Tactile Signage Program

Improving accessibility in City of Ottawa facilities

What are Tactile Signs?

Tactile means “understood through sense of touch”. Characters and pictograms are raised 0.8 to 1.5 mm above the surface, and have Grade 1 Braille located directly below the associated pictograph or large text. All doors within the public spaces of the facility will be identified with tactile signage. Drinking fountains, accessible routes, and information desks will be identified and directory signs will be included to help direct the public to major functional areas.  

Tactile Sign Program

The use of standardized, high-contrast tactile signs City of Ottawa initiated the Tactile Signage Program in an ongoing effort to removes barriersbarriers; and increases access to City facilities and helps visitors find what they are looking throughout City facilities. The City is phasing in the use of standardized, high-contrast tactile signs in all City of Ottawa public facilities. to help visitors find what they are looking for. The strategic placement and design of these signs is guided by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standard B651-04 (Accessible Design for the Built Environment) and the City of Ottawa’s Visual Identity Standards.

 General guidelines for tactile signs:

• Consistently located on the latch side of the door, where possible, at 150 mm from the door frame
• Mounted at a consistent height, between 1175 mm and 1525 mm above the floor
• Mounted on to the nearest adjacent wall where double-leaf doors are used or no wall space adjoins the door’s latch edge
• Have a glare-free surface
• Consistently shaped and coloured
• Have highly contrasting colours
• Include pictograms whenever possible (a pictogram is generic graphic representation of the purpose of or services provided)

For more information regarding the program please see the reception desk, or e-mail tactile@ottawa.ca.
 

[ top ]