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Note: This document or portion of document references a state or local code that is stricter than the 2010 ADA Standards requires.

11B-703.5 Visual characters. Visual characters shall comply with Section 11B-703.5.

Exception: Where visual characters comply with Section 11B-703.2 _|Signs; Raised Characters|_ and are accompanied by Braille complying with Section 11B-703.3, they shall not be required to comply with Sections 11B-703.5.2 through 11B-703.5.6, 11B-703.5.8 _|Stroke Thickness|_ and 11B-703.5.9 _|Line Spacing|_.

[2010 ADAS] EXCEPTION: Where visual characters comply with 703.2 and are accompanied by braille complying with 703.3, they shall not be required to comply with 703.5.2 through 703.5.9.

11B-703.5.1 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.

[2010 ADAS] Advisory 703.5.1 Finish and Contrast. Signs are more legible for persons with low vision when characters contrast as much as possible with their background. Additional factors affecting the ease with which the text can be distinguished from its background include shadows cast by lighting sources, surface glare, and the uniformity of the text and its background colors and textures.

11B-703.5.2 Case. Characters shall be uppercase or lowercase or a combination of both.

11B-703.5.3 Style. Characters shall be conventional in form. Characters shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative, or of other unusual forms.

11B-703.5.4 Character proportions. Characters shall be selected from fonts where the width of the uppercase letter “O” is 60 percent minimum and 110 percent maximum of the height of the uppercase letter “I”.

[2010 ADAS] 703.5.4 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".

11B-703.5.5 Character height. Minimum character height shall comply with Table 11B-703.5.5. Viewing distance shall be measured as the horizontal distance between the character and an obstruction preventing further approach towards the sign. Character height shall be based on the uppercase letter “I”.

Exception: Where provided, floor plans providing emergency procedures information in accordance with Title 19 shall not be required to comply with Section 11B-703.5.5.

TABLE 11B-703.5.5
VISUAL CHARACTER HEIGHT

Height To Finish Floor Or Ground From Baseline Of Character Horizontal Viewing Distance Minimum Character Height
40 inches (1016 mm) to less than or equal to 70 inches (1778 mm) less than 72 inches (1829 mm) 5/8 inch (15.9 mm)
  72 inches (1829 mm) and greater 5/8 inch (15.9 mm), plus 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) per foot (305 mm) of viewing distance above 72 inches (1829 mm)
Greater than 70 inches (1778 mm) to less than or equal to 120 inches (3048 mm) less than 180 inches (4572 mm) 2 inches (51 mm)
  180 inches (4572 mm) and greater 2 inches (51 mm) , plus 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) per foot (305 mm) of viewing distance above 180 inches (4572 mm)
Greater than 120 inches (3048 mm) less than 21 feet (6401 mm) 3 inches (76 mm)
  21 feet (6401 mm) and greater 3 inches (76 mm) , plus 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) per foot (305 mm) of viewing distance above 21 feet (6401 mm)

 

11B-703.5.6 Height from finish floor or ground. Visual characters shall be 40 inches (1016 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground.

Exceptions:

1. Visual characters indicating elevator car controls shall not be required to comply with Section 11B-703.5.6.

2. Floor-level exit signs complying with Chapter 10, Section 1013.7 shall not be required to comply with Section 11B-703.5.6.

3. Where provided, floor plans providing emergency procedures information in accordance with Title 19 shall not be required to comply with Section 11B-703.5.6

11B-703.5.7 Stroke thickness. Stroke thickness of the uppercase letter “I” shall be 10 percent minimum and 20 percent maximum of the height of the character.

[2010 ADAS] 703.5.7 Stroke Thickness. Stroke thickness of the uppercase letter "I" shall be 10 percent minimum and 30 percent maximum of the height of the character.

11B-703.5.8 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.

11B-703.5.9 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.

11B-703.5.10 Format. Text shall be in a horizontal format.

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