Building Codes and Inspections/exit sign placement

Advertisement

Expert: - 10/21/2011


Question
My wife recently fell over an exit sign in a public building and was injured. The sign was mounted on the floor adjacent to the door about 4 inches from the wall and the sign was about 6 inches wide making it stick out about 10 inches from the wall.I was under the impression that exit signs had to be mounted on the wall.
Please advise thank you

Answer
I assume you are talking about a sign with raised letters and braille, because the regular illuminated or photoluminescent floor level sign would have to be much wider than 6 inches. But whatever the sign was, it certainly cannot be installed perpendicular to the wall! If it's an illuminated sign, you may find that it is not mounted right against the wall, but it will be hanging from the ceiling, more than 80 inches above the finish floor. Anything that projects more than 4 inches from the wall, has to be 80 inches above the floor or more. Anything else would be between the floor and 27 inches, but if it's right beside an exit door, 4 inches would be too much, because you have to have the braille sign adjacent to the door, at 60 inches on center, and you have to be able to approach the sign within 3 inches and not encounter an obstacle.

I am really astounded that anyone would install any kind of an exit sign, other than one hanging from the ceiling high above pedestrians, perpendicular to the wall! It makes absolutely no sense at all, and violates every rule and code I know of. Can you tell me if it was a sign with braille, or just a small "visual" exit sign? Also, where was this installed -- what state and what city?

I just can't get over this!

And certainly you have grounds for a suit, I believe. The sign was clearly an illegal installation. Where was the building inspector!

Sharon Toji

Building Codes and Inspections

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Sharon Toji

Expertise

I have special expertise in the subject of accessibility codes and guidelines (ADA), and most specifically in the field of signage. If you have a question that is not about the ADA or about signs, I suggest you try the following excellent site: Naffa International BCDG (Building Code Discussion Group). The website address is http://bcodes.infopop.cc/eve/ You do have to register, but it's free. You will find discussions here on all kinds of Building Code Q & A topics. You go to the forum that sounds as if it's close to your topic, check out some of the posts and see if it sounds like a fit. Then pose your question. With luck, you may get some really good answers. You can email some of the experts individually by clicking on the headings of their posts. When you ask a question, of me, or of someone on the above site, tell them your state, and maybe your city if it's a large city. That is crucial for answering code questions. Sharon Toji

Experience

I am a voting delegate to the American National Standards Institute that writes accessiblity standards used by the International Building Code and are the basis for the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). I am also a member of the Access Advisory Committee to the California State Building Standards Commission, among other positions.

Publications
Signs and the ADA (a manual I have written that is used across the country), and articles in many trade journals.

Education/Credentials
BA, Reed College Graduate work, University of Munich (Germany) and University of California, Irvine

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.