Signage

Information is essential to all of us, to help us make choices and to live our lives independently. We need to provide information in a way that all residents can read including those with sight problems.

How to make your signs accessible

Don’t put signs in places where the glare of lights will make them difficult to read.
Signs need to be suitably lit by good lighting or by the use of back illumination.
A sign should be non-reflective. This applies to both the sign background and letters. It should either have a matt finish or a gloss factor of not more than 15%.
A sign should contrast with its background, for example, the wall or door on which it is displayed. Similarly, letters should contrast well against the background colour of the sign.
Wording and use of pictures should be consistent throughout the building.
Sign content should be short and simple.
Text and lettering should be clear and uncomplicated.
The sign board should not have any sharp edges or, if fitted into a frame, the frame should not have any sharp edges.
Wall signs should be positioned within a 300mm wide band along the walls.
The top height should be no higher than 1700mm, with a bottom height of 1400mm.

Signs can be divided into four groups according to their function:

Information – signs providing information such as floor plans and directories, should be kept simple with clear, distinguishable symbols to locate different areas. They should also include instructions to help blind and partially sighted people find lifts, staircases and points of interest.
Direction – Corridors should have wall signs at each point of entry and longer corridors should have more signs. There should be signs for washrooms, exits and fire exits in every part of a building.
Identification – These include suspended signs (which the RNIB do not recommend) and signs on doors. It is preferable to put door signs on the wall next to the door, in case the door is left open or is opened while the sign is being read. Where appropriate, signs (with the exception of suspended signs) should use Braille, tactile embossed text, symbols and arrows.
Safety – These include warning or prohibition signs which are positioned at strategic points to give safety information or warning of a hazard. They include exit signs, fire and safety signs and details about fire equipment. This category includes mandatory signs which are usually characterised by a special colour and shape.

Tactile Signs

Most blind and partially-sighted people have some useful vision. They may be able to distinguish colours or shades of light and dark and so they will benefit from well-designed signs. For people who have no sight all, however, or who have enough vision to locate a sign but not distinguish the individual letters on it, tactile signs are essential.

Braille is the best-known tactile communication system used by blind people. It is made up of raised dots that can be read by touch. There are two grades of Braille. Grade 1 spells each letter of the word and is often used for labelling. Grade 2 uses more abbreviations for words and is often used for complex documents.

Braille is mostly used by people with little or no remaining sight, although over a fifth of blind and partially sighted people of working age are able to use Braille.
Braille is particularly essential for deaf blind people.

For more advice on signs, contact the Communications and Marketing Group.

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