In United States, since the 1990s, a number of laws, standards, and guidelines on accessibility have been issued. However, when people discuss accessibility, some say ADA, some say ADAAG, some say 2010 ADA, some say ANSI, and some from California even mention Title 24. This causes confusion for many people:
What are the differences between them? Which standard should I use?
This article is designed to solve this problem.
To summarize their differences in a short way, that is:
The ADA is equivalent to the constitution of the accessibility field; ADAAG was an early implementation technical guideline for the accessibility field, which is no longer in use; the 2010 ADA Standard is the currently used mandatory legal standard for the accessibility field, and it is also an update to the ADAAG technical guideline; ANSI A117.1 is a voluntary industry standard for the accessibility field. It is not a law, but it is the technical source for the government to formulate standards; California Title 24 is the accessibility standard of California. In California, this standard must be followed, and following the California standard also satisfies the federal standard.
Next, I will introduce them one by one.
ADA
The ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act, a civil rights law signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. It doesn’t specify the exact height of handrails, but rather legally mandates that public spaces, employment opportunities, and transportation must be equally accessible to people with disabilities.
ADAAG
ADAAG stands for ADA Accessibility Guidelines. After the ADA law was passed, a set of specific implementation standards (such as slope ratio and doorway width) were needed. Therefore, the Access Board issued ADAAG in 1991 as a technical guideline for the ADA Act.
2010 ADA Standard
With advancements in technology and society, the old 1991 standard (the ADAAG) needed to be updated. Therefore, the U.S. Department of Justice released “2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design” in 2010, and from March 15, 2012, required all new and renovated projects to comply with the 2010 ADA Standards, effectively replacing the older ADAAG.
ANSI A117.1
ANSI is the American National Standards Institute. Its accessibility standard A117.1 predates ADA by a significant margin (in 1961), and ADA Standards incorporated many ANSI technical details during their development in 2010. While the two are very similar, ANSI is sometimes stricter than ADA in certain details (such as wheelchair turning space).
Nevertheless, because ANSI A117.1 is a voluntary industry standard, even with its stricter requirements, people are generally only required to follow the mandatory federal or local standards.
California Title 24
California Title 24 is the full name of California’s building code, covering all building standards including energy efficiency, structural safety, and accessibility design.
In the signage industry, it typically refers to Part 11B of this code, the most stringent accessibility design guideline in the United States, which requires Braille spacing and visual sign standards that exceed those of the federal ADA.
California Title 24 applies only to California, and complying with this California Title 24 regulation simultaneously meets federal standards; it is a regulation that California professionals must understand.
Summary of U.S. Accessibility Laws, Regulations, Technical Guidelines, and Standards
| Abbreviation | Full Name | Category | Release/Update Time | Core Role in Signage Industry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act | Federal Law | 1990 | It is the top-level fundamental law, stipulating that public places must have barrier-free facilities. |
| ADAAG | ADA Accessibility Guidelines | Design Guidelines | First released in 1991 | It is a transitional document, an early technical guideline developed by the Access Board, and a precursor to the 2010 standard. |
| 2010 ADA Standard | 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design | Mandatory Statutory Standards | Released in 2010 (mandatory from 2012) | It is a nationwide standard, specifying the installation height, contrast, font size, etc., for signage. It serves as the universal benchmark for signage production across the United States (excluding California). |
| ANSI A117.1 | ICC/ANSI A117.1 | Industry/Local Adoption Standards | Continuously updated (e.g., 2017 version) | It is the source of technology, and it serves as the blueprint for many state building codes. Sometimes it is even stricter than the ADA in details. |
| Title 24 | California Building Code (Part 2) | California State Laws | Updated approximately every 3 years | It’s the strictest standard, specifically for California. For example, its California Spacing requirements are wider and stricter than the federal ADA standards. It’s a must-see for projects in California. |
Take Away
While there are numerous laws, regulations, technical guidelines, and standards regarding accessibility in the United States, after reading this article and gaining a comprehensive understanding of these concepts, you should know that in the signage industry, remembering just one sentence and you can avoid most problems:
Follow California Title 24 in California, and follow the 2010 ADA Standard outside of California.
As a veteran expert in this industry, FT Signage not only focuses on the products themselves but also closely monitors industry standards and developments. This is to accurately grasp the needs of our clients and provide them with tailored products and services.
Welcome to contact us to discuss your customization needs and explore further details.
