703.1 General.
Signs required to be accessible shall comply with 703.

703.2 Characters that are Both Tactile and Visual.
Characters required to be tactile shall comply with 703.2. Tactile characters shall be duplicated in Braille complying with 703.5.

EXCEPTION: Tactile characters shall be permitted to comply with 703.3, where separate visual characters complying with 703.4 provide the same information.

703.2.1 Finish and Contrast.
Characters and their background shall have a non-glare finish. Characters shall contrast with their background with either light characters on a dark background or dark characters on a light background.

703.2.2 Tactile Characters.
Tactile characters shall be raised 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) minimum above their background. Raised borders and decorative elements that are not required shall be separated 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) minimum from tactile characters.

703.2.3 Character Forms.
Fonts shall have characters complying with 703.2.3.

703.2.3.1 Case.
Characters shall be uppercase.

703.2.3.2 Style.
Characters shall be sans serif. Characters shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative, or of other unusual forms.

703.2.3.3 Width.
Character width shall be 55 percent minimum and 110 percent maximum the height of the character with the width based on the uppercase letter "O" and the height based on the uppercase letter "I".

703.2.3.4 Height.
Character height measured vertically from the baseline of the character shall be 5/8 inch (16 mm) minimum and 2 inches (51 mm) maximum based on the uppercase letter "I".

Figure 703.2.3.4

703.2.3.5 Stroke Thickness.
For characters with rectangular cross sections, the stroke thickness of the uppercase letter "I" shall be 10 percent minimum and 15 percent maximum of the height of the character. For characters with other cross sections, the stroke thickness of the uppercase letter "I" shall be 10 percent minimum and 30 percent maximum of the height of the character measured at the base of the cross section. Stroke thickness at the top of the cross section shall be 15 percent maximum of the height of the character.

703.2.4 Character Spacing.
Character spacing shall be measured between the two closest points of adjacent characters within a message, excluding word spaces. Where characters have rectangular cross sections, spacing between individual characters shall be 1/8 inch (3 mm) minimum to 3/8 inch (10 mm) maximum. Where characters have other cross sections, spacing between individual characters shall be 1/16 inch (2 mm) minimum to 3/8 inch (10 mm) maximum at the base of the cross sections and 1/8 inch (3 mm) to 3/8 inch (10 mm) maximum at the top of the cross sections.

703.2.5 Line Spacing.
Spacing between the baselines of separate lines of characters in a sentence or paragraph shall be 135 percent minimum and 170 percent maximum of the character height.

703.2.6 Mounting Height.
Characters shall be located 48 inches (1220 mm) minimum and 60 inches (1525 mm) maximum above the adjacent floor or ground surface measured from the baseline of the characters.

Figure 703.2.6

EXCEPTION: This requirement shall not apply to elevator car controls.

703.2.7 Mounting Location.
Where a sign containing tactile characters is provided at a door, the sign shall be located alongside the door at the latch side. Where a tactile sign is provided at double doors, the sign shall be located to the right of the right hand door. Where there is no wall space at the latch side of a single door or to the right side of double doors, signs shall be located on the nearest adjacent wall. Signs containing tactile characters shall be located so that a clear floor space of 18 inches (455 mm) minimum by 18 inches (455 mm) minimum, centered on the sign, is provided beyond the arc of any door swing between the closed position and 45 degree open position.

Figure 703.2.7

EXCEPTION: Signs shall be permitted on the push side of doors with closers and without hold-open devices.

703.3 Tactile Characters.
Where tactile characters are required and separate tactile and visual characters with the same information are provided, tactile characters shall comply with 703.3 and visual characters shall comply with 703.4. Tactile characters shall be duplicated in Braille complying with 703.5.

703.3.1 Tactile Characters.
Tactile characters shall be raised 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) minimum above their background. Raised borders and decorative elements that are not required shall be separated 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) minimum from tactile characters.

703.3.2 Character Forms.
Fonts shall have characters complying with 703.3.2.

703.3.2.1 Case.
Characters shall be uppercase.

703.3.2.2 Style.
Characters shall be sans serif. Characters shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative, or of other unusual forms.

703.3.2.3 Width.
Character width shall be 55 percent minimum and 110 percent maximum the height of the character with the width based on the uppercase letter "O" and the height based on the uppercase letter "I".

703.3.2.4 Height.
Character height measured vertically from the baseline of the character shall be 1/2 inch (13 mm) minimum and 3/4 inch (19 mm) maximum based on the height of the uppercase letter "I".

703.3.2.5 Stroke Thickness.
Stroke thickness of the uppercase letter "I" shall be 15 percent maximum of the height of the character.

703.3.3 Character Spacing.
Character spacing shall be measured between the two closest points of adjacent character within a message, excluding word spaces. Spacing between individual characters shall be 1/8 inch (3 mm) minimum to 1/4 inch (6 mm) maximum.

703.3.4 Line Spacing.
Spacing between the baselines of separate lines of characters within a message shall be 135 percent minimum and 170 percent maximum of the character height.

703.3.5 Mounting Height.
Characters shall be located 48 inches (1220 mm) minimum and 60 inches (1525 mm) maximum above the adjacent floor or ground surface, measured from the baseline of the characters.

EXCEPTION: This requirement shall not apply to elevator car controls.

703.3.6 Mounting Location.
Where a tactile sign is provided at a door, the sign shall be located alongside the door at the latch side. Where a tactile sign is provided at double doors, the sign shall be located to the right of the right hand door. Where there is no wall space at the latch side of a single door or to the right side of double doors, signs shall be located on the nearest adjacent wall. Signs containing tactile characters shall be located so that a clear floor space of 18 inches (455 mm) by 18 inches (455 mm) minimum, centered on the sign, is provided beyond the arc of any door swing between the closed position and 45 degree open position.

EXCEPTION: Signs shall be permitted on the push side of doors with closers and without hold-open devices.

703.4 Visual Characters.
Visual characters required to be accessible shall comply with 703.4.

703.4.1 Finish and Contrast.
Characters and their background shall have a non-glare finish. Characters shall contrast with their background with either light characters on a dark background or dark characters on a light background.

Advisory 703.4.1
Signs are more legible for persons with low vision when characters contrast with their background by approximately 70 percent.
Contrast in percent can be determined by: contrast =[(B1-B2)/B1] x 100 where B1=light reflectance value (LRV) of the lighter area and B2=light reflectance value (LRV) of the darker area.

Note: in any application both white and black are never absolute; thus B1 never equals 100 and B2 is always greater than zero.
 

703.4.2 Character Forms.
Fonts shall have characters complying with 703.4.2.

703.4.2.1 Case.
Characters shall be uppercase or lowercase or a combination of both.

703.4.2.2 Style.
Characters shall be conventional in form. Characters shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative, or of other unusual forms.

703.4.2.3 Width.
Character width shall be 55 percent minimum and 110 percent maximum the height of the character with the width based on the uppercase letter "O" and the height based on the uppercase letter "I".

703.4.2.4 Height.
Minimum character height measured from the baseline of the character shall comply with Table 703.4.2.4 based on the height of the characters above the finished floor of the viewing location and the minimum viewing distance. Character height shall be based on the uppercase letter "I". Minimum viewing distance shall be measured as the horizontal distance where an obstruction prevents further approach towards the sign.

Table 703.4.2.4 Visual Character Dimensions

703.4.2.5 Stroke Thickness.
Stroke thickness of the uppercase letter "I" shall be 10 percent minimum and 30 percent maximum of the height of the character.

703.4.3 Character Spacing.
Character spacing shall be measured between the two closest points of adjacent characters, excluding word spaces. Spacing between individual characters shall be 10 percent minimum and 35 percent maximum of character height.

703.4.4 Line Spacing.
Spacing between the baselines of separate lines of characters shall be 135 percent minimum and 170 percent maximum of the character height.

703.4.5 Mounting Height.
Visual characters shall be located 40 inches (1015 mm) minimum above the floor of the viewing position. Mounting heights shall comply with Table 703.4.2.4 based on the size of the characters on the sign.

703.5 Braille.
Tactile characters shall be accompanied by Grade II Braille complying with Table 703.5 and 703.5.
Braille dots shall have a domed or rounded shape.  ( As in our Raster Braille )

Table 703.5 Braille Dimensions

703.5.1 Location.
Braille shall be located below the corresponding text. If text is multi-lined, Braille shall be placed below the entire text. Braille shall be separated 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) minimum from any other tactile characters.

EXCEPTION: Braille provided on elevator car controls shall be separated 3/16 inch (4.8 mm) minimum and shall be located either directly below or adjacent to the corresponding tactile characters or symbols.

703.5.2 Raised Borders and Decorative Elements.
Raised borders and decorative elements that are not required, shall be separated 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) minimum from Braille.

703.5.3 Height.
Braille shall be located 40 inches (1015 mm) minimum and 60 inches (1525 mm) maximum above the floor measured from the baseline of the Braille cells.

Figure 703.5.3

EXCEPTION: This requirement shall not apply to elevator car controls.

703.6 Pictograms.
Where pictograms are required to be accessible, they shall comply with 703.6.

703.6.1 Pictogram Field.
Pictograms shall have a field height of 6 inches (150 mm) minimum. Characters or Braille shall not be located in the pictogram field.

Figure 703.6.1

703.6.2 Finish and Contrast.
Pictograms and their field shall have a non-glare finish. Pictograms shall contrast with their field with either a light pictogram on a dark field or a dark pictogram on a light field.

703.6.3 Text Descriptors.
Where text descriptors for pictograms are required, they shall located directly below or adjacent to the pictogram and shall comply with 703.2.

703.7 Symbols of Accessibility.
Where symbols of accessibility are required, they shall comply with 703.7.

703.7.1 Finish and Contrast.
Symbols of accessibility and their background shall have a non-glare finish. Symbols of accessibility shall contrast with their background with either a light symbol on a dark background or a dark symbol on a light background.

703.7.2 Symbols.

703.7.2.1 International Symbol of Accessibility.
Where the International Symbol of Accessibility is required, it shall comply with Figure 703.7.2.1.

Figure 703.7.2.1

703.7.2.2 International Symbol of TTY.
Where the International Symbol of TTY is required, it shall comply with Figure 703.7.2.2.

Figure 703.7.2.2

703.7.2.3 Volume Controlled Telephones.
Telephones required to have a volume control shall be identified by a sign containing a pictogram of a telephone handset with radiating sound waves on a square field such as shown in Figure 703.7.2.3.

Figure 703.7.2.3

703.7.2.4 Assistive Listening Systems.
Where assistive listening systems are required to be identified by the International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss, it shall comply with Figure 703.7.2.4.

Figure 703.7.2.4