambulant disabilities who have difficulty lifting their feet whilst progressing along their path of travel. The application of step ramps or threshold ramps where there is a small change in level ensures a relatively comfortable access solution into these premises.

Read more …

Issue 7: Door opening requirements

Extract from the Human Rights Commission website: © Australian Human Rights Commission

ISSUE 7:
Door opening requirements

Importance of the feature

The opening of doors can be extremely difficult for many people with disabilities. Many doors require excessive forces to push/pull the door open. Often incorrect door furniture is used that does not allow people with hand or arm impairments to effectively operate the door mechanism.

This is especially so if a door closer is attached that does not meet the appropriate specifications. If the door is of a heavy construction or is located where the wind pressure may make opening difficult it may be most appropriate to fit an automatic door opening system.

Read more …

Issue 6: Visual indicators on fully glazed doors and side lights

Extract from the Human Rights Commission website: © Australian Human Rights Commission

ISSUE 6:
Visual indicators on
fully glazed doors and side lights

Importance of the feature

The application of visual indicators on fully glazed doors and sidelights is to inform all members of the community, particularly those with a vision impairment of the presence of the fully glazed panels in their path of travel.

Many people with a vision impairment have a depth of field limitation, which requires them to focus their attention 1 to 2 metres ahead of them as they proceed along a path of travel, which results in them looking down at an angle of 45 – 50 degrees. This also allows them to choose a safe path of travel.

Read more …

Issue 5: Handrails and kerb rails on ramps

Extract from the Human Rights Commission website: © Australian Human Rights Commission

ISSUE 5:
Ramp handrails and kerbs or kerb rails.

Importance of the feature

Handrails and kerbs or kerb rails on ramps are important to people with a range of disabilities, for example, people who are blind or vision impaired, people with a mobility disability and people who have an intellectual disability or brain injury.

Two handrails are required as some people may not have the use of both hands in which case they may need to use either the left or right handrail. Kerb rails are required to reduce the chances of people who use wheelchairs running off the edge of the ramp or catching their toe plate behind the handrail supports and as a result tipping out of their chair.

Read more …
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