How to Install Braille and Tactile Signs | Installation Height

June 21, 2016
Bruce Bromley

General Requirements

How to install Braille and Tactile Signs

Figure 1

Accessible wayfinding signage provides great benefit for all visitors and members of the public. When information is provided in various formats for use by people of all abilities everyone can safely move to their desired location.

All signs should be provided as ‘accessible signs’ at a reachable height with Braille and tactile characters. When high-level signage is provided, this must be complemented with accessible alternatives.

The International Symbol of Access also known as the (International) Wheelchair Symbol, consists of a blue square overlaid in white with a stylized image of a wheelchair. It is maintained as an international standard in ISO 7001 and within the Australian Standards.

Toilet Signs

How to install Braille tactile signs for disabled toilets

Figure 2

Signage must be provided next to each toilet airlock door to identify the locations of the accessible toilets, male toilets, female toilets (and ambulant toilets for use by both male and females).
Accessible signage must include Braille and tactile characters next to the door of each unisex accessible toilet.
Accessible toilet signage must include the International Symbol of Access (i.e. the wheelchair symbol) as per Figure 1.
The International Symbol of Access symbols on accessible toilet signs must be a white colour on a blue background.
All Braille & tactile characters on signs are to be located between 1200mm and 1600mm above the floor level.
Where accessible toilet signs just have a single line of text they must have the Braille and tactile characters located between 1250mm and 1350mm above floor level.
Braille & tactile signs are to be installed on the wall on the latch side of each accessible toilet door, and between 50mm and 300mm from the architrave.
Where the facility includes a shower it should provide a pictogram representing the shower within the facility.
The “LH” or “RH” on each accessible toilet sign indicates the direction of transfer from a wheelchair to the toilet seat. For example, if one were to:
- Transfer to the right onto the toilet seat with the grabrail on the wall on one’s right hand side this would be a “RH”.
- Transfer to the left onto the toilet seat with the grabrail on the wall on one’s left hand side this would be a “LH”.

How do I know if my toilet is LH or RH?

The following sketch shows the difference between LH (Left hand transfer) & RH (Right hand transfer)