BS8300 : 2009

Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people— Code of practice

9.2 Signs and information
People need clear information about the purpose and layout of spaces if they are to maintain a clear sense of direction and independent use of a building. Often visual and tactile information is reinforced by audible information. As no single medium can communicate information to all those who need to receive it, some duplication is essential.
Information may take the form of visual information (e.g. signs, notice boards), audible information (e.g. public address and security systems, induction loops, telephones, and infrared devices), or tactile information (e.g. signs with embossed lettering or Braille).
Clear signs and information are essential for people with impaired hearing who may be unable to ask, or feel uncomfortable about asking, for directions.
The effectiveness of information on the use of a building is determined by:
a) the location, accessibility, layout and height of signs;
b) the size of lettering, symbols and their reading distances;
c) the use of tactile letters and symbols;
d) colour/luminance contrast and lighting;
e) the finished surfaces of materials used for signs and symbols;
f) the simultaneous use of audible cues;
g) integration with any other communication systems.

9.2.1 Provision of signs and information
Information to help orientation is most usefully provided at junctions of circulation
routes. A plan or model may supplement written or audible instructions or signs in a large, complex
building. Taped spoken messages can also help visually impaired people comprehend a complex building.
For some visually impaired people, tactile plans and models may also be helpful in understanding the
interior layout of a public building.
Clear directions indicating the facilities on each floor are essential on landings and stairs to help ensure that
disabled people do not visit the wrong floor of a building.

Signs should form part of an integrated communication scheme that gives clear directions, information and
instructions for the use of a building. They should support a wayfinding strategy that considers the needs
of different types of building users as well as the complexity of the building layout.
NOTE 1 Detailed design guidance on the provision and design of signs is available in the Sign Design Guide [6] and the
Wayfinding Guide [7].
Information and direction signs should be provided at each point where they are required, for example at
junctions of circulation routes and key destinations such as doorways, at reception points, at facilities such
as telephones, buffets and toilets, and in rooms, spaces and counters where hearing enhancement systems
are fitted.
All key information, such as sign directories, orientation signs, maps and plans, should be visual and
audible, and in tactile form where low enough to be touched.
Orientation (“you are here”) information should be provided in accessible places. It should be clearly
signposted and located alongside the main accessible route within a building, or clearly visible from the
entrance to a building, so that it can be examined without restricting the access route. The orientation of
maps and plans should match that of the building.

NOTE 2 As there is no standardized way of presenting plans and maps in tactile form, people who regularly use a building may obtain more benefit than occasional visitors as they will become familiar with the tactile techniques used.
Directional signs should readily identify and easily distinguish accessible routes from each other, providing
a logical sequence from a starting point to a point of destination and providing a clear indication of return
routes to named exits. The names of destinations should be consistent throughout the signing system.
A clear indication of the existence of steps or ramps on a route should be provided at both ends of the route.
Signs to facilities for disabled people should incorporate the International Symbol for Access (see 9.2).
Examples of such facilities include:
a) accessible entrances;
b) accessible toilets.
A building should include spaces where announcements can be transmitted through a hearing
enhancement system. Signs should be provided to inform hearing impaired people of locations in the
building where these systems are fitted, and where they can obtain the necessary equipment for hearing
enhancement systems.
Universally recognized symbols (see NOTE 3) should be used to replace text, wherever possible. Other
symbols should supplement text, but should not be used in isolation.
NOTE 3 Symbols are an essential aid for people with learning difficulties.
NOTE 4 Examples of symbols indicating the availability of services and facilities in buildings are shown in Figure 20.

Further information on public information symbols can be found in BS 6034.
A wall mounted information board should be provided at lift lift landings, floor level landings of staircases, and
at other major decision points in main circulation routes.
NOTE 5 There may be occasions where notices may need to be positioned at different heights to enable information to be read by
sight or touch (see 9.2.2).

9.2.2 Location and design of signs and information
Directional signs should indicate the route to a destination, paying particular attention to potential points
of uncertainty.
Directional signs should be placed only on fixed parts of the building such as walls, posts and floors.
In spaces in which signs would not be visible in large crowds, they should be suspended from the ceiling.
With the exception of signs to toilets, signs to rooms should generally not be placed on doors but on the wall
to the leading edge side of the door as when the door is open the sign may not be visible.
The preferred minimum headroom of directional signs suspended from ceilings or posts, or projected from
walls, should be 2300 mm.
NOTE In exceptional circumstances a lower headroom may be provided subject to a minimum of 2100 mm.
Consideration should be given to duplicating detailed signs or instructions, especially safety notices, at
high and low level, i.e. at 1400 to 1700 mm for a visually impaired person when standing and 1000 mm
to 1100 mm for convenient close viewing by a wheelchair user.
Signs associated with a control panel should be located between 900 mm and 1200 mm above floor level to
meet the needs of people sitting in a wheelchair and people standing (see also 10.5).
The heights and overall dimensions of safety signs on glass doors and glazed screens should conform to
BS 5378.
Signs should be positioned to avoid reflections from daylight and artificial lighting.

9.2.3 Visual signs
9.2.3.1 Design and size of lettering and symbols
Short sentences are easy to understand and remember. Abbreviations, words placed
closely together, and very long words are all hard to read.
Visually impaired people will more easily read a sentence or single word message with an initial upper case
letter followed by lower case letters, and with the “x” height (the height of the lower case letter) as large as
possible.
Visual signs should comprise simple words, clearly separated from one another, in short sentences.
Sentences or single word messages should begin with an upper case letter and continue with lower case
letters. Words entirely in upper case type (capital) should be avoided. A sans serif type face with a relatively
large “x” height to “capital” height should be used.
NOTE 1 Fonts that are commonly used are Helvetica medium, Arial, Futura or Avant Garde.
The height of lettering for visual signs should be chosen to suit the type of sign and the viewing distance
in accordance with Table 5.

Lines of text should be ranged left from a vertical line (unjustified).
NOTE 2 This is particularly important for blind and visually impaired people if they are to locate and establish the extent of text.
A bright coloured band may indicate the vertical line. For guidance see the RNIB publication Building sight [8].
The size of symbols or pictograms used on visual signs should be as large as the location will allow, subject
to design constraints.

9.2.3.2 Colour and luminance contrast
The colour and luminance of letters, symbols and pictograms should contrast with the colour and
luminance of the signboard (see NOTE 2 to 9.1.1). Signboards should contrast in colour and luminance with
their backgrounds. Examples of colours for general signboards are shown in Table 6.

9.2.4 Tactile signs and symbols
Directional signs and signs identifying functions or activities within a building should incorporate
embossed letters in a sans serif type face with a depth of 1.25 mm ± 0.25 mm, a stroke
of 1.75 mm ± 0.25 mm, the edges slightly rounded but not half round in section, and a letter height of
between 15 mm and 50 mm.
NOTE Embossed letters are easier to read than indented or engraved letters, especially if their leading edges (left and upper) are
sharp and as well defined as possible.
Where Braille is to be provided the following recommendations apply:
— grade 1 Braille should be used for single word signs; and
— grade 2 contracted Braille should be used to reduce the length of multi-word signs.
Where Braille forms part of a sign, a marker (e.g. a notch) should be located at the left hand edge of the
sign to help locate the Braille message (see Figure 21).