My understanding, in Texas, at least, is if an office space is not open to the general public, braille is not legally required. However, if any part of the building is accessible to the public, then ADA compliance, including braille signage, is necessary for those public areas. My general philosophy is you should CYA if possible.
ADA tactile and braille signs are required in all permanently designated spaces (even if they do not have a door). Wayfinding signs have a different ADA regulation to follow. By permanent spaces I mean office, breakroom, storage, electrical, etc. However, ballrooms or rooms with a temporary function do not require ADA signs designating the temporary purpose, but will require an ADA sign designating the space. For example, you would definitely designate a ballroom name on the wayfinding package and require a sign which must be ADA compliant in that space.
This includes employee areas. You cannot neglect employee spaces. The laws are for everyone and businesses are liable for not being compliant in all spaces. These are federal laws. They are enforceable in all states. Having provided over 5000 takeoffs to commercial signage clients - here are some of the ones that are ignored and can cause issues. Exit doors do require a tactile and braille exit (no matter what the architect tells you). You are allowed some design and character spacing leeway with this one. Inside your stairwells, there is large sign IBC Fire Code sign with a 5" stairwell landing designation. This sign does not need tactile and braille. Per ADA code your maximum height letter / number is 2". There is a second sign at the stairwell entrance that designates the floor number. Many people combine these signs. Some inspectors don't like this, but this will vary project to project and is often confused.
Make sure you do your research as there are many codes that can cause an inspector to fail these projects.
The best advice I can offer is to always stay on the side of angels. Make the customer aware of these federally mandated laws. If they choose to ignore your advice, make certain you have this documented. Do not argue with them. Provide them exactly what they want. Just make sure you are protecting yourself.
Mutoh instructed us that the lawyers go after the client but the client goes after the sign shop. Don’t let the client make you produce a non-compliant sign. Download the style sheet and show it to them. Make them sign off on it. Disability activists look for non-compliant signs.
They will always go to the source to push the responsibility to someone else. If you are dealing with an inspector that is lenient and doesn't care about the rules, be aware that the next one (maybe they decide to renovate) can demand all the non-compliant signs be pulled and replaced. Another issue - one inspector's approval is not grandfathered. We have seen several projects where a retired inspector rubber stamped inspections and the clients had to do significant overhaul because the new inspector new the codes. This includes mounting locations.
As a final thought, I know that if I couldn't see, it would be nice if the signs were all compliant so I could safely navigate (and maybe not end up in a storage room when trying to exit the building). Sadly most are not. If anyone has questions, feel free to drop me a line.
