Code-Required Signage and Egress Markings
Remade from scratch to the authoring rules: defaults asserted only where four of five projects would choose them, and scope boundaries matched to the neighboring standards
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in Code-Required Signage and Egress Markings.
---
title: Code-Required Signage and Egress Markings
category: Architectural / Specialties
−toc_depth: 3
description: >
− When to use: Specifying, procuring, and installing signage mandated by building, accessibility, and life-safety codes in occupied U.S. buildings (new construction and alterations) — exit signs (internally/externally illuminated, photoluminescent, combination), means-of-egress directional and path-of-travel markings, ADA tactile room and stairway identification (restrooms, stairwells, floor levels, areas of refuge), OSHA hazard/caution signs, occupancy load placards, No-Exit signs, and area-of-refuge instruction signs, including substrate and mounting selection and AHJ submittal coordination.
− Not intended for: Electrically powered emergency luminaires, battery packs, and inverters (use [[sync/emergency-and-egress-lighting]]); decorative, branding, or wayfinding signage beyond code minimums (use [[sync/signage]] and [[sync/exterior-signage]]); egress door hardware such as panic devices and closers (use [[sync/door-hardware]]); conduit and wiring feeding illuminated signs (the project's electrical scope of work); integral stair-tread nosing and floor path markings in flooring assemblies; fire-alarm notification appliances and strobes; and pipe/equipment identification labels (use [[sync/mechanical-identification]] and [[sync/plumbing-piping-identification]]).
+ When to use: The non-illuminated signs whose message, location, and tactile form are prescribed by the means-of-egress and accessibility provisions of the adopted building code, NFPA 101 where it is in force, and ICC A117.1, in new construction and alterations of commercial, institutional, assembly, educational, healthcare, hospitality, industrial, and multi-family residential buildings. Covers tactile exit signs with raised characters and Braille at exit doors, exit stair doors, exit passageway doors, and exit discharge doors; stairway identification signs and the tactile floor-level signs inside exit stairways, including roof-access and stair re-entry statements; area of refuge identification signs, the instruction signs at two-way communication stations, and directional signs to an accessible means of egress; the elevator emergency-use sign at each call station and the raised floor designations on hoistway jambs; occupant load postings and their holders; NO EXIT signs; the notice sign the code requires at a main exit door secured with a key-operated lock; the fabrication process, plate material, characters, Braille, contrast, and mounting of every raised-character sign in this set; mounting height and location; field verification; warranty; and spares.
+ Not intended for: Exit signs of every illumination type, internally illuminated, edge-lit, photoluminescent, and self-luminous, together with luminous egress path markings on treads, landings, handrails, and door frames and the ambient charging illumination both depend on (see [[sync/emergency-and-egress-lighting]]); room and space identification signs, including tactile restroom signs with their pictograms, directional and overhead wayfinding, regulatory and informational panel signs, dimensional letters, and the sign and message schedule for those signs (see [[sync/signage]]); accessible entrance signs, exterior accessible-route markers, and exit discharge signs on the site (see [[sync/exterior-signage]]); panic hardware, fire exit hardware, closers, electrified locking, and the release signage furnished with delayed egress and sensor-released locking (see [[sync/door-hardware]]); audible and visible fire alarm notification appliances (see [[sync/fire-alarm-systems]]); slip-resistant stair nosings (see [[sync/metal-stairs-and-railings]]); pipe markers, duct labels, valve tags, and equipment nameplates (see [[sync/mechanical-identification]] and [[sync/plumbing-piping-identification]]); electrical equipment labels and arc-flash labels (see [[sync/electrical-identification]]); extinguisher identification furnished with the cabinet (see [[sync/fire-extinguishers-and-cabinets]]); sprinkler riser and control-valve signs (see [[sync/common-work-results-fire-suppression]]); the two-way communication system at an area of refuge and the workplace accident-prevention signs of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145 and ANSI Z535, which no standard in this library covers.
---
# Scope {toc}
−## This standard governs the specification, procurement, and installation of all signage required by building, accessibility, and life-safety codes for occupied buildings, including exit signs, means-of-egress directional and path-of-travel markings, tactile room and space identification, stairway identification, area-of-refuge instruction signs, hazard and safety signs, occupancy load placards, and No-Exit signs.
+## This standard governs the signs a building must carry because the means-of-egress and accessibility provisions of the adopted code say so: what each sign reads, where it sits, and how its raised characters and Braille are made. The signs are non-illuminated, their messages are fixed by the code rather than chosen by the designer, and an inspector checks each one against the code text at the final inspection. {note}
−## Work of this standard includes the selection of substrate, finish, legend content, illumination type, and mounting method for each sign type, and coordination of sign locations with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) submittal and inspection process.
+## The sign types in this set are the tactile exit signs at exit doors, the stairway identification and floor-level signs inside exit stairways, the identification, instruction, and directional signs that serve an area of refuge and an accessible means of egress, the elevator emergency-use sign and the hoistway floor designations, the occupant load posting, the NO EXIT sign, and the notice sign at a main exit door secured with a key-operated lock. {note}
−## Code-required signage is life-safety equipment, not decoration; its placement, content, illumination, and tactile properties are dictated by code and verified by the AHJ at inspection, and deviations generate notices of non-compliance that can delay occupancy. {note}
+## The following are governed elsewhere and are outside this standard: {note}
+- exit signs of every illumination type, including photoluminescent and self-luminous signs, and luminous egress path markings with the ambient light that charges them, which are furnished under [[sync/emergency-and-egress-lighting]]
+- room and space identification signs, including the tactile restroom sign and its pictogram, wayfinding, regulatory and informational panels, dimensional letters, and the sign and message schedule for them, which are furnished under [[sync/signage]]
+- accessible entrance signs, accessible-route markers outside the building, and exit discharge signs on the site, which are furnished under [[sync/exterior-signage]]
+- panic hardware, fire exit hardware, closers, electrified locking, and the release signage furnished with delayed egress and sensor-released locking, which are furnished under [[sync/door-hardware]]
+- audible and visible fire alarm notification appliances, which are furnished under [[sync/fire-alarm-systems]]
+- slip-resistant stair nosings, which are furnished under [[sync/metal-stairs-and-railings]]
+- pipe markers, duct labels, valve tags, and equipment nameplates, which are furnished under [[sync/mechanical-identification]] and [[sync/plumbing-piping-identification]]
+- electrical equipment labels and arc-flash labels, which are furnished under [[sync/electrical-identification]]
+- extinguisher identification furnished with the cabinet under [[sync/fire-extinguishers-and-cabinets]], and sprinkler riser and control-valve signs furnished under [[sync/common-work-results-fire-suppression]]
+- the two-way communication station itself at an area of refuge, and the workplace accident-prevention signs of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145 and ANSI Z535, which no standard in this library covers
−## This standard applies across occupied building types — commercial, institutional, healthcare, educational, assembly, hospitality, and multi-family residential — on new construction and on alterations where code compliance is triggered. {note}
+## Three decisions in this standard are independent of one another and are made separately: the fabrication process and plate material that every raised-character sign shares, the form of each sign type where the code leaves the form open, and the mounting method. The message and the position of each sign are not decisions; they follow from the code. {note}
−## The signage covered here is the minimum mandated by code; where the project also carries wayfinding, branding, or environmental graphics, that scope is additive and is specified separately under [[sync/signage]] (interior) and [[sync/exterior-signage]] (exterior). {note}
+## The sign types, the quantity of each, the message of each, and the location of each shall be as indicated on [[drawing: the life-safety plan and the sign schedule]].
−## Electrically powered emergency luminaires, battery packs, inverters, and remote heads are not signage and are specified under [[sync/emergency-and-egress-lighting]]; the electrical rough-in, conduit, and branch wiring feeding illuminated signs belong to the project's electrical division. {note}
+## Where tactile room-identification signs are furnished under [[sync/signage]] on the same project, the signs under this standard shall match them in typeface, corner treatment, plate color, and character color, so that the tactile signs of the building read as one family.
−## Egress door hardware required by code — panic hardware, closers, locksets — is specified under [[sync/door-hardware]] and coordinated with, but not part of, this standard. {note}
+## The Contractor shall furnish the plate size, the mounting height, and the attachment of every sign to the trades that build the walls before the walls are closed, so that blocking is placed where a mechanically fastened sign needs it under [[sync/gypsum-board-assemblies]].
# Referenced Standards {toc}
−## Equipment, materials, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless the project jurisdiction has adopted a specific edition, in which case that edition governs.
+## Materials, fabrication, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
−## Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Architect or Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
+## Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Architect directs otherwise in writing.
−## The applicable model code edition is jurisdiction-specific; the Contractor shall confirm the adopted editions of the building code, life-safety code, and accessibility standard with the AHJ before procurement.
+## The edition of ICC A117.1 that governs is the edition [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] adopts by reference, and the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design apply in parallel as federal law, so a sign is checked against both.
| Standard | Title |
|----------|-------|
−| 2024 IBC Section 1013 | International Building Code — Exit Signs (Means of Egress) |
−| 2024 IBC Section 1011 | International Building Code — Stairways and Stairway Identification Signs |
−| 2024 IBC Section 1004 | International Building Code — Occupant Load (placard requirement) |
−| 2024 IBC Sections 1009.9, 1009.10 | International Building Code — Areas of Refuge and Two-Way Communication |
−| NFPA 101 | Life Safety Code (Section 7.10, Marking of Means of Egress) |
−| 2010 ADA Standards | ADA Standards for Accessible Design (Sections 216 and 703, Signs) |
−| ICC A117.1 | Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (Chapter 7, Communication Elements) |
−| UL 924 | Emergency Lighting and Power Equipment (listing for illuminated exit signs) |
−| ANSI Z535.1–Z535.5 | Safety Color Codes, Signs, Symbols, Labels, Tags, and Barricade Tapes |
−| OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145 | Specifications for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags |
−| NFPA 170 | Standard for Fire Safety and Emergency Symbols |
+| International Building Code | Chapter 10, Means of Egress; Chapter 11, Accessibility; Chapter 30, Elevators and Conveying Systems |
+| International Fire Code | Chapter 10, Means of Egress |
+| NFPA 101 | Life Safety Code (Chapter 7, Means of Egress) |
+| ICC A117.1 | Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (Chapter 7, Communication Elements and Features) |
+| 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design | Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design (Sections 216 and 703) |
+| ASME A17.1/CSA B44 | Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators |
+| NFPA 80 | Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives |
+| ASTM D4802 | Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Acrylic Plastic Sheet |
+| ASTM B209 | Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate |
+| ASTM A666 | Annealed or Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Sheet, Strip, Plate, and Flat Bar |
+| ASTM E84 | Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials |
+| ASTM D1308 | Effect of Household Chemicals on Clear and Pigmented Organic Finishes |
−## The 2010 ADA Standards are federally enforceable under the Americans with Disabilities Act; ICC A117.1 is the technical companion adopted by reference in the IBC and most state codes. The two are not identical, and both shall be consulted when designing tactile signage. {note}
+## The 2010 ADA Standards and ICC A117.1 agree on nearly every sign provision, and where they differ on a dimension the stricter of the two is the one that satisfies both; the differences are small enough that one sign design satisfies both standards when it is drawn to the stricter value at each point. {note}
−## UL 924 is the listing standard for illuminated exit signs; the AHJ requires the UL listing mark on the product label, not merely specification compliance, so a UL 924 listed product is mandatory wherever an illuminated exit sign is provided. {note}
−
# Submittals {toc}
## Action Submittals {toc}
−### The Contractor shall submit the following Action Submittals for review and approval before fabrication or procurement:
+### The Contractor shall submit the following for review and shall not release signs for fabrication until the submittals have been returned:
+- A sign schedule listing every sign under this standard by mark, sign type, verbatim message including capitalization, plate size, plate material, fabrication process, color scheme, mounting method, and mounting height to the reference point ICC A117.1 uses, cross-referenced to the life-safety plan
+- Shop drawings for each sign type showing the plate, the raised character height and typeface, the Braille cell layout and its separation from the raised characters, the pictogram field where one is present, the edge treatment, and the mounting detail
+- Product data for the plate material, the photopolymer or raster system, the adhesive, and the fasteners, giving the fire performance of plastics, the light reflectance value of each color, and the finish
+- One full-size production sample of each tactile sign type showing the actual substrate, colors, raised characters, Braille, and finish
+- Color samples for every plate and character color, each labeled with its light reflectance value
−- Product data for each exit sign type, including illumination method, voltage, battery type and rated duration, legend color, face configuration, and UL 924 listing.
−- Product data for each tactile sign type, including substrate and process, character height and font, Braille grade, finish, and field/character contrast values.
−- A complete sign schedule keyed to the floor plans, listing every sign by type, location, message/legend content, mounting method, and mounting height.
−- Shop drawings showing exit sign and directional sign locations overlaid on the egress plan, with viewing distances annotated, for AHJ pre-approval where the jurisdiction requires it.
−- Color and finish samples for tactile signs, demonstrating the character-to-background contrast.
−- Manufacturer's installation instructions and mounting details for each sign type and substrate condition.
−
```datasheet
label: Action Submittals Required
type: checkbox
options:
− - Exit sign product data (illumination, voltage, battery, UL 924)
− - Tactile sign product data (substrate, process, Braille, contrast)
− - Sign schedule keyed to plans
− - Egress shop drawings with viewing distances (AHJ pre-approval)
− - Color and finish samples
− - Manufacturer installation instructions
−default: []
+ - "Sign schedule with mark, type, verbatim message, size, material, process, colors, mounting, and height"
+ - "Shop drawings for each sign type"
+ - "Product data for plate material, raised-copy system, adhesive, and fasteners"
+ - "Full-size production sample of each tactile sign type"
+ - "Color samples labeled with light reflectance values"
+default:
+ - "Sign schedule with mark, type, verbatim message, size, material, process, colors, mounting, and height"
+ - "Shop drawings for each sign type"
+ - "Product data for plate material, raised-copy system, adhesive, and fasteners"
+ - "Full-size production sample of each tactile sign type"
```
−## Informational Submittals {toc}
+### The sign schedule is reviewed against the life-safety plan word for word, because a tactile exit sign whose message names the wrong door function, or a stairway sign that omits the terminus, is a code deficiency that no quality of fabrication cures. {note}
−### The Contractor shall submit the following Informational Submittals:
+### Where the Contractor proposes a process, material, or mounting differing from the datasheet selection, the proposal shall be identified as a deviation on the transmittal and shall state what is offered in place of each selected item.
−- UL 924 listing certificates for all illuminated and photoluminescent exit signs.
−- Evidence of AHJ approval where photoluminescent exit signs are relied upon as the sole egress marking.
−- Documentation of ambient light levels at proposed photoluminescent sign locations where photoluminescent signs are used.
+## Informational Submittals {toc}
+### The Contractor shall submit the following with or before the action submittals:
+- The fabricator's qualification statement required under Quality Assurance
+- The approved occupant load for each assembly room or space, as issued by the authority having jurisdiction, before the posting for that room is fabricated
+- The stairway designations, the floors each stairway serves, the roof-access condition, and the re-entry condition of each stairway, as confirmed against the life-safety plan before the stairway signs are fabricated
+- The elevator installer's confirmation of which elevator signs the elevator installation furnishes, where the datasheet assigns the hoistway floor designations to the elevator installation
+
```datasheet
label: Informational Submittals Required
type: checkbox
options:
− - UL 924 listing certificates
− - AHJ approval for sole-reliance photoluminescent signs
− - Ambient light level documentation
−default: []
+ - "Fabricator qualification statement"
+ - "Approved occupant load for each assembly room or space"
+ - "Stairway designation, floors served, roof-access, and re-entry confirmation"
+ - "Elevator installer's confirmation of signs furnished with the elevator"
+default:
+ - "Fabricator qualification statement"
+ - "Approved occupant load for each assembly room or space"
+ - "Stairway designation, floors served, roof-access, and re-entry confirmation"
```
## Closeout Submittals {toc}
−### The Contractor shall submit the following Closeout Submittals before final acceptance:
+### The Contractor shall deliver the following at substantial completion:
+- A record sign schedule reflecting every field change to message, location, or mounting height
+- The mounting height and location verification record required under this standard
+- Maintenance data stating the cleaning agents the finish withstands, the adhesive and fastener used at each mounting condition, and the fabricator's part designation for each sign type so that a damaged sign can be reordered to match
+- The written manufacturer warranty and the written Contractor installation warranty
+- A signed receipt from the Owner for the spare signs delivered
−- As-installed sign schedule reflecting field changes.
−- Operation and maintenance data for illuminated exit signs, including battery replacement intervals and test procedures.
−- Written confirmation that all signs have passed AHJ life-safety inspection.
−
```datasheet
label: Closeout Submittals Required
type: checkbox
options:
− - As-installed sign schedule
− - O&M data for illuminated exit signs
− - AHJ inspection sign-off
−default: []
+ - "Record sign schedule"
+ - "Mounting height and location verification record"
+ - "Maintenance data with cleaning agents and reorder designations"
+ - "Manufacturer and Contractor warranties"
+ - "Spare sign receipt"
+default:
+ - "Record sign schedule"
+ - "Mounting height and location verification record"
+ - "Maintenance data with cleaning agents and reorder designations"
+ - "Manufacturer and Contractor warranties"
+ - "Spare sign receipt"
```
# Quality Assurance {toc}
−## All illuminated exit signs shall be listed and labeled under UL 924 by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory.
+## Source of Supply {toc}
−## Tactile signs shall comply with the technical provisions of the 2010 ADA Standards Section 703 and ICC A117.1 Chapter 7 for character height, stroke, finish, contrast, Braille, and mounting.
+### Raised characters and Braille from two fabricators differ in dot profile, stroke, and edge sharpness in ways a hand reads at once, and plates from two color lots read as two colors under the same light, which is why the signs of one building are held to one source wherever the project allows it. {note}
−## The Contractor shall verify the adopted code editions and any local amendments with the AHJ before procurement, and shall confirm permitted exit sign legend colors with the AHJ where the project location admits more than one. {note}
+### Holding the signs under this standard and the tactile room-identification signs under [[sync/signage]] to one fabricator makes every tactile sign in the building one family, at the cost of tying two packages to one supplier's lead time; holding only this standard's signs to one source keeps the packages independent and relies on the family-matching clause in Scope for the rest. Multiple fabricators are what a project with a long-lead or proprietary room-sign system buys, with the matching done by sample. {note}
−## The Contractor shall coordinate exit sign and directional sign locations with the AHJ submittal process.
+### The source of supply for the signs under this standard shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
−## The Contractor shall obtain pre-approval of sign locations before electrical rough-in where the jurisdiction requires it.
+```datasheet
+label: Source of Supply
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "One fabricator for every sign under this standard and every tactile room-identification sign on the project"
+ - "One fabricator for every sign under this standard"
+ - "Multiple fabricators, with typeface, Braille profile, and colors matched by sample"
+default: "One fabricator for every sign under this standard"
+```
−## Tactile signs across the project shall be furnished from a single manufacturer or a pre-approved equal so that Braille dot geometry, character proportion, and finish are uniform.
+## Fabricator Qualifications {toc}
−## Mixing tactile sign vendors within a project produces visible variation in Braille geometry, character height, and finish, and risks inconsistent compliance; single-sourcing is the simplest control. {note}
+### The fabricator shall have produced raised-character and Braille signs to ICC A117.1 Chapter 7 on not fewer than the number of completed projects indicated in the datasheet.
−## Mock-Ups {toc}
+```datasheet
+label: Minimum Fabricator Comparable Projects
+type: range
+unit: projects
+options:
+ min: 0
+ max: 10
+ setpoints: [0, 1, 3, 5, 10]
+default: 3
+```
−### Where the project includes more than 50 tactile signs, the Contractor shall submit one production sample of each tactile sign type as a mock-up for approval before full fabrication.
+### The fabricator shall measure the raised character height, the stroke width, the Braille dot height and spacing, and the character-to-Braille separation on the production sample of each sign type with a gauge and shall report the measurements with the sample.
−### The approved mock-up shall establish the standard of quality for character finish, contrast, and Braille for the remainder of the work.
+### Braille that reads correctly is a matter of dot geometry to a few thousandths of an inch, and the only way to know a fabricator holds it is to measure a sample; a visual review of a photograph proves nothing about the dots. {note}
−# Environmental and Service Conditions {toc}
+## Approved Samples {toc}
−## Signs shall be suitable for the service environment of their installed location, including interior conditioned, wet, vandal-prone, and covered-exterior conditions as applicable.
+### The approved full-size sample of each sign type shall set the standard of quality for character edge, Braille dot form, color, and finish for every sign of that type.
−```datasheet
−label: Service Environment
−type: radio
−options:
− - Interior conditioned (standard)
− - Wet / washdown location
− - Covered exterior
− - Vandal-resistant / high-abuse
−default: Interior conditioned (standard)
−```
+### A sign that departs visibly from its approved sample shall be replaced at the Contractor's expense.
−## Signs in wet or washdown locations — locker rooms, pool enclosures, covered exterior walks — shall use corrosion-resistant substrates and fasteners and shall carry a wet-location rating where the product type requires one.
+### Approved samples shall be retained on the site until the mounting height verification is complete, after which they shall be delivered to the Owner as part of the spare signs.
−## Photoluminescent exit signs depend on ambient light to charge; they shall be installed only where the ambient illumination at the sign face is maintained at a minimum of 1 fc during all hours of occupancy.
+# Environmental and Service Conditions {toc}
−## A photoluminescent sign in a dim, windowless, or intermittently lit corridor will not charge to its rated luminance and will fail to perform in a power loss; ambient light verification is a precondition of using this product type, not an afterthought. {note}
+## A conditioned interior corridor is where most of the signs under this standard are installed, and the plate materials and adhesives offered as the norm are rated for that service; an exit stairway in an unheated or unconditioned building, a loading dock, a parking structure, a natatorium, or a door that opens to the weather is a different service, and the clauses below raise the material at those locations without changing the selection for the rest of the building. {note}
−# Exit Signs {toc}
+## Signs installed in an unconditioned space, a parking structure, or a location exposed to the weather shall be of a plate material, a raised-copy system, and an adhesive the fabricator rates for the temperature and moisture of that location, and plastic plates at those locations shall be ultraviolet-stabilized.
−## Exit signs shall be provided at every exit door and wherever the path of egress travel is not immediately visible to occupants.
+## Signs installed in a natatorium, a food-processing area, or a wash-down area shall be of a plate material and fasteners that withstand the chlorinated or cleaning-agent atmosphere of that area, and aluminum plates at those locations shall be anodized or coated.
−## An exit sign shall be located so that no point in an exit access corridor or exit passageway is more than 100 ft, or the sign's listed viewing distance if less, from the nearest visible exit sign.
+## Signs installed where they can be struck, in a gymnasium, a corridor of a detention or correctional occupancy, a loading dock, or a parking structure, shall be of metal or of a plastic plate the fabricator rates as impact-resistant and shall be mechanically fastened with tamper-resistant fasteners regardless of the mounting method selected elsewhere in this standard.
−## Where the direction of egress travel is not apparent, directional exit signs with chevron or arrow indicators shall be provided to indicate the path to the nearest exit.
+## Plastic sign plates shall have a flame spread index and a smoke-developed index, tested in accordance with ASTM E84, within the limits [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] sets for interior wall finish in the space where the sign is installed.
−## The legend shall read "EXIT" with no other words on the sign face, in letters not less than 6 in high with a stroke width of not less than 3/4 in.
+## Sign finishes shall withstand the cleaning agents named in the maintenance data without loss of gloss, color change, or lifting of applied characters when tested in accordance with ASTM D1308.
−## Internally illuminated exit signs shall be illuminated continuously during building occupancy and shall meet the illumination requirements of their UL 924 listing; externally illuminated signs shall be illuminated to not less than 5 fc on the sign face.
+# Tactile Sign Construction {toc}
+## Raised Copy Fabrication Process {toc}
+
+### Every sign under this standard that carries raised characters and Braille shall be fabricated by the process indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Exit Sign Illumination Type
−type: radio
+label: Raised Copy Fabrication Process
+type: select
options:
− - LED internally illuminated
− - Externally illuminated
− - Photoluminescent (UL 924 listed)
− - Combination LED + photoluminescent backup
−default: LED internally illuminated
+ - "Photopolymer, raised characters and Braille integral with the face sheet"
+ - "Applied raised characters with raster-bead Braille in an acrylic plate"
+ - "Applied raised characters with raster-bead Braille in a metal plate"
+ - "Cast metal with integral raised characters and Braille"
+ - "Injection-molded or thermoformed plastic with integral raised characters and Braille"
```
−## Each illuminated exit sign shall be provided with a backup power source that maintains rated illumination for not less than 90 minutes after loss of normal power and re-energizes to full output within 10 seconds of a power failure.
+### No process is the norm across projects, because the choice turns on sign count, on the plate material the building's sign family uses, and on the service the sign sees. Photopolymer forms the characters and the dots in one exposure of a light-sensitive sheet, so the copy cannot delaminate and the Braille geometry is as accurate as the artwork, and it is the process of most high-count projects; the face sheet is a plastic laminated to its backer, so it is a conditioned-interior product unless the fabricator rates it otherwise. Raster-bead Braille sets a spherical bead into a drilled hole, with the characters cut and applied separately, so the plate can be any machinable material, including the metals photopolymer cannot be, and the bead profile is uniform; an applied character can be pried off, which is why raster signs in abuse-prone locations are specified with the characters pinned as well as bonded. Cast metal gives the most durable sign and the one that survives weather and abuse, at the highest cost and the longest lead time, and its Braille dots are only as round as the pattern and the casting allow. Molded plastic is the lowest cost at high volume and is limited to the sign formats the fabricator tools. {note}
−## The configuration most projects use is an LED internally illuminated exit sign with a red legend, dual 120/277V input, and an integral 90-minute battery; this satisfies nearly all AHJ requirements without special approval and is the default unless project conditions dictate otherwise. {note}
+### Raised characters that are applied rather than integral shall be bonded to the plate with an adhesive the fabricator rates for the plate material.
−## For sign-face and color selection: IBC does not mandate a legend color and NFPA 101 permits both red and green, but many state amendments and local fire marshals require red — confirm the permitted color with the AHJ before procurement where green is contemplated; double-face signs are used where the sign is viewed from both directions of a corridor or is ceiling- or blade-mounted in an open path, while single-face signs are used against a wall or at a terminal door. {note}
+### Applied raised characters shall be pinned as well as bonded where the sign is installed in an abuse-prone location named in this standard.
−## The exit sign legend color shall be specified, confirmed with the authority having jurisdiction where a green legend is contemplated.
+## Plate Material and Thickness {toc}
+### The plate material of every sign under this standard shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Exit Sign Legend Color
−type: radio
+label: Sign Plate Material
+type: select
options:
− - Red
− - Green
−default: Red
+ - "Acrylic sheet"
+ - "Phenolic or melamine composite sheet"
+ - "Aluminum sheet or plate"
+ - "Stainless steel sheet"
+ - "Bronze or brass plate"
```
−## The exit sign face configuration shall be specified based on whether the sign is viewed from one or both directions of travel.
+### Acrylic to ASTM D4802 is the plate of most interior tactile signs, because it takes paint, subsurface color, and photopolymer lamination equally well and is the least costly to fabricate; phenolic and melamine composites resist impact and moisture better than acrylic and are the plate of choice in schools and transit; aluminum to ASTM B209 is the plate of stairway signs and of exterior-door signs that must survive weather, and is anodized or painted; stainless steel to ASTM A666 is specified where the sign family is stainless or where corrosion and abuse both apply; bronze and brass are specified where the building's hardware and signage finish is bronze, at the highest material cost. The plate is chosen to match the building's sign family first and the service second, which is why the field carries no default. {note}
+### The plate thickness of every sign under this standard shall be not less than the thickness indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Exit Sign Face Configuration
−type: radio
+label: Minimum Plate Thickness
+type: range
+unit: in
options:
− - Single-face
− - Double-face
−default: Single-face
+ min: 0.0625
+ max: 0.5
+ setpoints: [0.0625, 0.125, 0.1875, 0.25, 0.375, 0.5]
+default: 0.125
```
−## The exit sign input voltage shall be specified to match the building's available power supply.
+### A plate of 1/8 in is the thickness most interior tactile signs are made to in every material, which is why it is the default; a thinner plate is a decal-like applique that bows on an uneven wall, and a thicker plate is bought where the sign family calls for a dimensional edge, where a metal plate must resist denting, or where the sign is edge-exposed to abuse. {note}
+### The edges of every plate shall be finished smooth with no sharp corner, and the corner treatment, square or radiused, shall match the approved sample.
+
+## Characters, Braille, and Contrast {toc}
+
+### Raised characters and Braille on every sign under this standard shall conform to ICC A117.1 Chapter 7 and to Section 703 of the 2010 ADA Standards for character case, style, proportion, height, stroke, spacing, Braille grade, dot form, dot dimensions, and the separation of the Braille from the characters and from the sign edge.
+
+### The character height, the stroke, and the Braille dimensions are fixed by the accessibility standard and are not selections, which is why this standard cites the standard rather than restating the values; the fabricator draws the sign to the edition in force and the sample is measured against it. {note}
+
+### Braille shall be contracted Braille with domed or rounded dots, and the Braille translation shall be checked by a transcriber or a translation tool certified for contracted Braille before the artwork is released.
+
+### A Braille cell that is dimensionally perfect and reads the wrong word is the deficiency a sighted reviewer cannot see; the translation check is what catches an uncontracted word, a dropped indicator, or a number sign, and it is a line item in the fabrication sequence because of that. {note}
+
+### Visual characters, where separate from the raised characters, shall conform to ICC A117.1 for case, style, height for the viewing distance, stroke, and spacing.
+
+### Whether the raised characters on a tactile sign also serve as the sign's visual characters shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Exit Sign Input Voltage
+label: Visual Characters on Tactile Signs
type: radio
options:
− - 120/277V dual
− - 120V
− - 277V
−default: 120/277V dual
+ - "Raised characters serve as the visual characters"
+ - "Separate visual characters duplicate the raised copy"
+default: "Raised characters serve as the visual characters"
```
+### A single set of raised characters that meets the visual requirements as well is the construction of most tactile signs, which is why it is the default; a separate visual set is used where the sign family wants a larger or lowercase visual legend above the tactile line, and it lengthens the plate. {note}
+
+### Characters, Braille, and their background shall have a non-glare finish, and the characters and Braille shall contrast with their background, either light on a dark field or dark on a light field, as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Exit Sign Battery Backup Duration
+label: Character and Field Contrast Orientation
type: radio
options:
− - 90 minutes (code minimum)
− - 120 minutes
−default: 90 minutes (code minimum)
−unit: minutes
+ - "Light characters on a dark field"
+ - "Dark characters on a light field"
```
−## The exit sign mounting method shall be specified based on the sign's location and orientation within the path of egress.
+### The orientation follows the building's sign family and its wall colors, and neither reads better in the abstract, so the field carries no default; a light field shows handling soil sooner, and a dark field shows scratches in a glossy plastic sooner, which is why the finish is non-glare in both cases. {note}
+### The difference in light reflectance value between the characters and Braille and their background field shall be not less than the value indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Exit Sign Mounting Method
−type: radio
+label: Minimum Light Reflectance Value Difference
+type: range
+unit: '% LRV'
options:
− - Wall-mounted
− - Ceiling-suspended
− - Blade / flag-mounted
− - Recessed
−default: Wall-mounted
+ min: 50
+ max: 90
+ setpoints: [50, 60, 70, 80, 90]
+default: 70
```
−## Photoluminescent Exit Signs {toc}
+### Neither the 2010 ADA Standards nor the current ICC A117.1 fixes a numeric contrast, and a 70 percent difference in light reflectance value is the value the earlier federal guidance recommended and the one nearly every sign specification still carries, which is why it is the default; a lower value is accepted where the sign family's colors cannot reach 70 and the authority having jurisdiction accepts the pair, and a higher value is specified for low-vision populations and for signs read under dim stairway lighting. {note}
−### Where photoluminescent exit signs are provided, they shall be UL 924 listed under the photoluminescent listing path applicable to their intended use.
+### The typeface and the plate and character colors of the sign family shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
−### Photoluminescent exit signs shall not be relied upon as the sole egress marking unless the AHJ has approved that use in writing.
+```datasheet
+label: Sign Family Typeface and Colors
+type: text
+```
−### Photoluminescent signs carry a separate UL 924 listing with different test protocols from electrically illuminated signs; a sign listed for one use is not automatically acceptable for the other, and the listing category shall match the intended application. {note}
+## Sign Mounting Method {toc}
−### Combination signs — electrically illuminated primary face with a photoluminescent backup face — are common in transit and healthcare applications where a charged backup is desired during extended outages. {note}
+### The mounting method for the signs under this standard shall be as indicated in the datasheet, except where a clause of this standard requires mechanical fastening at a location.
−## No-Exit Signs {toc}
−
−### Doors, passages, or stairways that are neither exits nor access to exits, but which are arranged so they may be mistaken for an exit, shall be identified with a sign reading "NO EXIT".
−
−### The "NO EXIT" sign shall have the word "NO" in letters not less than 2 in high and the word "EXIT" in letters not less than 1 in high, with the word "EXIT" below the word "NO".
−
−### No-Exit signs at storage, mechanical, and electrical room doors adjacent to corridors are frequently omitted and are a common source of inspection non-compliance; every door that could be confused for an exit shall be evaluated against this requirement.
−
```datasheet
−label: No-Exit Signs Required on Project
−type: radio
+label: Sign Mounting Method
+type: select
options:
− - 'Yes'
− - 'No'
−default: 'Yes'
+ - "High-bond foam tape with a perimeter bead of silicone adhesive"
+ - "Exposed mechanical fasteners through the plate face"
+ - "Concealed mechanical fasteners on a back bracket or standoffs"
+ - "High-bond foam tape and silicone adhesive with tamper-resistant mechanical fasteners"
+default: "High-bond foam tape with a perimeter bead of silicone adhesive"
```
−# Directional and Path-of-Travel Markings {toc}
+### Tape and silicone is the mounting of most interior tactile signs on painted gypsum board, because it needs no blocking, leaves no hole when a sign is relocated, and holds a plate of the default thickness for the life of the finish, which is why it is the default; it fails on a textured, dusty, or freshly painted wall and on masonry, and it does not resist a deliberate pull. Exposed fasteners hold on any substrate and are the mounting of stairway signs on masonry and concrete, at the cost of a visible fastener head that the sign family might not accept. Concealed fasteners on a bracket or standoffs give the dimensional look some sign families call for and resist a casual pull, and need blocking in a framed wall. Tape with tamper-resistant fasteners is the mounting in abuse-prone locations and in any building whose Owner has lost signs to theft. {note}
−## Directional exit signage shall be provided along the egress path wherever a change of direction is required or the next exit is not directly visible.
+### Signs mounted on glass shall be mounted with an adhesive the fabricator rates for glass, with a backer or a second face so that the adhesive is not visible through the glass, and no fastener shall be drilled through a glass lite.
−## Directional indicators shall point toward the nearest exit consistent with the approved egress plan.
+### Fasteners at a sign mounted on masonry, concrete, or tile shall be set in anchors rated for the substrate, and fasteners at a sign mounted on a framed wall shall engage blocking or a backing plate rather than the wall board alone.
−## The directional indicator type shall be selected for legibility at the required viewing distance; chevron and arrow indicators are standard, and a running-man pictogram may be added as a supplement where the project's signage palette uses it.
+# Tactile Exit Signs {toc}
−```datasheet
−label: Directional Indicator Type
−type: radio
−options:
− - Chevron / arrow indicator
− - Arrow with running-man pictogram
− - Text-only directional
−default: Chevron / arrow indicator
−```
+## A tactile exit sign is the sign that lets a person who cannot see the illuminated exit sign find the exit by hand; it is required at the doors the adopted code names and is a separate sign from the illuminated exit sign, which is furnished under [[sync/emergency-and-egress-lighting]] and which the tactile sign never replaces. {note}
−# Tactile (ADA) Identification Signs {toc}
+## A tactile exit sign with raised characters and Braille shall be provided at each door the adopted code requires one at, including the doors to exit stairways, exit ramps, exit passageways, and the exit discharge, in accordance with the means-of-egress provisions of [[parameter: adopted-building-code]].
−## Signs identifying permanent rooms and spaces — restrooms, stairwells, floor levels, areas of refuge, and similar — shall be tactile, providing both raised characters and Grade 2 (contracted) Braille.
+## The raised-character message of each tactile exit sign shall be the message [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] assigns to the function of the door it marks, naming the exit, the exit stair with the direction of travel, the exit ramp, the exit passageway, or the exit route as that function requires, and no other words shall be added to the raised line.
−## Raised characters shall be uppercase, sans-serif, not less than 5/8 in and not more than 2 in in height measured by the uppercase letter "I".
+## The code assigns the message by what lies beyond the door, so the message is read from the life-safety plan and not from the door's room name; a door into an exit stairway reads as the stair with its direction, a door from an exit passageway to the outside reads as the exit, and a door along a corridor that is itself the exit route reads as the route. {note}
−## The stroke width of raised characters shall be not less than 15% and not more than 30% of the character height.
+## Where a tactile exit sign and a tactile room-identification sign furnished under [[sync/signage]] both fall at one door, the two shall be combined on one plate or stacked on the latch side so that each remains within the mounting height range the accessibility standard allows, and the arrangement shall be shown on the shop drawings.
−## Grade 2 Braille shall be provided directly below the corresponding raised text, with domed or rounded dots not less than 0.025 in high, separated from the raised characters by not less than 3/8 in.
+# Stairway Identification Signs {toc}
−## Grade 1 (uncontracted) Braille does not satisfy the ADA Standards or ICC A117.1; specifying it produces a non-compliant sign that accessibility reviewers will reject, so Grade 2 is mandatory. {note}
+## Whether stairway identification signs are provided shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
−## Characters and their background shall have a non-glare finish and shall contrast with each other, characters being light on a dark field or dark on a light field.
+```datasheet
+label: Stairway Identification Signs
+type: select
+derived: "the number of stories each interior exit stairway connects and the stairway signage provisions of [[parameter: adopted-building-code]]"
+options:
+ - "Not required by the adopted code and not provided"
+ - "Provided at each floor landing of each interior exit stairway the adopted code requires them in"
+ - "Provided at each floor landing of every interior exit stairway regardless of the number of stories"
+default: derived
+```
−## The federal standard sets no numeric contrast value, but ICC A117.1 guidance and industry practice target a minimum 70% difference in light-reflectance value (LRV) between the characters/Braille and the background field; this standard adopts 70% LRV contrast as the project minimum. {note}
+## The International Building Code requires the sign in stairways connecting more than a stated number of stories, and NFPA 101 sets its own threshold, so whether a given stairway needs the sign follows from the story count and the governing code; an Owner extends them to every stairway where firefighters, security staff, or a large population benefit from knowing where every stair goes. {note}
−## Tactile signs shall be mounted so that the centerline of the tactile characters is at 60 in above the finished floor.
+## Each stairway identification sign shall state the stairway designation, the floor level of the landing, the upper and lower terminus of the stairway, whether the stairway provides roof access, and the level of exit discharge, as the stairway signage provisions of [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] require, and the stairway designation shall match the one on the life-safety plan.
−## Tactile signs at a door shall be mounted on the latch side of the door; where there is no wall space on the latch side, the sign shall be mounted on the nearest adjacent wall, located so a person may approach within 3 in of the sign without encountering the door swing.
+## Where a stairway door is locked from the stair side so that re-entry to the floor is prevented, the sign the adopted code requires on the stair side of that door, stating the re-entry condition and the nearest floors with re-entry, shall be provided at that door.
−## Latch-side mounting is the single most common field error on tactile signs; crews default to centering the sign on the door or mounting it on the push side, both of which are non-compliant and require relocation. {note}
+## A sign that reads only the stair name does not satisfy either code; the terminus and the roof-access statement are what let a firefighter decide whether this stair reaches the fire floor and the roof, and the floor level is what lets an occupant in smoke know how far down the discharge is. A sign missing any element is replaced at inspection, which is why the designations, floors served, roof access, and re-entry condition are confirmed in writing before fabrication. {note}
−## The 80% process for tactile signs is photopolymer on an acrylic face, which yields the most accurate Braille, has the widest vendor base, and is cost-effective on projects with 50 or more signs; this is the default unless a more durable substrate is required. {note}
+## The floor-level identification on each landing shall be tactile, with raised characters and Braille conforming to the Tactile Sign Construction section of this standard, and shall be located where the accessibility provisions of [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] and ICC A117.1 require it.
−## The tactile sign substrate and fabrication process shall be specified, considering sign quantity and any durability requirements beyond the default.
+## The format of the stairway identification sign shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
```datasheet
−label: Tactile Sign Substrate / Process
+label: Stairway Identification Sign Format
type: radio
options:
− - Photopolymer on acrylic face
− - Acrylic with subsurface printing
− - Cast metal
− - Routed substrate
−default: Photopolymer on acrylic face
+ - "One plate carrying the visual stairway statement and the tactile floor level"
+ - "Separate visual stairway sign and tactile floor-level sign"
```
+## One plate puts the whole statement where a reader finds it in one place and is one sign to mount per landing; two plates let the visual sign be the large aluminum plate the stair side of the door needs and the tactile sign the smaller plate at the accessible mounting height beside it, which is how the two heights the codes name are both met when the door and the wall space do not allow one plate to satisfy both. The choice follows from the wall space at the landing and the sign family, so the field carries no default. {note}
+
+## The plate material of the stairway identification signs shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Character / Background Contrast Orientation
−type: radio
+label: Stairway Identification Sign Plate Material
+type: select
options:
− - Light characters on dark field
− - Dark characters on light field
−default: Dark characters on light field
+ - "Acrylic sheet"
+ - "Phenolic or melamine composite sheet"
+ - "Aluminum sheet or plate"
+ - "Stainless steel sheet"
+ - "Photopolymer-faced aluminum"
```
−```datasheet
−label: Minimum Character / Background LRV Contrast
−type: range
−min: 70
−max: 100
−step: 5
−unit: '% LRV difference'
−setpoints:
− - 70
− - 100
−```
+## The stairway sign is the largest plate under this standard and hangs in a stair that is often unconditioned, lit at the code minimum, and struck by whatever is carried up it, so its material is chosen apart from the rest of the family: acrylic matches the interior signs and is the lowest cost; phenolic and melamine composites take the abuse of a school or transit stair; aluminum is the plate of most stairway signs because it is rigid at the size, takes weather, and holds painted copy; stainless steel is specified where the stair finish is stainless or the atmosphere is corrosive; photopolymer-faced aluminum carries integral tactile copy on a plate that does not bow. No material is the norm, because the choice follows from the stair's service and the family. {note}
−```datasheet
−label: Tactile Character Mounting Height (centerline)
−type: range
−min: 48
−max: 60
−step: 1
−unit: in AFF
−setpoints:
− - 48
− - 60
−```
+## The visual characters of the stairway statement shall be of the height and stroke the stairway signage provisions of [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] require, in a contrasting color, and the sign shall be mounted at the height and position those provisions require on the stair side of the door at each landing.
−## Pictogram Fields {toc}
+## Where an exit stairway serves as the required means of egress from a roof, the roof-level sign shall state the roof access, and where a stairway continues below the level of exit discharge, the sign at the discharge level shall direct occupants to the exit so that they do not continue downward.
−### Where a sign carries a pictogram — accessible symbol, restroom, stairway — the pictogram shall be located in a field above the tactile characters, and the pictogram field shall not contain raised characters or Braille.
+# Area of Refuge and Accessible Means of Egress Signs {toc}
+## Whether the sign set for areas of refuge and the accessible means of egress is provided shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Tactile Sign Pictogram
+label: Area of Refuge and Accessible Means of Egress Signs
type: select
+derived: "the accessible means of egress design on the life-safety plan and the area of refuge provisions of [[parameter: adopted-building-code]]"
options:
− - None
− - Accessible (ISA) symbol
− - Restroom (men)
− - Restroom (women)
− - Restroom (all-gender)
− - Stairway
−default: None
+ - "Not provided, no area of refuge or inaccessible exit in the building"
+ - "Identification, instruction, and directional signs at each area of refuge and each exit that is not an accessible means of egress"
+default: derived
```
−### The pictogram field shall be sized in accordance with ICC A117.1 so the symbol is legible at the approach distance.
+## An area of refuge exists only where the life-safety plan creates one, and in a fully sprinklered building the code often lets the exit stairway or the elevator lobby serve without one, so the sign set follows from the plan rather than from a preference; where no area of refuge exists and every exit is accessible, no sign in this section is required. {note}
−### Tactile signs with pictogram fields use a taller plate, commonly a 6 in x 9 in or 4 in x 8 in format with the pictogram panel above the text and Braille field. {note}
+## Each area of refuge shall be identified by a sign bearing the International Symbol of Accessibility and the words the adopted code prescribes for an area of refuge, in accordance with the area of refuge signage provisions of [[parameter: adopted-building-code]], with raised characters and Braille where those provisions or ICC A117.1 require them.
−# Stairway Identification Signs {toc}
+## Directional signs bearing the International Symbol of Accessibility shall be provided at each exit door and along each exit access that does not itself provide an accessible means of egress, indicating the direction to the nearest area of refuge or accessible means of egress, where [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] requires them.
−## A stairway identification sign shall be provided at each floor landing of an interior exit stairway, mounted on both sides of the stairway door, identifying the stair, the floor level, and the terminus of the stair.
+## At each area of refuge provided with a two-way communication station, an instruction sign shall be posted adjacent to the station stating how to summon assistance, how the response is given, and the written identification of the location, as the two-way communication provisions of [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] require.
−## The sign shall state the stairway designation, the floor level, the upper and lower terminus of the stairway, and whether the stairway provides roof access.
+## The Contractor shall confirm with the installer of the two-way communication station, which is not furnished under this standard, whether its faceplate carries the instruction legend before the instruction sign is fabricated.
−## The stairway identification sign shall be not less than 18 in high by 12 in wide, with high-contrast raised characters, and shall be mounted 5 ft above the floor landing measured to the centerline of the sign.
+## The format of the instruction sign at each two-way communication station shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
−## Generic "STAIRWELL" placards do not satisfy this requirement; the sign content is prescribed — stair designation, all floors served, upper and lower terminus, and roof access — and a sign missing any of these elements will be flagged at inspection. {note}
−
−## The stairway designation and terminus information are project-specific and shall be coordinated with the floor numbering and stair layout shown on the architectural drawings [[drawing: stair designations and floor levels]].
−
```datasheet
−label: Stairway ID Sign Substrate
+label: Area of Refuge Instruction Sign Format
type: radio
options:
− - Brushed stainless plate
− - Brushed aluminum plate
− - Photopolymer
−default: Brushed aluminum plate
+ - "Separate instruction plate mounted adjacent to the communication station"
+ - "Instruction legend integral to the communication station faceplate"
+ - "Combined identification and instruction plate at the communication station"
```
−```datasheet
−label: Stairway Provides Roof Access
−type: radio
−options:
− - 'Yes'
− - 'No'
−default: 'No'
−```
+## A separate plate is fabricated with the rest of the signs and placed wherever the station sits, so it survives a change of station supplier; a legend on the station faceplate comes from the station's installer and leaves nothing for this standard to furnish at that location but the identification sign; a combined plate puts the area of refuge identification and the instructions on one sign at the station, which fits a small refuge where the station is beside the door. The choice follows from who furnishes the station and when it is known, so the field carries no default. {note}
−# Area of Refuge Signage {toc}
+## Where an exit that is not an accessible means of egress leads occupants to a location from which no accessible route continues, the sign the adopted code requires at that exit, stating that the exit is not accessible and directing to the accessible means of egress, shall be provided.
−## Each area of refuge shall be identified by a sign that reads "AREA OF REFUGE" and bears the International Symbol of Accessibility.
+# Elevator Signs {toc}
−## At each area of refuge equipped with two-way communication, instructions for summoning assistance via the two-way communication system, and written identification of the location, shall be posted adjacent to the two-way communication device.
+## A sign reading that elevators are not to be used in a fire emergency and directing occupants to the exit stairs, in the pictorial form ASME A17.1/CSA B44 prescribes, shall be provided at each elevator landing call station on every floor, in accordance with the elevator provisions of [[parameter: adopted-building-code]].
−```datasheet
−label: Area of Refuge Sign Configuration
−type: radio
−options:
− - Combined sign + two-way communication unit
− - Separate instruction sign referencing remote device
− - Identification sign only (sprinklered building)
−default: Combined sign + two-way communication unit
−```
+## The elevator emergency-use sign is a life-safety sign with a prescribed pictograph and is specified here rather than left to the elevator installation because the elevator contract commonly stops at the hoistway entrance and the sign hangs on the wall beside the call station; where the elevator installation furnishes it, the sign under this standard is omitted at that location and the record schedule says so. {note}
−## Doorways and exit access leading to an area of refuge shall be provided with directional signage indicating the location of the area of refuge.
+## Where an elevator is designed as an occupant evacuation elevator or as a fire service access elevator, the additional lobby signs the adopted code requires for that elevator shall be provided, with the messages those provisions prescribe.
−## Areas of refuge in non-sprinklered or partially sprinklered multi-story buildings require both two-way communication and signage at each location; on partial-sprinkler alteration projects this pairing is frequently missed and is a common non-compliance finding. {note}
+## The hoistway entrance at each landing shall carry the floor designation in raised characters and Braille on both jambs, at the height and position ICC A117.1 and the 2010 ADA Standards require, and the furnisher of those designations shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
−## The area of refuge instruction sign may be a single combined sign-and-speaker unit, or a separate instruction sign referencing a remote two-way communication device, depending on the communication system provided. {note}
−
−## The area of refuge sign mounting method shall be specified based on the wall or surface condition at its location.
−
```datasheet
−label: Area of Refuge Sign Mounting
+label: Hoistway Jamb Floor Designations Furnished By
type: radio
options:
− - Surface-mounted
− - Recessed
−default: Surface-mounted
+ - "This standard, as part of the building sign family"
+ - "The elevator installation"
```
−# Occupancy Load Placards {toc}
+## The jamb designations are furnished either way, and the choice is whether they match the building's signs or the elevator manufacturer's standard plates; furnishing them under this standard makes every raised-character sign on a floor one family and requires the elevator installer to receive and mount them or to leave the jambs clear, while leaving them with the elevator puts them in the elevator installer's hands with no coordination but no family match. Neither is the norm, so the field carries no default. {note}
−## In every assembly occupancy and in any room or space used for assembly purposes, an occupancy load placard stating the approved occupant load shall be posted in a conspicuous location near the main exit or exit access doorway from the room.
+## Where the hoistway jamb designations are furnished under this standard, the Contractor shall deliver them to the elevator installer before the hoistway entrances are set, together with the mounting template, and shall confirm in writing that the elevator installation will not furnish a duplicate set.
−## The occupancy load placard shall be maintained legible and durable.
+# Occupant Load Posting {toc}
−## The occupant load value on the placard is established and commonly issued by the AHJ after inspection; this standard specifies the frame or holder only, not the placarded value, unless the Owner requests an Owner-furnished placard reviewed and accepted by the AHJ before occupancy. {note}
+## In each assembly room or space the adopted code requires a posting in, the approved occupant load shall be posted in a conspicuous place near the main exit or exit access doorway of the room, in accordance with the occupant load provisions of [[parameter: adopted-building-code]], and the posting shall be legible, permanent, and maintained.
−## The Contractor shall furnish and install a placard frame or insert holder at each required location, sized to receive the AHJ-issued or Owner-furnished placard.
+## The occupant load on the posting is the value the authority having jurisdiction approves, and it is not computed by the Contractor or the fabricator; the posting is fabricated after that value is issued, and where the certificate of occupancy is the instrument that issues it, the holder is installed and the insert follows. {note}
+## The form of the occupant load posting shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Occupancy Load Placard Frame
+label: Occupant Load Posting Form
type: radio
options:
− - Owner-furnished frame (Contractor installs)
− - Surface-mounted glazed frame
− - Recessed glazed frame
−default: Surface-mounted glazed frame
+ - "Permanent plaque with the approved occupant load engraved or printed on it"
+ - "Frame holder receiving a printed insert"
```
+## A permanent plaque matches the building's sign family and cannot be swapped for a false value, but a change of use or a re-approval means a new plaque; a frame holder receives the card the authority issues and is updated by replacing the insert, at the cost of an insert that can be removed or faded. The choice follows from how the authority having jurisdiction issues the value and how often the Owner expects it to change, so the field carries no default. {note}
+
+## Where a frame holder is selected, the holder shall be sized to receive the card or insert the authority having jurisdiction issues, shall hold the insert behind a clear rigid face, and shall be mounted as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Placard Frame Size
+label: Occupant Load Frame Mounting
type: radio
options:
− - 8.5 in x 11 in
− - 11 in x 14 in
−default: 8.5 in x 11 in
+ - "Surface-mounted"
+ - "Recessed into the wall"
+default: "Surface-mounted"
```
−# Safety and Hazard Signs {toc}
+## A surface-mounted holder is the construction of most postings and needs no wall opening, which is why it is the default; a recessed holder is specified where the sign family is flush or where a projecting frame beside a door would be struck, and it needs a framed opening and, in a rated wall, a listed treatment under [[sync/fire-rated-wall-and-floor-assemblies]]. {note}
−## In occupancies where workplace hazards are present — manufacturing, industrial, laboratory, and mechanical spaces — accident prevention signs shall be provided in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145 and the ANSI Z535 series.
+## Where the room is also provided with the occupant load statement on a tactile room-identification sign under [[sync/signage]], the posting under this standard is still required, because the code posting is a separate instrument that the authority having jurisdiction inspects and updates.
−## "DANGER" signs shall be used only to indicate an immediate hazard that will result in death or serious injury, and shall use the red, black, and white color scheme.
+# Egress Door Notice Signs {toc}
−## "WARNING" signs shall be used to indicate a hazard that could result in death or serious injury, and shall use the orange, black, and white color scheme.
+## NO EXIT Signs {toc}
−## "CAUTION" signs shall be used to indicate a hazard that could result in minor or moderate injury, and shall use the yellow and black color scheme.
+### The policy for NO EXIT signs shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
−## "NOTICE" signs shall be used for information not related to personal injury, and shall use the blue and white color scheme.
−
−## The ANSI Z535 signal-word hierarchy is mandatory, not stylistic: using CAUTION (yellow) for a life-threatening hazard understates the risk, creates liability exposure, and invites OSHA citation; the signal word shall match the actual severity of the hazard. {note}
−
−## Lettering, symbols, and panel proportions on safety signs shall conform to the ANSI Z535 series, and fire-safety symbols shall conform to NFPA 170 where used.
−
```datasheet
−label: Safety Sign Signal Word
+label: NO EXIT Sign Policy
type: select
+derived: "whether NFPA 101 is in force under [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] and the doors, passages, and stairways the life-safety plan marks as likely to be mistaken for an exit"
options:
− - DANGER (red)
− - WARNING (orange)
− - CAUTION (yellow)
− - NOTICE (blue)
−default: CAUTION (yellow)
+ - "Not provided"
+ - "At each door, passage, and stairway NFPA 101 requires one at"
+ - "At every door, passage, and stairway that could be mistaken for an exit, whether or not the adopted code requires it"
+default: derived
```
−```datasheet
−label: Safety Sign Substrate
−type: radio
−options:
− - 0.040 in aluminum
− - Rigid PVC
− - Photoluminescent rigid
−default: 0.040 in aluminum
−```
+### NFPA 101 requires a NO EXIT sign at any door, passage, or stairway that is neither an exit nor a way to one and that could be mistaken for one; the International Building Code has no such requirement, so under that code alone the sign is an Owner's choice. Storage, mechanical, and electrical room doors that open onto a corridor near an exit are the doors most often mistaken, and the sign at them is inexpensive and prevents the dead-end search that costs time in an evacuation, which is why many Owners provide them under either code. {note}
+### Each NO EXIT sign shall read as NFPA 101 prescribes, with the word NO in the larger letters and the word EXIT below it in the smaller letters that code names, and the sign shall carry no other message.
+
+### NO EXIT signs shall be mounted on or adjacent to the door, passage, or stairway they mark, at a height readable from the approach, and a NO EXIT sign shall not be placed where it could be read as marking an exit door.
+
+## Key-Locked Main Exit Door Sign {toc}
+
+### The hardware schedule under [[sync/door-hardware]] identifies the main exit doors fitted with a key-operated lock.
+
+### At each main exit door fitted with a key-operated lock as the adopted code permits for the occupancy, a durable sign reading that the door is to remain unlocked when the building is occupied shall be provided on or adjacent to the door, in the letters [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] prescribes, and the sign shall be visible from the egress side.
+
+### The key-operated main exit lock is a code exception that trades hardware for a sign and an operating rule, so the sign is a condition of the lock rather than an accessory to it; where the sign is missing, the lock is a violation, which is why its presence is checked against the hardware schedule before the doors are hung. {note}
+
+### The construction of the key-locked main exit door sign and of each NO EXIT sign shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Safety Sign Material Durability Class
+label: Egress Door Notice Sign Construction
type: radio
options:
− - Standard interior
− - Vandal-resistant
− - Wet-location
− - Tamper-proof hardware
−default: Standard interior
+ - "Rigid plate with applied or engraved copy"
+ - "Adhesive vinyl applied to the door face or the glazing"
+ - "Engraved laminate plate"
```
−# Installation {toc}
+### A rigid plate matches the sign family and is mounted to the wall or the door with the mounting selected under this standard; adhesive vinyl is the construction of most notices at storefront entrances, where it goes on the glass and no plate would sit, and it is the construction a fire door accepts without a fastener; an engraved laminate plate is the lowest cost rigid sign and is the construction of most NO EXIT signs on back-of-house doors. The choice follows from the door type and the sign family, so the field carries no default. {note}
−## Signs shall be installed plumb, level, and securely fastened to the substrate using the manufacturer's recommended fasteners for the wall construction encountered.
+## Signs on Fire Door Assemblies {toc}
−## Illuminated exit signs shall be connected to the branch circuit and emergency or backup power source in accordance with the electrical drawings; the sign body and battery are furnished under this standard, and the branch circuit and emergency power source are provided under the project's electrical division.
+### A sign attached to a fire door leaf shall be attached with adhesive and shall not exceed the area NFPA 80 permits for a sign on a fire door, and no screw, bolt, or other fastener shall be driven into a labeled leaf or frame for a sign.
−## Tactile signs shall be installed at the heights and locations required by the ADA Standards and shall be located within the door-swing clearance required so the sign is approachable.
+### A sign on a fire door shall not cover the fire door label, the vision panel, or any hardware, and a sign that would exceed the permitted area shall be mounted on the wall adjacent to the door instead.
−## Tactile sign installation shall be coordinated with the door hardware and door swing schedule so the latch-side mounting location is not obstructed by the door in its open position; this coordination is essential and is referenced to [[sync/door-hardware]].
+### NFPA 80 permits a sign on a fire door only within a stated fraction of the door face and only by adhesive, because a screw hole is a field modification of a labeled assembly and a large plate changes how the leaf behaves in a fire; the restriction is the reason a NO EXIT sign or a notice sign at a rated door is a small adhesive sign or a wall-mounted plate rather than a plate screwed to the leaf. {note}
−## Exact sign locations, exit locations, and egress directions shall follow the approved egress plan and life-safety drawings [[drawing: egress plan and sign locations]].
+# Installation {toc}
−## Where the wall assembly receiving a sign is fire-rated, fasteners and any penetrations shall not compromise the rating; coordinate with [[sync/fire-rated-wall-and-floor-assemblies]] for through-penetration conditions.
+## Mounting Location and Height {toc}
−## Surface preparation and fastener selection for each substrate condition shall follow the manufacturer's printed instructions.
+### Each tactile sign shall be mounted at the height to the baseline of the raised characters, on the latch side of the door, within the clear floor space, and clear of the door swing, as ICC A117.1 Chapter 7 and the accessibility provisions of [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] require, and the installer shall measure every sign to the reference point the standard uses before releasing it.
−## Field Coordination {toc}
+### Where there is no wall space on the latch side of a single door, or at a pair with no inactive leaf, the sign shall be mounted where the accessibility standard directs for that condition, on the right-hand side of the opening or on the nearest adjacent wall, and the position shall be shown on the shop drawings.
−### The Contractor shall verify final sign locations against the as-built egress conditions before installation, accounting for furniture, casework, and door swings that could obscure a sign.
+### Latch-side mounting is the single most common field error on tactile signs, because a crew centers the sign on the door or mounts it on the push side where the wall is open; both are deficiencies that require relocation and a patched wall, which is why the position is laid out and checked before the adhesive is set. {note}
−### Any conflict between the approved sign schedule and field conditions shall be reported to the Architect before installation.
+### The Contractor shall lay out the position of each tactile sign against the door swing, the stops and holders, the casework, and the wall-mounted equipment at the opening before mounting, so that no leaf in its open position, no stop, and no equipment obstructs the sign or the clear floor space in front of it.
−# Delivery, Storage, and Handling {toc}
+### Where a wall-mounted item at an opening would obstruct a tactile sign in its code-required position, the Contractor shall report the conflict to the Architect before mounting either item, and shall not relocate the sign out of its code-required position to resolve it.
−## Signs shall be delivered to the site in the manufacturer's protective packaging, labeled with the sign schedule designation.
+### Signs other than tactile signs shall be mounted at the height and position the provision that requires each sign prescribes, and where that provision prescribes none, at a height readable from the approach and as indicated on [[drawing: the sign schedule]].
−## Signs shall be stored indoors, flat or upright as recommended by the manufacturer, protected from moisture, abrasion, and ultraviolet exposure until installation.
+## Attachment to Walls, Doors, and Glass {toc}
−## Tactile signs shall be handled so the raised characters, Braille, and finished faces are not scratched, dented, or contaminated; damaged tactile signs shall not be installed.
+### Surfaces receiving adhesive-mounted signs shall be clean, dry, free of dust and release agents, and painted finishes shall have cured for the period the adhesive manufacturer requires before a sign is applied.
−## Tactile ADA signs typically carry a 4 to 6 week lead time for standard configurations and 8 to 12 weeks for large custom orders; these durations shall be reflected in the submittal and procurement schedule so installation is not the project's critical path. {note}
+### Adhesive-mounted signs shall be pressed to the wall for the dwell time the tape manufacturer requires and shall not be disturbed until the silicone bead has cured.
−# Warranty {toc}
+### A tape bond made to a wall painted the same week, or to a textured or dusty surface, lets go within the first year, usually in summer, and the sign is found on the floor; the cure period and the surface condition are the whole of the adhesive's performance. {note}
−## The manufacturer shall warrant illuminated exit signs and their batteries against defects in materials and workmanship for the manufacturer's standard warranty period from the date of Substantial Completion.
+### Mechanically fastened signs shall be fastened with the fasteners and anchors the fabricator provides for the substrate, driven through the holes the fabricator drills, and no fastener shall be driven through raised copy or Braille.
−## The manufacturer shall warrant tactile and non-illuminated signs against delamination, fading, and Braille or character separation for the manufacturer's standard warranty period from the date of Substantial Completion.
+### A sign mounted on a fire-resistance-rated wall shall be mounted without reducing the rating of the assembly, and a recessed holder in a rated wall shall be installed in a listed treatment under [[sync/fire-rated-wall-and-floor-assemblies]].
−## Warranty terms for batteries are commonly shorter than for the sign body; the battery warranty period and replacement interval shall be documented in the closeout O&M data so the Owner can plan replacement.
+### Signs shall be installed plumb and level, with the raised characters horizontal.
+### A sign installed out of plumb by more than the tolerance stated on the approved shop drawings shall be reset at the Contractor's expense.
+
+## Field Verification {toc}
+
+### After installation, the Contractor shall verify the mounting height, the latch-side position, the clear floor space, and the message of the signs under this standard against the record sign schedule and ICC A117.1, and shall record each verified sign by mark.
+
+### The share of the installed tactile signs verified by measurement shall be not less than the percentage indicated in the datasheet, and the signs measured shall include every tactile exit sign and every tactile floor-level sign.
+
```datasheet
−label: Warranty Period (sign body)
−type: radio
+label: Tactile Signs Verified by Measurement
+type: range
+unit: '% of installed tactile signs'
options:
− - 1 year
− - 3 years
− - 5 years
−default: 5 years
−unit: years
+ min: 10
+ max: 100
+ setpoints: [10, 25, 50, 100]
+default: 100
```
+### Measuring every tactile sign is the practice on most projects, because the signs are few relative to the building and a single sign out of range is a citation at the final accessibility inspection, which is why 100 percent is the default; a sample is accepted on a large repetitive building where the installer's first floors have verified clean and the remaining floors repeat them. {note}
+
+### A sign found out of position or out of height shall be relocated at the Contractor's expense, the wall shall be patched and finished to match, and the sign shall be re-verified and the record corrected.
+
+### The verification record shall be delivered as a closeout submittal and shall be the baseline the Owner's accessibility consultant or the authority having jurisdiction compares against at inspection.
+
+# Delivery, Storage, and Handling {toc}
+
+## Signs shall be delivered in the fabricator's protective packaging, each sign labeled with its mark from the sign schedule, and shall be inspected on receipt for damage to raised copy, Braille, and finish.
+
+## Signs shall be stored indoors, flat or on edge as the fabricator directs, within the temperature range the fabricator states for the plate material and the adhesive, and protected from moisture, abrasion, and sunlight until installation.
+
+## Tactile signs shall be handled by their edges, and a sign whose raised characters, Braille dots, or finish are scratched, dented, lifted, or soiled beyond cleaning shall not be installed.
+
+## Adhesive tape and silicone shall be stored within the shelf life and temperature range their manufacturers state, and tape past its shelf life shall not be used.
+
+## Tactile signs are made to order and carry a lead time of several weeks for standard formats and longer for cast metal and custom families, and the stairway and occupant load signs cannot be fabricated until their content is confirmed; the submittal and procurement schedule allows for the confirmation steps this standard requires so that sign installation does not hold the final inspection. {note}
+
+# Warranty {toc}
+
+## The fabricator shall warrant every sign under this standard against delamination of the face sheet, lifting or loss of applied characters or Braille beads, fading or color change beyond the approved sample, and corrosion of metal plates, for the period indicated in the datasheet, measured from the date of substantial completion.
+
```datasheet
−label: Battery Warranty Period
−type: radio
−options:
− - 1 year
− - 3 years
− - 5 years
−default: 3 years
+label: Sign Warranty Period
+type: range
unit: years
+options:
+ min: 1
+ max: 10
+ setpoints: [1, 2, 3, 5, 10]
```
+## A one-year warranty is the general-conditions minimum and is what a laminate or vinyl sign commonly carries; a photopolymer or raster acrylic sign is commonly warranted for three to five years against delamination and lifting, and a cast metal sign for five to ten years against corrosion; no period is the norm across the materials this standard admits, so the field carries no default and the period is set to the process and plate selected. {note}
+
+## Where the contract documents state a longer warranty period than the datasheet, the longer period shall govern.
+
+## The Contractor shall warrant the installation, including the adhesion of every adhesive-mounted sign, the anchorage of every fastened sign, and the position and height of every tactile sign, for the project warranty period.
+
+## A repair or replacement performed under this warranty shall itself be warranted for a full new term equal to the original period from the date the repair is completed, or for the remainder of the original period, whichever ends later.
+
# Spare Parts {toc}
−## The Contractor shall furnish to the Owner spare replacement batteries for illuminated exit signs in the quantity scheduled below, of the same type as installed.
+## The Contractor shall deliver spare signs of each tactile sign type under this standard, in the quantity indicated in the datasheet as a percentage of the installed count of each type, and shall obtain a signed receipt for them.
```datasheet
−label: Spare Exit Sign Batteries Furnished
+label: Spare Signs Furnished
type: range
−min: 0
−max: 25
−step: 1
−unit: each
−setpoints:
− - 5
+unit: '% of installed count of each sign type'
+options:
+ min: 0
+ max: 25
+ setpoints: [0, 2, 5, 10, 25]
```
−## The Contractor shall furnish to the Owner spare tactile signs for the most commonly repeated room types so field damage can be replaced without a new procurement lead time.
+## A spare quantity is sized to the installed count and to how fast the Owner can reorder a matching sign, so no quantity is the norm and the field carries no default; a zero records that the Owner reorders on damage and accepts the lead time, and a spare set lets a stolen or damaged tactile exit sign be replaced the same day so that the opening is not out of compliance until the fabricator ships. {note}
+## Where a frame holder is selected for the occupant load posting, the Contractor shall deliver blank inserts for each holder in the quantity indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Spare Tactile Signs Furnished
+label: Spare Occupant Load Inserts per Holder
type: range
−min: 0
−max: 20
−step: 1
−unit: each
−setpoints:
− - 3
+unit: inserts
+options:
+ min: 0
+ max: 10
+ setpoints: [0, 1, 2, 5, 10]
+default: 2
```
−## Stocking a small quantity of spare batteries and common tactile signs lets the Owner restore code compliance immediately after damage or battery failure, rather than waiting weeks for replacements; this is inexpensive insurance against an out-of-compliance condition. {note}
+## Two blank inserts per holder is what most Owners accept, enough to replace a faded card and to post a re-approved value once without a reorder, which is why it is the default; a venue whose approved load changes by event configuration carries more. {note}
+
+## Spare signs shall be of the same fabricator, process, plate material, and colors as the installed signs, shall be delivered in the fabricator's packaging, and shall be labeled with the sign type and message they duplicate.