If you’re constructing a new building or renovating an existing space, there’s a good chance a building inspector will review your code-required signage. Over the past several years, enforcement around tactile signs with raised letters and Braille has tightened, and liability for missing or incorrect signs has climbed right along with it. The safest path is simple: work directly with an experienced, full-service provider that understands national standards as well as state and local rules, and can deliver accurate signs on your schedule.

Why Enforcement Is Increasing

Accessibility isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s a core life-safety and civil rights requirement. Jurisdictions are putting more emphasis on consistent, compliant wayfinding so that every occupant—including those who are blind or have low vision—can navigate quickly and independently. That means inspectors are looking more closely at tactile signs, checking placement, readability, durability, and whether the design matches the construction documents and the latest code interpretations.

What Inspectors Typically Check

While details vary by jurisdiction, most inspectors will confirm that your tactile signs include:

• Raised characters that are easy to feel and read, with appropriate letterforms and spacing.
• Contracted (Grade 2) Braille, correctly translated and positioned relative to the raised text.
• High color contrast between characters/symbols and background, with a non-glare finish.
• Pictograms where required (for example, on restroom identification signs) with proper text descriptors.
• Mounting location and height within the required range and on the correct side of the door.
• Consistent terminology that matches door hardware labels, plans, and life-safety drawings.

Miss any of these and you risk delays, reprints, and costly re-inspections—especially painful at the end of a project when schedules are tight.

Where Tactile Signs Are Required

In general, tactile identification signs are required for rooms and spaces with a permanent function. Typical locations include:

• Restrooms, shower rooms, locker rooms
• Electrical, mechanical, IT/IDF, and storage rooms
• Stairwells, elevator cars and lobbies, and areas of refuge
• Rooms with unique functions (e.g., “Conference 210,” “Breakroom,” “Janitor”)
• Exits and exit-related spaces (with additional life-safety signage often required)

Temporary or changeable spaces (think: open offices with movable walls) may have different requirements, and exterior signs (like parking) follow their own rules. A qualified sign partner helps you map every location so nothing is missed.

Common Mistakes That Cause Rejections

• Incorrect Braille (wrong contractions, wrong placement, or wrong language set).
• Fancy fonts that look great in renderings but aren’t compliant for tactile readability.
• Low contrast palettes chosen to match décor but too subtle for accessibility.
• Wrong side of door or mounting outside the accepted height/clearance zone.
• Inconsistent naming between plans, door schedules, and the actual sign copy.

A thorough submittal process—shop drawings with locations, message schedules, proofs, and finish samples—prevents these issues long before installation day.

Materials and Fabrication That Pass Inspection

There are several compliant ways to build tactile signs. The right choice depends on your brand, budget, and timeline:

• Layered acrylic with applied raised characters and Grade 2 Braille for crisp edges and modern aesthetics.
• Photopolymer for highly durable, unified face construction in schools, hospitals, and high-traffic areas.
• Subsurface print with applique to protect graphics while keeping tactile elements prominent and long-lasting.
• Textured and vandal-resistant finishes for public spaces and multi-family corridors.

All options should feature non-glare surfaces, proper contrast, and edge quality that holds up to cleaning and daily wear.

Fast-Track Schedules Without Compromise

Construction rarely goes exactly to plan. Door numbers change, rooms are reassigned, and punch lists stack up. A capable sign shop can pivot with you—turning around revised proofs, updating message schedules, and fabricating partial releases so critical areas pass inspection while the rest of the project catches up. Clear communication between GC, architect, facilities, and sign partner is the secret to staying on time.

Why Partner with Graphic Impact

Graphic Impact has produced compliant tactile, Braille, and wayfinding signs for decades—designed, fabricated, and finished in-house so quality and lead times stay under control. Our team helps you:

• Audit plans and door schedules to create a complete location/message list.
• Design brand-consistent sign families that meet ADA and local code requirements.
• Submit detailed proofs and samples for quick approvals.
• Fabricate durable, non-glare, high-contrast signs with accurate raised text and Grade 2 Braille.
• Install and verify placement/mounting to sail through inspection.

Whether you need a handful of replacements or a full building package, we handle it with the same level of precision—no minimums, fast local delivery, and a single partner from concept through installation.

Plan Early, Avoid Rework

The most economical ADA program starts early: add signage to your finish schedule, lock in naming conventions, and coordinate mounting conditions before hardware goes on the doors. We’ll provide a practical roadmap, from message schedules to prototypes, so the first article approval is exactly what your inspector expects to see.

Ready to Get It Right?

Increased enforcement doesn’t have to mean increased headaches. With a knowledgeable partner, ADA & Braille compliance becomes a straightforward, repeatable process that protects your occupants—and your schedule. If you’re planning a new build or renovation, let’s review your drawings and create a compliant, brand-ready sign package that passes the first time.

Graphic Impact — Tucson’s in-house manufacturer for ADA/Braille and wayfinding signage since 1989. Get started today: design support, proofs, fabrication, and installation on your timeline.

Note: This article provides general guidance only. Always confirm final requirements with your local building department and project team.