Braille Exit Signs

The Americans with Disabilities Act, or the ADA, was created in 1990 to provide protection for the rights and safety of disabled individuals. The ADA sets regulations for building safety so that public spaces will be safe for all individuals - including the disabled, and especially in cases of emergency. One special concern taken into account by these regulations is building safety for the blind and seeing impaired. Braille is a system of raised letters and numbers used internationally so that blind and seeing impaired individuals can read with the tips of their fingers. This system of raised dots allows the blind and seeing impaired individuals to read when necessary. While most of us take for granted that we can read exit signs and other signs in public buildings, it is essential that there also be Braille exit and guiding signs for the safety and comfort of blind or seeing impaired occupants and visitors. The ADA requires the use of these Braille signs.

Uses for Braille Signs

Braille signs can be used in a number of key places throughout public buildings. Braille exit signs help blind or seeing impaired individuals find their way out of public structures. When an emergency strikes, these signs help blind individuals find the escape route as well. For this reason it is essential that these Braille signs be placed low enough for individuals to reach them, and it is also important to follow all regulations for placement. Blind persons are often taught a standard system for finding directional markers such as exit signs. Other Braille signs are equally important. Signs marking the floor number, room numbers, bathrooms and stairwells are vital. On an everyday basis, these signs help blind and seeing impaired individuals find their way around buildings around the world. In emergency situations, these signs help them figure out where they are in relation to other places within the building, making it easier for them to find their way along the egress path.

How Braille Signs Work

Braille signs generally display both a traditional version of whatever word or number they are representing as well as a Braille version of that word or number. While coloring doesn’t necessarily matter for the blind individual, these signs can also be used by seeing persons, so using a light color on a dark background is a good idea. Make sure that all signs meet ADA regulations for design and placement. Research ADA codes to find out where you must place tactile Braille signs and how many are required. When creating a safe environment for everybody, it is essential to remember the needs of the seeing impaired with Braille exit signs.

LED Exit Signs

Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs, are bright and efficient. They’re popular for use in a variety of capacities including car headlights because they provide such clear and illuminating light. When compared to more traditional incandescent or fluorescent lights, LED lights are the better choice. They are more durable and damage-resistant, and they provide steady, consistent and strong illumination, never flickering. Perhaps the most glaring difference between LED lights and their more traditional competitors is that they’re much more energy efficient. They can provide more light using far less energy than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. This makes LED lights perfect for use in public building exit signs. Safety is every building designer’s number one concern, but finding an exit sign that provides both satisfactory illumination and energy efficiency is key. Today’s public buildings are getting bigger, and this means an even greater number of exit signs. Each one of those signs requires electricity, and that can add up to big bills if designers aren’t savvy about the exit sign choices they make. Still, it’s essential that designers not skimp on the brightness, reliability and durability of their illuminated emergency exit signs.