Prepare for emergencies with Braille Sign Pros' California stairwell signs and emergency exit signs. These signs are your first line of safety in critical situations. Meticulously crafted and backed by 20 years of experience, these signs are durable and ADA compliant. Clear Braille and tactile text make it easy for everyone to find their way to safety. Prepare your building or space for clear guidance during fires or other crises. With Braille Sign Pros, you ensure safety and compliance while creating a secure environment for all occupants, offering clear and dependable guidance during critical times.
California ADA Exit & Stairwell Sign FAQ
California tactile exit signs are raised-character and Grade 2 braille signs mounted beside exit doors. They help people who are blind or have low vision find exits by touch. They are required under Title 24 of the California Building Code (CBC Section 1013.4) in addition to the illuminated exit signs above doors. They don't replace lighted exit signs. Both are required.
Yes. The federal 2010 ADA Standards require tactile signs at exit doors, but California's Title 24 goes further. It specifies the exact wording each exit door must use, such as "EXIT," "EXIT ROUTE," "EXIT STAIR DOWN," and "TO EXIT." When the state and federal rules differ, California businesses must meet whichever requirement is more stringent. In practice, that usually means Title 24.
CBC Section 1013.4 assigns wording based on where the door leads:
EXIT: grade-level exterior exit doors
EXIT STAIR DOWN / EXIT STAIR UP: doors leading to a grade-level exit by way of a stairway
EXIT RAMP DOWN / EXIT RAMP UP: doors leading to a grade-level exit by way of a ramp
EXIT ROUTE: doors leading to an exit enclosure or exit passageway, and exit access doors from a room into a corridor
TO EXIT: doors through a horizontal exit
Mount the sign on the wall at the latch side of the door. The baseline of the lowest tactile character must be at least 48 inches above the finished floor. The baseline of the highest tactile character must be no more than 60 inches above the floor. Leave a clear floor space of at least 18 by 18 inches, centered on the tactile characters and outside the door's swing, so a person can read the sign without being struck by the door.
Under CBC 11B-703, the requirements are:
Raised characters must be uppercase and sans serif, between 5/8 inch and 2 inches tall, and raised at least 1/32 inch.
Braille must be contracted Grade 2 braille with domed or rounded dots, placed directly below the text.
Characters must contrast with their background (light on dark or dark on light).
The sign must have a non-glare finish.
A stairwell identification sign, or floor identification sign, is a tactile raised-character and braille sign placed at each floor landing inside an enclosed stairway. It tells stair users which floor they are on. Under CBC Section 1023.9, these signs go on the stair side of the door, at the latch side, and follow the same 48 to 60 inch mounting height as other tactile signs.
The raised five-pointed star marks the level of exit discharge, which is the floor where you can leave the building. Title 24 requires the star on the floor identification sign at that level, placed to the left of the floor number. It gives visually impaired occupants a clear tactile cue that they've reached the exit floor during an evacuation.
No. California distinguishes between two types of stairway signs. Tactile floor identification signs are for everyday wayfinding and must have raised characters and braille. Fire department stairway signs, required in buildings with more than three stories above or below the level of exit discharge, show the floor level, stair identification, and the stair's upper and lower terminus. They are for emergency responders and are not required to be tactile.
Title 24 accessibility requirements apply to most public accommodations and commercial facilities. Examples include offices, retail stores, restaurants, schools, healthcare facilities, hotels, and government buildings. The requirements apply to new construction and generally also to alterations and tenant improvements. Buildings with enclosed stairways serving multiple floors also need tactile floor identification signs at each landing.
Missing or noncompliant tactile exit signs are among the most common items flagged in CASp inspections, building inspections, and accessibility lawsuits. California's Unruh Civil Rights Act allows statutory damages for each violation. Installing Title 24-compliant exit and stairwell signs protects occupants during emergencies and reduces your legal exposure.
Yes. Our California exit and stairwell signs are made to meet CBC Title 24 and ADA requirements. That includes the required wording, Grade 2 braille, raised tactile characters, and non-glare contrasting finishes. Choose from EXIT, EXIT ROUTE, EXIT STAIR UP, EXIT STAIR DOWN, TO EXIT, and more, in multiple background colors and styles.
