Global Braille Signs: A Comparison of Standards

It will provide an in-depth analysis of the 2024 update to the International Standard for Braille Signs and Labels, and compare the differences between the standards used in Europe, America, and Asia. It will also provide practical advice on how to go from understanding the regulations to putting them into practice.This includes guidelines for public space signage, materials selection, and installation, to enable designers, architects, and accessibility service organizations to quickly grasp the latest compliance standards.

Why is the standard for braille signage worth paying attention to?

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in creating barrier-free environments, but many people are unaware that braille signs are not just raised dots.Different countries have their own "hidden rules" about size, material, and even installation height.For example, Japan requires that Braille signs use high-contrast colors, while the EU emphasizes the importance of tactile clarity.If you get it wrong, you may just have to do it again and pay a fine, or you may even face legal action.

2024: The core differences in national regulations.

Western Europe: It's the details that make the difference.

This year the ADA added a new standard for outdoor signs, requiring that the Braille be able to withstand wind, rain and sun, so that it will remain tactile after exposure to these forces.Designer "Old Wang" has had a bad experience. Last year he used ordinary acrylic for signs, and after three months in Florida they started to warp.In Europe, the EN standard is particularly strict about the height of the signs: the center point must be 1.2 meters above the ground, plus or minus 5 centimeters. When installing signs, it is best to use a laser level.

Asian Standard: Practicality rules.

China's GB / T standard for accessibility design just widened the acceptable range for Braille dot diameter from 1.5 mm to 1.2-1.8 mm, leaving more room for material selection.However, it's worth noting that the standards in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and other places are even stricter. For example, subway stations must use stainless steel.The Japanese standards allow for two systems: katakana braille and kanji braille. For establishments that cater to foreign visitors, such as hotels, the standards suggest using both systems.

A Guide to Avoiding the Pitfalls: Practical Experience from Design to Installation

Three major misconceptions about material selection.

Aluminum is hot in summer and cold in winter, so warm-touch resins are recommended for nursing homes.Recently a shopping mall made Braille signs out of mirror-polished stainless steel, but the glare was so strong that it was complained about by the visually impaired, and in the end all the signs had to be coated with a matte finish.

The hidden minefield of installation sites.

Last year in Britain an accident occurred in which a blind person fell and died after his clothes caught on a 3-mm-high Braille sign on a handrail.Nowadays the industry standard is to put the main information at 1.5 meters from the floor and the emergency information at 30 centimeters from the floor, which is both in compliance with regulations and avoids accidental touching.

Future Trends: Technology and Braille.

Recently in Germany there was a pilot project for “ intelligent Braille signs, ” which speak when touched and can also connect to a cell phone via NFC to provide directions.Although the cost is eight times that of traditional printing, museums and hospitals are already beginning to experiment with the new technology.In Taiwan too, a company is developing a solar-powered Braille sign with an LED border that will light up automatically in the rain. Perhaps next year we will see the introduction of a supplementary national standard for such signs.

(Chen Chin-ju / photos by Jimmy Lin / tr. by Phil Newell)