Attachment G - Interior Signage Standards.pdf

Operations Building • 1601 Farnsworth St. • Detroit, MI 48211 detroitk12.org

Interior Signage Standards | Revised March 7, 2025

Detroit Public Schools Community District Off ice of Operations

INTERIOR SIGNAGE STANDARDS

The following outlines the District signage standards that have been developed to provide a consistent approach to room number signage, including size installation height, material, font, colors, and accessibility features based on industry best practices.

All signs should be ADA compliant (confirm with current ADA guidelines).

Provide all code required signage in compliance with state and local regulatory authorities.

Refer to the Interior Signage Standards - Requirements and Examples document for standard signage types, size and information requirements, and examples.

Material

- Acrylic or other ADA compliant plastic with a non-glare matte finish

- 1/8” thick durable material to withstand wear and tear

- Tamper resistant

Font and Text

- Tactile characters:

o Must be raised by at least 1/32 inch.

o Characters must be between 5/8 inch and 2 inches tall. The minimum character height depends on the sign's height and viewing distance:

▪ 40–70 in: Minimum character height is 5/8 in plus 1/8 in for each foot of viewing distance above 6 ft

▪ Above 70in–10 ft: Minimum character height is 2 in for viewing distances under 15 ft

▪ Above 10 ft: Minimum character height is 3 in for viewing distances under 21 ft

▪ Spacing: Characters should have a minimum of 1/8 in spacing between them o Must be accompanied by Grade 2 Braille

- Font:

o Text should be in an all uppercase, simple, sans serif font, in a medium or bold weight.

Tactile signs must be in uppercase.

o Use clear, bold fonts for room numbers. Recommendation is Arial or Helvetica.

- Braille: Braille should be located below raised characters.

- Pictograms: Pictograms must be on a field at least 6 inches high.

Color and Contrast:

- High contrast combinations for visibility (e.g., white text on a dark background or black text on a light background)

- The background color should be neutral (gray, silver, black, white, or beige).

- If a two-tone sign is used, a second color can be implemented, and should be a School Color.

- Room numbers should be reflective.

Instal lation

- Signs should be securely mounted with tamper resistant screws/bolts

- Position signage on the latch side of the door, mounted to the wall o If no wall space is available, mount the sign on the nearest adjacent wall

- Installation height: The sign should be between 48 in and 60 in from the floor to the baseline of the tactile characters.

- Clear floor space: There should be a clear floor space of at least 18 in by 18 in centered on the tactile characters. This space should be free of protrusions up to 80 in high and should be located beyond the arc of any door swing.

Signage Requirements by Space

Refer to Signage Example document for standard signage types, size and information requirements, and examples.

Circulation

- Stairwell o Symbol and Stairwell Number o Label

- Area of Refuge

- Elevator o Elevator Number o Label o Separate sign: IN CASE OF FIRE USE STAIRS, DO NOT USE ELEVATOR

- Directional o Rooms o Arrow

- Capacity o Separate sign for assembly spaces

▪ Theatre

▪ Gym

▪ Cafeteria o MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY ### PERSONS

- Evacuation Plan o Label o Large Insert

Rooms

1. General Room Numbering Standards

• All rooms must have a unique number within the building to avoid duplication.

• Three- or four-digit format (e.g., 103 or A103):

o First digit = Wing/Zone Designation (if applicable) o Second digit = Floor Level (e.g., 1 for first floor, 2 for second) o Last two digits = Room Sequence Number

• Basement rooms: Use “L” prefix (e.g., L101 for a lower-level room).

• Rooms within a room: Numbered as decimal extensions (e.g., A103.01 for a storage room within A103).

• Room signage placement:

o Mounted at 48” to 60” from the floor to the baseline of tactile characters.

o Braille and raised lettering must be included for accessibility compliance.

2. Classroom Signage Standards

Elementary vs. Middle/High School Classrooms

• Elementary Classrooms:

o Room Number + Grade Level Indicator (e.g., 101 – Kindergarten) o Insert slot for teacher’s name or subject (optional) o Color-coded signage by grade level (optional for enhanced wayfinding)

• Middle & High School Classrooms:

o Room Number + Subject Indicator (optional) (e.g., 204 – Science Lab) o Insert slot for teacher’s name (optional for flexibility in classroom assignments) o Reflective above-door flag sign with just the room number for long corridor visibility

(optional but recommended)

3. Office Signage

• Room Number

• Name Insert for occupant or department designation

• ADA-compliant placement and font for easy reading

4. Locker Room Signage

• Room Number

• Symbol (pictogram for easy recognition)

• Room Name (e.g., Boys' Locker Room, Girls' Locker Room, Staff Locker Room)

5. Restroom Signage

• Room Number

• Symbol (Standard restroom pictograms for universal identification)

• Room Name:

o Male/Men’s/Boys' Restroom o Female/Women’s/Girls' Restroom o Restroom (single stall) o Family Restroom (single stall w/ changing station, gender-neutral symbol included) o ADA-compliant Braille and raised lettering

6. Storage, Utility, IT, and Support Spaces

• Room Name (e.g., Electrical Room, IT Server Room, Janitor’s Closet)

• Clearly labeled for emergency and maintenance access

7. Cafeteria Signage

• Room Name (e.g., Cafeteria, Dining Hall)

• Consider directional signage to guide students from hallways

8. Conference Room Signage

• Room Name (e.g., Conference Room, Meeting Room)

• Insert slot for scheduling purposes (optional)

Additional Considerations

1. Font Recommendation: Use Arial or Helvetica for consistency and readability.

2. Contrast & Visibility: High contrast colors (dark text on light background or vice versa) to ensure legibility.

3. Material Durability: Use tamper-resistant, durable materials such as acrylic or aluminum.

4. Reflective Coating: For emergency exits, stairwells, and evacuation maps.

5. Wayfinding Enhancements: Consider color-coded zones for easier navigation within large buildings.