Where do I need to put braille and tactile signage?

Accessible, braille & tactile signs must identify

• each sanitary facility (except a sanitary facility within a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 1b or 3 building)

• each ambulant accessible accessible facility

• each space with a hearing augmentation system

• each door required by NCC E4.5 indicating the words “Exit” and “Level” followed by the level number

• where a pedestrian entrance is not accessible, signage must be provided to direct a person to the nearest accessible entrance

• where a bank of sanitary facilities does not include an accessible facility, signage must be provided to direct a person to the nearest unisex accessible facility

Additional information can be found about the Australian Building Code Board/National Construction Code Sections D3.6 and E4.5 from www.abcb.gov.au

Why do I need to use braille and tactile signage?

In Australia there are approximately 300,000 people who are blind or vision impaired and many more have some reduction in the effectiveness of their sight.

The majority of these people, (approximately 70%) are over the age of 65 years. Significant vision impairment occurs in 10% of people aged 40 years and over. The rate of blindness is 25 times higher in people aged 70 than in younger people. The majority of people with a vision loss or blindness triples with each decade of life over 40. The number of people in Australia with eye disease will double in the next 25 years as the population ages.

What is the difference between ambulant and accessible?

Ambulant toilets are designed for people with ambulant disabilities. They offer railings and space for a walking frame or crutches but do not need additional space for a wheelchair. 

Accessible toilets are designed to have space to allow a wheelchair inside and also offer the assistance to transfer from the wheelchair to toilet. They have a LH or RH railing on one side of the toilet and have lower mirrors and sinks.

What are statutory signs?

Statutory signs are signs that are required by law to ensure BCA compliance is met and the building complies with all aspects of health and safety legislation.

Are braille and tactile signs required by Law?

Braille Signage is required in all new or refurbished public buildings requiring a building permit as part of the Disability Discrimination Act. The requirements for Braille Signage are set out in the Australian Standards and are as follows

• 1428 - Design for Access & Mobility

• 1428.1 Part 1 - General Requirements for Access in New Building Works

• 1428.2 Part 2 - Building & Facilities Enhanced & Additional Requirements

• 1428.3 Part 3 - Requirements for Children & Adolescents with Physical Disabilities

• 1428.4.1 Part 4.1 - Way-finding for the Vision Impaired

• 1428.5 Part 5 - Communication for People who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired

The Australian Building Codes Board has set out specifications for the design & installation of Braille and Tactile signs in NCC D3.6.

Are your signs compliant?

Yes, all our signs are designed to comply with various Australian Standards and Codes.

Can I have a gloss finish on my braille signs?

The short answer is no. Code dictated that in order to comply with the relevant code the braille tactile signage must have either a matte or a satin finish. A gloss finish will not meet the code and hence not comply.

What are the actual requirements for a braille sign in Australia?

SPECIFICATION D3.6 BRAILLE AND TACTILE SIGNS indicates the following:

(a) Tactile characters must be raised or embossed to a height of not less than 1 mm and not more than 1.5 mm.

(b) Sentence case (upper case for the first letter of each main word and lower case for all other letters) must be used for all tactile characters, and—
    (i) upper case tactile characters must have a height of not less than 15 mm and not more than 55 mm, except that the upper case tactile characters on a sign identifying a door required by E4.5 to be provided with an exit sign must have a height of not less than 20 mm and not more than 55 mm; and
    (ii) lower case tactile characters must have a height of 50% of the related upper case characters.

 (c) Tactile characters, symbols, and the like, must have rounded edges.

 (d) The entire sign, including any frame, must have all edges rounded.

 (e) The background, negative space or fill of signs must be of matt or low sheen finish.

 (f) The characters, symbols, logos and other features on signs must be matt or low sheen finish.

 (g) The minimum letter spacing of tactile characters on signs must be 2 mm.

 (h) The minimum word spacing of tactile characters on signs must be 10 mm.

 (i) The thickness of letter strokes must be not less than 2 mm and not more than 7 mm.

 (j) Tactile text must be left justified, except that single words may be centre justified.

 (k) Tactile text must be Arial typeface.

I can’t find what I’m looking for. Can I order something to be custom made?

Absolutely! We custom make all styles of signage catering to all industry, so no matter the size, colour or shape we can help custom make braille, tactile and compliance signage to meet your needs. Signage is what we do so please contact us and we will bring your concepts to reality.

Do I have to pay freight?

If we are shipping directly to you, as you are installing the sign yourself, there will generally be an additional freight charge of $30.00 plus GST for delivery via Go Logistics or TNT, depending on your location (freight charges may vary depending on the rates of the nominated carrier).

Depending on the size of some orders, there may be an additional freight charge that you would be made aware of at the time of placing your order.

How do I install my sign?

Please refer to our installation guide here - https://www.premierbraille.com.au/installation-guide. If you require additional help please do not hesitate to contact us to get a better understanding. 

Our braille signage comes with a high quality double sided tape to the rear, so once the correct position of your signage is established its a simple process of removing the tape liner and adhering the sign to the wall or door. It is important to clean the surface you are intending to apply the sign. Warm soapy water is recommended and once dry a wipe with isopropyl alcohol is advised. Always test the wall surface prior to cleaning to ensure the IPA doesn’t effect the finish.

Premier Braille can provide a full installation service should you feel more comfortable with someone else installing the signage. Be sure to contact us with the full requirements and we can quote for the installation component should you wish.

Do I need to clean my braille sign after it is installed?

The simple answer is yes! Every so often (depending on the level of use the sign recieves) we recommend you gently wipe your sign/s with a mild cleaning product eg. spray and wipe or similar, this should ensure you get a longer life out of your product. With people constantly touching the braille signs so wiping it over with spray/disinfectant wipes can also help reduce any bacteria left behind. 

How can I pay?

If you are ordering directly from our Premier Braille order page, it will calculate your order and there will be an option to pay via your credit card.  Should you wish to eft, please contact us via email on sales@premierbraille.com.au or call us on 1300 975 285.

Do you take American Express?

No. We take MasterCard and Visa.

Do I have to order on line?

No. If you would prefer you can simply email or phone your order through. If you require advice as to the style or type of signage you require we are only too happy to talk you through your options. The braille and tactile signage we have displayed online is a reflection of the more popular styles however should you require something more tailored or custom made please contact us.

Do you offer other signage solutions?

Yes! Premier Braille is part of Pivot Creative Pty Ltd and we have been producing all types of quality, custom made signage since 1995. Please visit our website - https://www.pivotcreative.com.au/ here to check us out or alternatively contact us on 1300 975 285

Why Choose Premier Braille?

Here at Premier Braille we specialise in helping make your signage ideas come to life. If we don’t stock what you are after, we can make it! All of our signage is proudly manufactured locally in NSW, Australia. Whether you require braille signage, statutory & compliance signage or custom signs for your business, we have got you covered. Please contact us to speak with our friendly staff for more information.

What we offer at Premier Braille

Our selection of braille and tactile signage include, but are not limited to, a range of 6 styles. Brushed, Copper and Satin Natural are printed on 0.9mm SNA (standard anodised aluminium). Onyx, Sapphire and Snow are printed on 3mm acrylic. 

 Alongside our range of braille and tactile signs at Premier Braille, we also offer statutory and compliance signs. You can choose from our ranges online which include, Satin Natural, Brushed or Snow and are printed on 0.9mm SNA. 

 Please do not hesitate to contact us for any custom requests for your signs.

Custom colours

We love to help you bring all your signage ideas to life, we have the ability to mix and match colours to specially meet your braille and tactile needs. 

 We work with 0.9mm SNA and 3mm acrylic to deliver the appropriate sign you require. We will work with our clients to produce most custom colours/sizes.

Our friendly team can assist you when choosing your colour scheme to ensure it meets with mandatory compliance. 

How quickly will I get my braille or compliance signage?

Here at Premier Braille we pride ourselves on making all our braille and tactile signs in-house at our factory in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

 This means turn around is much faster for you, as we understand urgency in today’s busy lifestyles.

Our aim is to send your order out within 24-72hrs depending on the size of the order and the availability of the stock. Once your order is complete and packed for shipping, our friendly staff with communicate with you, letting you know that your order is on its way.

Custom requests can take a little longer however contact us and discuss your requirements. We will do what it takes to meet your expectations.

No job too small!

We have the ability to handle jobs of any size whether it be big or small. No matter what you require, you can guarantee we will get the job done. We aim to send out all quotes within 24 hours. For larger orders, feel free to contact us for assistance ordering what you require.

Australia wide service

Our warehouse is located in Cromer, Sydney. We proudly deliver Australia wide, no matter where you are located in Australia. Please talk to us if you require our installation services.

Installation

So, you’ve ordered your braille and tactile signage order and you will require some assistance to install it? 

We are happy to step in to assist you.  We offer a full installation service Australia wide provided by our high quality team of installers.

What is the code around Hearing Augmentation requirements in Australia?

(a) A hearing augmentation system must be provided where an inbuilt amplification system, other than one used only for emergency warning, is installed—
     (i) in a room in a Class 9b building; or
     (ii) in an auditorium, conference room, meeting room or room for judicatory purposes; or
     (iii) at any ticket office, teller's booth, reception area or the like, where the public is screened from the service provider.

 (b) If a hearing augmentation system required by (a) is—
     (i) an induction loop, it must be provided to not less than 80% of the floor area of the room or space served by the inbuilt amplification system; or
     (ii) a system requiring the use of receivers or the like, it must be available to not less than 95% of the floor area of the room or space served by the inbuilt amplification system, and the number of receivers provided must not be less than—

 (A) if the room or space accommodates up to 500 persons, 1 receiver for every 25 persons or part thereof, or 2 receivers, whichever is the greater; and

          (B) if the room or space accommodates more than 500 persons but not more than 1000 persons, 20 receivers plus 1 receiver for every 33 persons or part thereof in excess of 500 persons; and

          (C) if the room or space accommodates more than 1000 persons but not more than 2000 persons, 35 receivers plus 1 receiver for every 50 persons or part thereof in excess of 1000 persons; and

          (D) if the room or space accommodates more than 2000 persons, 55 receivers plus 1 receiver for every 100 persons or part thereof in excess of 2000 persons.

(c) The number of persons accommodated in the room or space served by an inbuilt amplification system must be calculated according to D1.13.

 (d) Any screen or scoreboard associated with a Class 9b building and capable of displaying public announcements must be capable of supplementing any public address system, other than a public address system used for emergency warning purposes only.

Can you supply Safety Strips for glazing and what is the requirement for that ?

Yes we can. We supply all type of frosted and coloured safety films for both private and commercial spaces.

To comply a safety strip must be a minimum of 75mm high and sit between 900mm and 1000mm from floor level.

Clause 6.6 of AS 1428.1 - “visual indicators on glazing’, or manifestations.
This clause calls for all frame-less or fully glazed doors, sidelights and glazing that could be mistaken for a door or opening to be “clearly marked for their full width with a solid and non-transparent contrasting line.”

The safety strip must provide a minimum of 30% luminance contrast from the space behind the glass. This ensures the strip will be noticeable and somewhat stand out from the background.

AUSTRALIAN Standards (AS)…

The Australian Standard pertaining to braille and tactile signage in Australia is AS1428.1

Building Code of AUSTRALIA (BCA)…

The Building Code of Australia pertaining to braille ad tactile signs is BCA D3.6