California has its own set of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rules and regulations regarding signs..2).jpg)
California ADA Requirements
If you have a business in California, then you know the state has stricter rules for ADA signs than anywhere else in the country. Companies based in California must be outfitted with specific signs to the meet state regulations.
California has passed legislation requiring all newly constructed and renovated state buildings to have signs comply with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Here are two examples of the bills.
Equal Restroom Access Act
In 2017, California Assembly Bill 1732 (also known as the Equal Restroom Access Act) was passed to combat gender identity prejudice. All single-occupancy restrooms in public buildings must now be accessible under California AB 1732. Meaning gender-neutral restroom signs are necessary.
Single-occupancy restroom door signs must be labeled with a 1/4-inch-thick equilateral triangle with 12-inch edges within a 1/4-inch-thick circle with a 12-inch diameter.
In California, the same mounting requirements apply to gender-neutral restroom signs and those for gender-specific restrooms.
Title 24 of the California Building Standards Code
All doors leading to public restrooms must be clearly identified with a geometrical symbol under Title 24. Specifications include:
The corners of these geometric shapes should be either smoothed or rounded with a radius of no less than 1/16 inch and chamfered no more than 1/8 inch. The vertices, or points, where the lines meet should have a radius between 1/8 inch minimum and ¼ inch maximum.
Men's restrooms must be labeled with a 1/4-inch-thick equilateral triangle with 12-inch edges.
Women’s restrooms must be labeled with a 1/4-inch-thick circle with a 12-inch diameter.
The color of the geometric symbol on both men's and women's restroom doors must contrast with the color of the door itself.
For unisex bathrooms, the triangle must be on top of the circle. The symbols' colors should contrast with one another, and the circle’s color should contrast with either the door or the surface it is mounted on.
How are California Regulations Different?
Although states must follow federal rules concerning ADA signs, they may have additional requirements.
The Americans with Disabilities Act only requires one sign to indicate a public toilet. In most situations, however, two signs are needed in public California facilities, including a geometric display and a sign meeting the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).
Several elements must be included in any federal ADAAG-compliant display:
Tactile text indicating the gender for the restroom must be provided, with braille translation immediately below.
Domed, Grade 2 braille with California spacing requirements.
If the restroom is accessible, The International Symbol of Accessibility
The installation requirements for ADA signs in California are slightly different.
The minimum required height for a standard toilet sign is 48 to 60 inches, measured from the finished floor or ground surface to the base of the lowest braille cells.
However, geometric California ADA signs must be centered horizontally on the door between 58 and 60 inches above the floor, measured from the centerline of the symbol. The same standards apply to gender-neutral single-occupancy restrooms.
At FASTSIGNS® of Sacramento - Arden-Arcade, CA, we have the experience and expertise to guarantee your restroom signs are in full compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. Give us a call today!