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Wayfinding / Directional Signs

6 Things Your Compliant Wayfinding Signs and Graphics Should Accomplish

Author: Jayme Nelson

Guiding people around and through your building or campus quickly and safely is the main job of wayfinding signs and graphics, but the job isn’t complete if your signage is not fully compliant. Wondering what compliance actually looks like? Here are some things to “guide” you on your way to a more compliant space: 

1. Provide Clear Direction

From directories to floor levels, signs and graphics can provide navigation in emergency situations. Keep messaging, fonts and colors consistent. Including signs on emergency storage rooms can also quickly direct everyday heroes to locations for where life-saving tools are located. 

Wayfinding graphics are placed on walls to provide clear direction to visitors

2. Locate Restrooms

Bold and easy-to-read bathroom signage could make all the difference in eliminating an embarrassing situation for a parent or caretaker. Bathrooms need ADA braille signage for compliance.

Bathrooms are clearly labeled with ADA compliant braille

3. Locate Exits

Make sure that your signs clearly identify emergency exits and are compliant in case of an emergency evacuation situation.

Emergency exits are clearly labeled with a map guiding visitors to them

4. Identify Safe Gathering Areas

Inclement weather can create emergency situations where employees, customers and patients must move quickly. By adding highly visible and easy-to-read signs on walls, near shelter rooms and hanging from ceilings, you can ensure compliant wayfinding opportunities for anyone inside your space. 

Tornado shelters are clearly designated from a sign on the wall and one hanging from the ceiling

5. Ensure ADA-Compliance Throughout 

ADA-compliance requires accessibility in a space. From your parking area outside to ramps and room designator signs that include braille, make wayfinding simple for everyone. Contrasting colors can make ADA-Compliant signs more noticeable and stand out to attract attention. By ensuring your signage is ADA-compliant throughout a space, you can provide a more inclusive space.

A handicap parking space is indicated and a room sign has braille on it

6. Classify Dangerous Areas

Advise precaution and warn others when there are potential threats to personal safety. Caution signs can direct traffic around or safely through a highly-dangerous area. By using contrasting colors on danger zone signs, you provide higher visibility for observers. For accessibility, install warning and caution signs at eye level for best adherence to proper practices. 

Bright colored signs are placed around to caution visitors

Regulatory wayfinding and directional signs help visitors know what to expect as they move throughout your space. Ensure that your wayfinding signs and graphics are regulatory compliant to help keep visitors, staff, students and patients safer and better informed. 

Need new wayfinding signs or graphics? FASTSIGNS is here to help with all of your signage needs.