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Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY

Section 1143A

California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

1143A.1 General.

When signs and/or identification devices are provided they shall comply with this section.

When both visual and tactile characters are required, either one sign with both visual and tactile characters, or two sepa- rate signs—one with visual and one with tactile characters— shall be provided.

Exception: Signs need not be provided within dwelling units.

Note: See Section 1127A.7 for additional signage require- ments applicable to sanitary facilities, and Section 1124A for additional signage requirements applicable to eleva- tors.

1143A.2 Identification signs.

When signs identify permanent rooms and spaces of a building or site, they shall comply with Sections 1143A.1, 1143A.5, 1143A.6 and 1143A.7.

Exception: Exterior signs that are not located at the door to the space they serve shall not be required to comply with Section 1143A.6.

1143A.3 Directional and informational signs.

When signs direct to or give information about permanent rooms and spaces of a building or site, they shall comply with Sections 1143A.5.

1143A.4 Accessibility signs.

When signs identify, direct or give information about accessible elements and features of a building or site, they shall include the appropriate symbol of accessibility and shall comply with Section 1143A.5.

11A-42 2022 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY

TABLE 1143A.5 VISUAL CHARACTER HEIGHT

HEIGHT TO FINISH FLOOR
FROM BASELINE OF CHARACTER		 HORIZONTAL
VIEWING DISTANCE		 MINIMUM
CHARACTER HEIGHT
40 inches (1016 mm) to less than
or equal to 70 inches (1778 mm)		 Less than 72 inches (1829 mm) 5/8 inch (15.9 mm)
40 inches (1016 mm) to less than
or equal to 70 inches (1778 mm)		 72 inches (1829 mm) and greater 5/8 inch (15.9 mm), plus1/8 inch (3.2 mm) per foot (305 mm)
of viewing distance above 72 inches (1829 mm)
Greater than 70 inches (1778 mm) to less
than or equal to 120 inches (3048 mm)		 Less than 180 inches (4572 mm) 2 inches (51 mm)
Greater than 70 inches (1778 mm) to less
than or equal to 120 inches (3048 mm)		 180 inches (4572 mm) and greater 2 inches (51 mm), plus1/8 inch (3.2 mm) per foot (305 mm)
of viewing distance above 180 inches (4572 mm)
Greater than 120 inches (3048 mm) Less than 21 feet (6401 mm) 3 inches (76 mm)
Greater than 120 inches (3048 mm) 21 feet (6401 mm) and greater 3 inches (76 mm), plus1/8 inch (3.2 mm) per foot (305 mm)
of viewing distance above 21 feet (6401 mm)

1143A.5 Visual characters.

Signs with visual characters shall comply with this section.

1. Finish and contrast. Characters and their background shall have a non-glare finish. Characters shall contrast with their background, either light on a dark back- ground or dark on a light background.

2. Character type. Characters shall be uppercase, lower- case or a combination of both. Characters shall be con- ventional in form, and shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative or of other unusual forms.

3. Proportions. Characters on signs shall be selected from fonts where the width of the uppercase letter “O” is 60 percent minimum and 110 percent maximum of the height of the uppercase letter “I”.

4. Character height. Visual characters shall be sized in accordance with Table 1143A.5. Viewing distance shall be measured as the horizontal distance between the character and an obstruction preventing further approach towards the sign. Character height shall be based on the uppercase letter “I”.

5. Height from finish floor. Visual characters shall be 40 inches (1016 mm) minimum above the finish floor.

Exceptions:

1. Visual characters indicating elevator car con- trols.

2. Floor-level exit signs complying with Chapter 10, Section 1011.6.

6. Stroke thickness. Stroke thickness of the uppercase let- ter “I” shall be 10 percent minimum and 20 percent maximum of the height of the character.

7. Character spacing. Character spacing shall be mea- sured between the two closest points of adjacent char- acters, excluding word spaces. Spacing between individual characters shall be 10 percent minimum and 35 percent maximum of character height. 8. Line spacing. Spacing between the baselines of sepa- rate lines of characters within a message shall be 135 percent minimum and 170 percent maximum of the character height.

9. Character format. Text shall be in a horizontal format.

1143A.6 Raised characters and pictorial symbol signs.

When raised characters are required or when pictorial symbols (pic- tograms) are used on such signs, they shall comply with this section. Raised characters and pictorial symbols shall be duplicated in Braille complying with Section 1143A.7.

1. Character type. Raised characters on signs shall be 1 /32 inch (0.8 mm) minimum above their background. Characters shall be sans serif uppercase, and shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative or of other unusual forms.

2. Character height. Character height measured verti- cally from the baseline of the character shall be 5 /8 inch (15.9 mm) minimum and 2 inches (51 mm) maxi- mum based on the height of the uppercase letter “I”.

3. Character format. Characters and Braille shall be in a horizontal format.

4. Proportions. Raised characters on signs shall be selected from fonts when the width of the uppercase letter “O” is 60 percent minimum and 110 percent maximum of the height of the uppercase letter “I”.

5. Stroke thickness. Stroke thickness of the uppercase letter “I” shall be 15 percent maximum of the height of the character.

6. Character spacing. Character spacing shall be mea- sured between the two closest points of adjacent raised characters within a message, excluding word spaces. When characters have rectangular cross sec- tions, spacing between individual raised characters shall be 1 /8 inch (3.2 mm) minimum and 4 times the raised character stroke width maximum. When char- acters have other cross sections, spacing between individual raised characters shall be 1 /16 inch (1.6 mm) minimum and 4 times the raised character stroke width maximum at the base of the cross sections, and 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) minimum and 4 times the raised character stroke width maximum at the top of the cross sections. Characters shall be separated from raised borders and decorative elements 3 /8 inch (9.5 mm) minimum.

7. Line spacing. Spacing between the baselines of sepa- rate lines of raised characters within a message shall

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY

be 135 percent minimum and 170 percent maximum of the raised character height.

8. Location. When a tactile sign is provided at a door, the sign shall be located alongside the door at the latch side. When a tactile sign is provided at double doors with one active leaf, the sign shall be located on the inactive leaf. When a tactile sign is provided at double doors with two active leafs, the sign shall be located to the right of the right hand door. When there is no wall space at the latch side of a single door or at the right side of double doors, signs shall be located on the near- est adjacent wall. Signs containing tactile characters shall be located so that a clear floor space of 18 inches (457 mm) minimum by 18 inches (457 mm) minimum, centered on the tactile characters, is provided beyond the arc of any door swing between the closed position and 45 degree open position. When permanent identi- fication signage is provided for rooms and spaces they shall be located on the approach side of the door as one enters the room or space. Signs that identify exits shall be located on the approach side of the door as one exits the room or space.

9. Height. Signs with raised characters shall be located 48 inches (1219 mm) minimum above the finish floor, measured from the baseline of the lowest Braille cells and 60 inches (1524 mm) maximum above the finish floor, measured from the baseline of the highest line of raised characters.

Exception: Tactile characters for elevator car controls shall not be required to comply with this section.

10. Pictorial symbol signs (pictograms). Pictorial symbol signs (pictograms) shall be accompanied by a text description located directly below the pictogram field. The text description shall comply with Sections 1143A.6 and 1143A.7. The outside dimension of the pictogram field shall be a minimum of 6 inches (152 mm) in height. Characters and Braille shall not be located in the pictogram field.

1143A.7 Braille.

Contracted Grade 2 Braille shall be used wherever Braille is required in other portions of these stan- dards.

1143A.7.1 Dimensions and capitalization. Braille dots shall have a domed or rounded shape and shall comply with Table 1143A.7.1. The indication of an uppercase let- ter or letters shall only be used before the first word of sentences, proper nouns and names, individual letters of the alphabet, initials and acronyms.

1143A.7.2 Position. Braille shall be positioned below the corresponding text in a horizontal format, flush left or centered. If text is multilined, braille shall be placed below the entire text. Braille shall be separated 3 /8 inch (9.5 mm) minimum and 1 /2 inch (12.7 mm) maximum from any other tactile characters and 3 /8 inch (9.5 mm) minimum from raised borders and decorative elements.

Exception: Braille provided on elevator car controls shall be separated 3 / 16 inch (4.8 mm) minimum and

shall be located directly below the corresponding raised characters or symbols.

TABLE 1143A.7.1 BRAILLE DIMENSIONS

MEASUREMENT RANGE MINIMUM IN INCHES
MAXIMUM IN INCHES
Dot base diameter 0.059 (1.5 mm) to
0.063 (1.6 mm)
Distance between two
dots in the same cell1		 0.100 (2.5 mm)
Distance between corresponding
dots in adjacent cells1		 0.300 (7.6 mm)
Dot height 0.025 (0.6 mm) to
0.037 (0.9 mm)
Distance between corresponding dots
from one cell directly below1		 0.395 (10 mm) to
0.400 (10.2 mm)

1. Measured center to center.

1143A.8 Symbols of accessibility.

Symbols of accessibility and their background shall have a non-glare finish. Symbols of accessibility shall contrast with their background with either a light symbol on a dark background or a dark symbol on a light background. Symbols of accessibility shall comply with the following:

1. International Symbol of Accessibility. The “Interna- tional Symbol of Accessibility” shall consist of a white figure on a blue background. The color blue shall approximate FS 15090 in Federal Standard 595C. (See Figure 11A-1A.)

2. International Symbol of TTY. (See Figure 11A-11C.)

3. Volume Control Telephones. (See Figure 11A-11D.)

4. Assistive Listening Systems. (See Figure 11A-11E.)

5. Cleaner Air Symbol. (See Chapter 11B.)

6. Toilet and Bathing Facilities Geometric Symbols. ( See Section 1127A.7.)

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▸Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT
  3. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING
  4. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED
  5. Appendix N — REPLICABLE
  6. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED
  7. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  8. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  9. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  10. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  11. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  12. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  13. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
  14. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  15. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  16. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  17. ▸Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
    Overview
    1. Section 1101A
    2. Section 1102A
    3. Section 1103A
    4. Section 1104A
    5. Section 1105A
    6. Section 1106A
    7. Section 1107A
    8. Section 1108A
    9. Section 1109A
    10. Section 1110A
    11. Section 1111A
    12. Section 1112A
    13. Section 1113A
    14. Section 1114A
    15. Section 1115A
    16. Section 1116A
    17. Section 1117A
    18. Section 1118A
    19. Section 1119A
    20. Section 1120A
    21. Section 1121A
    22. Section 1122A
    23. Section 1123A
    24. Section 1124A
    25. Section 1125A
    26. Section 1126A
    27. Section 1127A
    28. Section 1128A
    29. Section 1129A
    30. Section 1130A
    31. Section 1131A
    32. Section 1132A
    33. Section 1133A
    34. Section 1134A
    35. Section 1135A
    36. Section 1136A
    37. Section 1137A
    38. Section 1138A
    39. Section 1139A
    40. Section 1140A
    41. Section 1141A
    42. Section 1142A
    43. Section 1143A
    44. Section 1144A
    45. Section 1145A
    46. Section 1146A
    47. Section 1147A
    48. Section 1148A
    49. Section 1149A
    50. Section 1150A
  18. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  19. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  20. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  21. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  22. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  23. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  24. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  25. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  26. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  30. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  31. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  32. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  33. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  34. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  35. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  36. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  37. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  38. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  39. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  40. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  41. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  42. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  43. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  44. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  45. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  46. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  47. Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  48. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  49. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  50. Appendix H — SIGNS
  51. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  52. Appendix J — GRADING
  53. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
  54. Appendix P — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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