Help! I have an Epilog 40W using Corel. I have a big client wanting Braille signs.

[Larry Bratton]

Dan, he was speaking about a nail set in a recent thread. Got to be slow though.

[Joe Pelonio]

Of all the ADA signs I have made and those made by others that I have installed, I have never had anyone check to verify any of the details of the sign other than that they looked like Grade II braille (balls). They have been inspected by the fire department for Elevator related signs, and by building inspectors for new construction, and both measured to make sure the placement conforms with the regulations. I suspect that as to the braille and lettering, they assume the lettering is OK and Braille actually matches the text. They may not even know how to read braille. Enforcement is by the Department of Justice, and it seems like they only respond to complaints, not inspect. Not to suggest that anyone do less than perfect signs, if caught there are serious fines and you could be sued by a blind person or organization that supports them.

[Larry Bratton]

Same here Joe. However, you never know when an inspector will call something. I once got called on a public swimming pool sign (not braille though) where the letters were 1/4" too short. Ya just never know, so I try and follow the specs but I never figured out how they would know if the braille was correct without bringing in a person that could read it. I have been told that few blind persons actually use it but find the tactile lettering more useful.

Of all the ADA signs I have made and those made by others that I have installed, I have never had anyone check to verify any of the details of the sign other than that they looked like Grade II braille (balls). They have been inspected by the fire department for Elevator related signs, and by building inspectors for new construction, and both measured to make sure the placement conforms with the regulations. I suspect that as to the braille and lettering, they assume the lettering is OK and Braille actually matches the text. They may not even know how to read braille. Enforcement is by the Department of Justice, and it seems like they only respond to complaints, not inspect. Not to suggest that anyone do less than perfect signs, if caught there are serious fines and you could be sued by a blind person or organization that supports them.

[Scott Shepherd]

Dan, he was speaking about a nail set in a recent thread. Got to be slow though.

Yes, it's a nail set. It's not slow at all. You can do 15-20 balls in about a minute. It's very fast once you get it worked out. Inserting the braille balls into the average braille sign we do takes less than a minute.

[Jerome Stanek]

I did a job in Springfield IL where the inspector called me on an ADA counter top that was 1/16 inch to high I had to point out that the flooring had not been installed and that the flooring is 1/2 inch carpet. He said he would recheck on the finish inspection. Also the ADA signs for the restroom had to be replace as the supplied ones he said were not compliant because of the braille

[Keith Outten]

My braille insertion tool is a 2/32 nail set you can purchase at any hardware store for about 3 bucks. It works really well and once you get accustomed to using it you can set braille spheres in a typical sign in about 30 seconds per sign. The trick is to use a wet sponge....tap the end of the nail set on the sponge and it will pick up and place several spheres before you have to moisten the end again. Get a wooden drawer pull and put it on the driving end of the nail set so you can tap the sphere in pace with your palm.

I laser engrave all of the tactile text, graphics and braille holes on my signs but I use Corian as my substrate on every job. I have no interest in making acrylic signs, I can certainly make them but I "No Bid" jobs when acrylic signs are specified if I can't get an approved substitution to use Corian.

I believe the patent Dan mentioned is either expired or about to expire.
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[Keith Outten]

Jerome,

Anything that involves ADA can be scrutinized by the project inspector, the customer, the Fire Marshall, and a number of other organizations. They tend to be much more stringent enforcing the rules where ADA is concerned. This is not just signs it includes ramps, bathroom stalls, handrails even the amount of pressure it takes to open a door which is seven PSI. I had to borrow a machine from a local machine shop that was calibrated to check the doors on one of our projects when an older gentleman complained that it took to much effort to open a door. We were very tough on the height of any handrail and the diameter of the rail on every project when I was a State Inspector because there were groups of engineers who would do the final inspections who were meticulous about maintaining the proper dimensions. Over the years my sign work was not even checked after several projects were completed. The powers that be will lighten up once you have demonstrated a high quality of work and an understanding of the specifications.

There are exceptions, some people have absolutely no idea what the requirements are concerning the ADA. I have visited other State projects that should have been rejected but passed with flying colors.
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[Larry Bratton]

Oh well, live and learn.