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I'm doing some interior signs at a new building. How necessary is it to do all the signs in ADA requirements? Is there some kind of inspector who goes around checking this?
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1287 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Jean...if it is a new building, the blueprints will call out all the signs that need ADA ! The building Inspectors will be the ones that check ... then the Attorneys will be there when it opens!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
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Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Jean, Si may be right. Call the zoning dept. to be sure, it is a legal nightmare for everyone involved. In So. Florida, many lawsuits have been filed for ADA infractions. I just did signs for an older pre-ADA hotel that was being sued.
-------------------- Rob Thomas 3410 Ketcham Ct Beautiful Springs FL 34134 Posts: 965 | From: Bonita Springs, Florida USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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Basically, the regulation states that every "space" in a building must be identified with ADA compliant signage. There are over 600 pages which apply to what is or is not compliant. ISA has a resource guide and there are seminars at most of the big sign shows on the topic. Let the architect or an ADA consultant decide what is needed for compliance and do what is ordered by him or the supt. or owner of the building. We have a disclaimer on our invoices which states that we are not responsible for compliance...we let someone else decide what to install and only do what we have on order. Not our fault if that is not complete and we make sure we suggest to those placing the order that they make sure they comply and we make no suggestions as to how to comply. Our college, the city, the county, a few banks and some larger corporations in our area have all been sued by ambulance chaser type lawyers for non-compliance with ADA. It gets ugly so be sure to insulate yourself from liability for deciding what is required to comply. The ADA law is ambiguous and almost impossible to comply with completely.
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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I find Kent's comment very intersting to say the least. As a sign "Contractor" you might be able to insulate yourself by giving a legal statement that you are not responsible for ADA compliancy, but the fact that "IF" you are hired to design, supply and install interior signage that must meet ADA compliancy, you as a "Designer" must with the best of your kowledge design the sign to comply, "Manufacture" it to comply as per ANSI and ADAAG and Florida Building Code and "Install" it to comply, there are a few ambiguous notes in ADA that leave room for interpretation, but for the most part they are very clear. You can pass off the reponsibility off to an Architect or consultant, but in the long run, are you ready or have the means to comply with thier recomendations also? I recomend the book "Signs and the ADA" by Sharon Toji 310.323.5210, It breaks down ADA reccomendations into a more simplified form, and if you are going to get more into this kind of signage, you will need to educate yourself before you get over your head. There was recently a sign contractor in California who manufactured ADA signs designed by a design firm, they were obviously not California compliant, they were forced to re-manufacture all the signs in the building to compliant signage at the tune of around 100k so you can see the importance of understandind ADA, and if I remember right, Florida (like California) has adopted Ansi and ADAAG (ADA guidlines) as part of thier building code so basically "it's the law" Call Sharon, she can probably shed some more light on the subject and good luck. Rick
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1540 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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