2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design

TECHNICAL CHAPTER 7: COMMUNICATION ELEMENTS AND FEATURES CHAPTER 7: COMMUNICATION ELEMENTS AND FEATURES 701 General 701.1 Scope. The provisions of Chapter 7 shall apply where required by Chapter 2 or where referenced by a requirement in this document. 702 Fire Alarm Systems 702.1 General. Fire alarm systems shall have permanently installed audible and visible alarms complying with NFPA 72 (1999 or 2002 edition) (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1), except that the maximum allowable sound level of audible notification appliances complying with section 4-3.2.1 of NFPA 72 (1999 edition) shall have a sound level no more than 110 dB at the minimum hearing distance from the audible appliance. In addition, alarms in guest rooms required to provide communication features shall comply with sections 4-3 and 4-4 of NFPA 72 (1999 edition) or sections 7.4 and 7.5 of NFPA 72 (2002 edition). EXCEPTION: Fire alarm systems in medical care facilities shall be permitted to be provided in accordance with industry practice. 703 Signs 703.1 General. Signs shall comply with 703. Where both visual and tactile characters are required, either one sign with both visual and tactile characters, or two separate signs, one with visual, and one with tactile characters, shall be provided. 703.2 Raised Characters. Raised characters shall comply with 703.2 and shall be duplicated in braille complying with 703.3. Raised characters shall be installed in accordance with 703.4. Advisory 703.2 Raised Characters. Signs that are designed to be read by touch should not have sharp or abrasive edges. 703.2.1 Depth. Raised characters shall be 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) minimum above their background. 703.2.2 Case. Characters shall be uppercase. 703.2.3 Style. Characters shall be sans serif. Characters shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative, or of other unusual forms. 703.2.4 Character Proportions. Characters shall be selected from fonts where the width of the uppercase letter “O” is 55 percent minimum and 110 percent maximum of the height of the uppercase letter “I”. 703.2.5 Character 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 height of the uppercase letter “I”. 186 - 2010 Standards: Titles II and III Department of Jus2ti2c3e Titles II and III - 2010 Standards - 157