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Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide For People With Disabilities 2 Edition
Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide For People With Disabilities 2 Edition
org/DARAC
Emergency Evacuation
Planning Guide
For People with Disabilities
2nd Edition (January 2016)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary ................................................................................................................ 3
Preface .................................................................................................................... 5
SUMMARY
The NFPA Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities has
been developed with input from NFPA’s Disability Access Review and Advisory
Committee and others in the disability community to provide general information
on this important topic. In addition to providing information on the five general
categories of disabilities (mobility impairments, visual impairments, hearing
impairments, speech impairments, and cognitive impairments), the Guide outlines
the four elements of evacuation information that occupants need: notification, way
finding, use of the way, and assistance. Also included is a Personal Emergency
Evacuation Planning Checklist that building services managers and people with
disabilities can use to design a personalized evacuation plan. The annexes give
government resources and text based on the relevant code requirements and ADA
criteria.
OVERVIEW
The NFPA Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities was
developed in response to the emphasis that has been placed on the need to properly
address the emergency procedure needs of the disability community. This Guide
addresses the needs, criteria, and minimum information necessary to integrate the
proper planning components for the disabled community into a comprehensive
evacuation planning strategy. This Guide is available to everyone in a free,
downloadable format from the NFPA website, http://www.nfpa.org/disabilities.
While building codes in the United States have continuously improved, containing
requirements that reduce damage and injury to people and property by addressing
fire sprinklers, fire-resistive construction materials, and structural stability, equally
important issues such as energy efficiency, protection of heritage buildings, and
accessibility are relatively recent subjects that we’ve begun to address in codes.
educational programs, and represent NFPA at seminars and conferences with the
aim to improve fire, building, and life safety around the world.
NFPA offers its international members access to the latest fire, building, electrical, and life safety codes and
standards. A number of NFPA codes are translated into different languages. NFPA maintains a large
presence in Latin America, having established NFPA Chapters in Argentina, Colombia, the
Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela and offers training seminars in Spanish
throughout the region. Additionally, NFPA’s International Operations publishes the NFPA Journal
Latinoamericano®, a bilingual fire and life safety magazine in Spanish and Portuguese.
About NFPA: Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury,
and property and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards. The association delivers
information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training,
education, outreach, and advocacy, and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering
the NFPA mission.
Contact: This Guide was prepared by NFPA staff. Contact Allan B. Fraser, Senior Building Code Specialist,
with comments and suggestions at afraser@nfpa.org or 617-984-7411.
PREFACE
The first version of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that went before
Congress was crafted by President Ronald Reagan’s appointees to the National
Council on Disability (NCD). Even at that time (late 1980s), the disability
movement included conservatives as well as liberals and was unified in the view
that what was needed was not a new and better brand of social welfare system but
a fundamental examination and redefinition of the democratic tradition of equal
opportunity and equal rights.
In just two years, Congress passed the ambitious legislation, and in 1990 President
George Bush held the largest signing ceremony in history on the south lawn of the
White House, a historic moment for all people with disabilities. To some degree,
passage of the ADA was brought about by members of Congress realizing their
obligation to ensure civil rights for all Americans. The benefits of the ADA extend
to a broad range of people by cutting across all sectors of society; virtually everyone
has already experienced positive benefits from the law or knows someone who has.
According to some studies, as many as two-thirds of people with disabilities are
unemployed. This is largely due to attitudinal and physical barriers that prevent
their access to available jobs. With a labor-deficit economy, the national sentiment
opposed to long-term welfare reliance, and the desire of people with disabilities to
be economically independent and self-supporting, employment of people with
disabilities is essential.
The ADA is historic not only nationally but globally as well. No other mandate in
the world has its scope. Other nations may provide greater levels of support services
and assistive technology, but the United States ensures equal rights within a
constitutional tradition. The ADA has unique appeal for all Americans because,
unlike other civil rights categories such as race and gender, any one of us could
become a member of the protected class at any moment in our lives.
NFPA may not be able to resolve all the accessibility issues that we face in our
lives, but it certainly can provide for accessibility in the built environment where it
is regulated through codes and standards.
This Guide has been written to help define, coordinate, and document the
information building owners and managers, employers, and building occupants
need to formulate and maintain evacuation plans for people with disabilities,
whether those disabilities are temporary or permanent, moderate or severe.
The plan should also be reviewed and practiced regularly by everyone involved.
People who have a service animal should practice the evacuation drills with them.
While standard drills are essential, everyone should also be prepared for the
unexpected. Building management should conduct unannounced as well as
announced drills and vary the drills to pose a variety of challenges along designated
Practice and planning do make a difference. During the 1993 bombing of the World
Trade Center, a man with a mobility impairment was working on the 69th floor.
With no plan or devices in place, it took over six hours to evacuate him. In the 2001
attack on the World Trade Center, the same man had prepared himself to leave the
building using assistance from others and an evacuation chair he had acquired and
kept under his desk. It took only 1 hour and 30 minutes to get him out of the building
the second time.
In the 2013 case of the Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled and the
Center for Independence of the Disabled, nonprofit organizations in New York;
Gregory D. Bell; and Tania Morales vs. Michael R. Bloomberg, in his official
capacity as Mayor of the City of New York, and The City of New York, II Civ.
6690 (JMF), in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York,
the Court concluded that the City violated the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and
the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) by failing to provide people
with disabilities meaningful access to its emergency preparedness program in
several ways. In particular:
(1) The City’s evacuation plans did not accommodate the needs of people with
disabilities with respect to high-rise evacuation and accessible transportation.
(2) Its shelter plans did not require that the shelter system be sufficiently
accessible, either architecturally or programmatically, to accommodate people
with disabilities in an emergency.
(3) The City had no plan for canvassing or for otherwise ensuring that people with
disabilities — who may, because of their disability, be unable to leave their
building after a disaster — are able to access the services provided by the City
after an emergency.
(4) The City’s plans to distribute resources in the aftermath of a disaster did not
provide for accessible communications at the facilities where resources are
distributed.
(5) The City’s outreach and education program failed in several respects to
provide people with disabilities the same opportunity as others to develop a
personal emergency plan.
(6) The City lacked sufficient plans to provide people with disabilities
information about the existence and location of accessible services in an
emergency.
Chapter 1
GENERAL INFORMATION
Most people will, at some time during their lives, have a disability, either temporary
or permanent, that will limit their ability to move around inside or outside a building
and to easily use the built environment. In fact, more than one in seven
noninstitutionalized Americans ages 5 and over have some type of disability (13
percent); problems with walking and lifting are the most common.
The statistics in the following list are from the 2013 American Community Survey
(ACS) published by Cornell University:
While planning for every situation that may occur in every type of an emergency is
impossible, being as prepared as possible is important. One way to accomplish this
is to consider the input of various people and entities, from executive management,
human resources, and employees with disabilities to first responders, other
businesses, occupants, and others nearby. Involving such people early on will help
everyone understand the evacuation plans and the challenges that businesses,
building owners and managers, and people with disabilities face. The issues raised
in this Guide will help organizations prepare to address the needs of people with
disabilities, as well as others, during an emergency.
This Guide was developed using the five general categories of disabilities
recognized in the Fair Housing Act Design Manual. It addresses the four elements
of “standard” building evacuation information that apply to everyone but that may
require modification or augmentation to be of use to people with disabilities. Most
accessibility standards and design criteria are based on the needs of people defined
by one of the following five general categories:
Mobility
Wheelchair Users
People with mobility disabilities may use one or more devices, such as canes,
crutches, a power-driven or manually operated wheelchair, or a three-wheeled cart
or scooter, to maneuver through the environment. People who use such devices
have some of the most obvious access/egress problems. Typical problems include
maneuvering through narrow spaces, going up or down steep paths, moving over
rough or uneven surfaces, using toilet and bathing facilities, reaching and seeing
items placed at conventional heights, and negotiating steps or changes in level at
the entrance/exit point of a building.
Respiratory
People with a respiratory impairment can generally use the components of the
egress system but may have difficulty safely evacuating due to dizziness, nausea,
breathing difficulties, tightening of the throat, or difficulty concentrating. Such
people may require rest breaks while evacuating.
understood, then that person has a visual impairment that could affect his or her
ability to evacuate in an emergency unless alternatives are provided.
Speech Disabilities
A speech disability prevents a person from using or accessing information or
building features that require the ability to speak. Speech impairments can be
caused by a wide range of conditions, but all result in some level of loss of the
ability to speak or to verbally communicate clearly.
The only “standard” building egress systems that may require a person to have the
ability to speak in order to evacuate a building are the emergency phone systems in
areas of refuge, elevators, or similar locations. These systems need to be assessed
in the planning process.
Cognitive Disabilities
A cognitive disability prevents a person from using or accessing building features
due to an inability to process or understand the information necessary to use those
features.
All standard building egress systems require a person to be able to process and
understand information in order to safely evacuate a building.
It is not uncommon for people to have multiple disabilities. For example, someone
could have a combination of visual, speech, and hearing disabilities. Evacuation
planning for people with multiple disabilities is essentially the same process as for
those with individual disabilities, although it will require more steps to develop and
complete more options or alternatives.
SERVICE ANIMALS
In addition to the provisions about service dogs, the Department’s revised ADA
regulations have a new, separate provision about miniature horses that have been
individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.
(Miniature horses generally range in height from 24 inches to 34 inches measured
to the shoulders and generally weigh between 70 pounds and 100 pounds.) Entities
covered by the ADA must modify their policies to permit miniature horses where
reasonable. The regulations set out four assessment factors to assist entities in
determining whether miniature horses can be accommodated in their facility. The
assessment factors are (1) whether the miniature horse is housebroken; (2) whether
the miniature horse is under the owner’s control; (3) whether the facility can
accommodate the miniature horse’s type, size, and weight; and (4) whether the
miniature horse’s presence will not compromise legitimate safety requirements
necessary for safe operation of the facility.
Under the ADA, state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit
organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to
accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is
normally allowed to go. For example, in a hospital it would be inappropriate to
exclude a service animal from areas such as patient rooms, clinics, cafeterias, or
examination rooms. However, it may be appropriate to exclude a service animal
from operating rooms or burn units where the animal’s presence may compromise
a sterile environment.
Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless
these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability
prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of
the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
Only under the following rare and unusual circumstances can a service animal be
excluded from a facility:
The animal’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
The animal’s presence would result in a fundamental alteration to the nature
of a business or a state or local government’s program or activity.
The animal would pose an “undue hardship” for an employer. Such
instances would include a service animal that displays vicious behavior
People with service animals should also discuss how they can best be assisted if the
service animal becomes hesitant or disoriented during the emergency situation. The
procedure should be practiced so that everyone, including the service animal, is
comfortable with it.
Circulation Path
A circulation path is a continuous and unobstructed way of travel from any point
in a building or structure to a public way.
The components of a circulation path include but are not limited to rooms,
corridors, doors, stairs, smoke-proof enclosures, horizontal exits, ramps, exit
passageways, escalators, moving walkways, fire escape stairs, fire escape ladders,
slide escapes, alternating tread devices, areas of refuge, and elevators.
An area of refuge serves as a temporary haven from the effects of a fire or other
emergency. The person with disabilities must have the ability to travel from the
area of refuge to the public way, although such travel might depend on the
assistance of others. If elevation differences are involved, an elevator or other
evacuation device might be used, or the person might be moved by other people
using a cradle carry, a swing (seat) carry, or an in-chair carry or by a stair descent
device. (See 7.2.12 of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, for more information.)
A usable circulation path would also be one that complies with the applicable
requirements of ICC/ANSI A117.1, American National Standard for Accessible
and Usable Buildings and Facilities, for the particular disabilities involved.
NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm Code, defines a notification appliance as “a fire
alarm system component such as a bell, horn, speaker, light, or text display that
provides audible, tactile, or visible outputs, or any combination thereof.”
Chapter 2
No Special Requirements. People with limited mobility can hear standard alarms
and voice announcements and can see activated visual notification appliances
(strobe lights) that warn of danger and the need to evacuate. No additional planning
or special accommodations for this function are required.
WAY FINDING
An area of refuge serves as a temporary haven from the effects of a fire or other
emergency. A person with a severe mobility impairment must have the ability to
travel from the area of refuge to the public way, although such travel might depend
on the assistance of others. If elevation differences are involved, an elevator or other
evacuation device might be used, or others might move the person by using a
wheelchair carry on the stairs.
Special Note 1
People with limited mobility need to know if there is a usable
circulation path from the building they are in. If there is not a
usable circulation path, then their plans will require alternative
routes and methods of evacuation to be put in place.
Where not all circulation paths are usable by people with disabilities, the usable
circulation path(s) should be clearly identified by the international symbol of
accessibility:
Locations of exit signs and directional exit signs are specified by model codes.
Usually the signs are placed above exit doors and near the ceiling.
Supplemental directional exit signs may be necessary to clearly delineate the route
to the exit. Exit signs and directional exit signs should be located so they are readily
visible and should contrast against their surroundings.
Special Note 2
People with limited mobility should be provided with some form of
written directions, a brochure, or a map showing all directional
signs to all usable circulation paths. For new employees and other
regular users of the facility it may be practical to physically show
them the usable circulation paths as well as provide them with
written information. In addition, simple floor plans of the building
that show the locations of and routes to usable circulation paths
should be available and given to visitors with limited mobility when
they enter the building. A large sign could be posted at each
building entrance stating the availability of written directions or
other materials and where to pick them up. Building security
personnel, including those staffing entrance locations, should be
trained in all the building evacuation systems for people with
disabilities and be able to direct anyone to the nearest usable
circulation path.
Special Note 3
Where such directional signs are not in place, people with limited
mobility should be provided with written directions, a brochure, or
a map showing the locations of all usable circulation paths.
Can People with Limited Mobility Use the Usable Circulation Path by
Themselves?
An area of refuge serves as a temporary haven from the effects of a fire or other
emergency. People with limited mobility must be able to travel from the area of
refuge to the public way, although such travel might depend on the assistance of
others. If elevation differences are involved, an elevator or other evacuation device
might be used, or the person might be moved by another person or persons using a
cradle carry, a swing (seat) carry, or an in-chair carry. Training, practice, and an
understanding of the benefits and risks of each technique for a given person are
important aspects of the planning process.
Special Note 4
Not all people using wheelchairs or other assistive devices are
capable of navigating a usable circulation path by themselves. It
is important to verify that each person using any assistive device
can travel unassisted through the usable circulation path to a
public way. Those who cannot must have the provision of
appropriate assistance detailed in their emergency evacuation
plans. Additionally, the plans should provide for evacuation of the
device or the availability of an appropriate alternative once the
person is outside the building. Otherwise, the person with limited
In October 2003, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) began
working with the elevator industry to develop and test more reliable emergency
power systems and waterproof components. Under consideration are software and
sensing systems that adapt to changing smoke and heat conditions, helping to
maintain safe and reliable elevator operation during fire emergencies. Such changes
could allow remote operation of elevators during fires, thus freeing fire fighters to
assist in other ways during an emergency.
The topic was further examined in 2010 during the Workshop on the Use of
Elevators in Fires and Other Emergencies cosponsored by the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (ASME International), NIST, the International Code
Council (ICC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the U.S. Access
Board, and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). The workshop
provided a forum for brainstorming and formulating recommendations in an effort
to improve codes and standards.
The majority of recommendations led to the formation of two new ASME task
groups: the Use of Elevators by Fire Fighters task group and the Use of Elevators
for Occupant Egress task group, and new code requirements. This work was a
collaborative effort of ASME, NIST, ICC, NFPA, IAFF, the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. Access Board.
Here again, good planning and practice are key elements of a successful evacuation.
IS ASSISTANCE REQUIRED?
One Person
When only one person is necessary to assist a person with limited mobility , a
practical plan should identify at least two, ideally more, people who are willing and
able to provide assistance. Common sense tells us that a specific person may not be
available at any given time due to illness, vacation, an off-site meeting, and so on.
The identification of multiple people who are likely to have different working and
traveling schedules provides a more reliable plan.
Multiple People
When more than one person is necessary to assist a
person with limited mobility, a practical plan should
identify at least twice the number of people required
who are willing and able to provide assistance.
Common sense tells us that one or more specific
people may not be available at any given time due to
illness, vacation, off-site meetings, and so on. The
identification of a pool of people who are likely to
have different working and traveling schedules
provides a more reliable plan.
Guidance
Explaining how and where the person needs to go to get to the usable
circulation path
Escorting the person to and/or through the usable circulation path
This topic should be discussed in the planning stage. Agreement should be reached
regarding how long the person giving assistance is expected to wait for the first
responders to arrive. Such discussion is important because waiting too long can
endanger more lives. If someone is willing to delay his or her own evacuation to
assist a person with limited mobility in an emergency, planning how long that wait
might be is wise and reasonable.
Face to face
Phone
PDA
E-mail
Visual
Other
Chapter 3
No Special Requirements. People who are blind or have low vision can hear
standard building fire alarms and voice announcements over public address systems
that warn of a danger or the need to evacuate or that provide instructions. Therefore,
no additional planning or special accommodations for this function are required.
WAY FINDING
An area of refuge is a space that serves as a temporary haven from the effects of a
fire or other emergency. A person who is blind or has low vision must be able to
travel from the area of refuge to the public way, although such travel might depend
on the assistance of others.
Special Note 5
A person who is blind or has low vision needs to know if there is a
usable circulation path from the building. If there is not a usable
circulation path, then the personal emergency evacuation plan for
that person will require that alternative routes and methods of
evacuation be put in place.
Where not all circulation paths are usable by people with disabilities, the usable
circulation paths should be identified by the tactile international symbol of
accessibility:
The location of exit signage and directional signage for those with visual
impairments is clearly and strictly specified by codes. The requirements include but
are not limited to the type, size, spacing, and color of letters for visual characters
and the type, size, location, character height, stroke width, and line spacing of
tactile letters or braille characters. The specific code requirements are included in
Annex C.
Special Note 6
It may be practical to physically take new employees who are blind
or have low vision to and through the usable circulation paths and
to all locations of directional signage to usable circulation paths.
In addition, simple floor plans of the building indicating the location
of and routes to usable circulation paths should be available in
alternative formats such as single-line, high-contrast plans. These
plans should be given to visitors who are blind or have low vision
when they enter the building so they can find the exits in an
emergency. Tactile and braille signs should be posted at the
building entrances stating the availability of the floor plans and
where to pick them up. Building security personnel, including
those staffing the entrances, should be trained in all accessible
building evacuation systems and be able to direct anyone to the
nearest usable circulation path.
Special Note 7
The personal evacuation plan for a person who is blind or has low
vision needs to be prepared and kept in the alternative format
preferred by that person, including but not limited to braille, large
type, or tactile characters.
disabilities. It may be practical to physically show new employees who are blind or
have low vision where all usable circulation paths are.
Special Note 8
Can People Who are Blind or Have Low Vision Use the Circulation
Path by Themselves?
A circulation path is considered a usable circulation path if it meets one of the
following criteria:
A person who is blind or has low vision is able to travel unassisted through
it to a public way.
A person who is blind or has low vision is able to travel unassisted through
that portion of the usable circulation path necessary to reach an area of
refuge.
An area of refuge serves as a temporary haven from the effects of a fire or other
emergency. A person who is blind or has low vision must be able to travel from the
area of refuge to the public way, although such travel might depend on the
assistance of others. If elevation differences are involved, an elevator might be
used, or the person might be led down the stairs.
IS ASSISTANCE REQUIRED?
Police officer
Emergency medical services: emergency medical technicians (EMTs),
ambulance personnel
Guidance
Explaining how to get to the usable circulation path
Escorting the person who is blind or has low vision to and/or through the
circulation path
Chapter 4
It is extremely important for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to know what,
if any, visual notification systems are in place. They also need to be aware of which
emergencies will activate the visual notification system and which emergencies will
not. Alternative methods of notification need to be put into the emergency
evacuation plans for people who are deaf or hard of hearing so they can get all the
information they need to evacuate in a timely manner.
Natural events
Storms (hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, snow, lightning, hail, etc.)
Earthquakes (Although a system would provide only a few seconds’
notice, it may lessen anxiety and prevent panic.)
Human-caused events (robbery, hostile acts, random violence, etc.)
Special Note 9
Scrolling reader boards are becoming
more common and are being applied in
creative ways. In emergency situations,
they can flash to attract attention and
provide information about the type of emergency or situation.
Some major entertainment venues use this technology to provide
those who are deaf or hard of hearing with “closed captioning” at
every seat, for very little cost. A reversed scrolling reader board is
mounted in the back of the room. Guests who are deaf or hard of
hearing are provided with small teleprompter-type screens
mounted on small stands. The guests place the stands directly in
front of themselves and adjust the screens so they can see the
reader board reflected off the screens. The screens are
transparent, so they don’t block the view of guests behind the
screen users.
Personal notification devices are also coming on the market. Such devices can be
activated in a number of ways, including having a building’s alarm system relay
information to the device. Information can be displayed in a variety of forms and
outputs.
Another option is the use of televisions in public and working areas with the closed
caption feature turned on. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offices in
Washington D.C. use this technology.
WAY FINDING
Simple floor plans of the building indicating the location of and routes to usable
circulation paths should be available in alternative formats such as single-line, high-
contrast plans. These plans should be given to visitors when they enter the building
so they can find the exits in an emergency. Signs in alternative formats should be
posted at the building entrances stating the availability of the floor plans and where
to pick them up. Building security personnel, including those staffing the entrances,
should be trained in all accessible building evacuation systems and be able to direct
anyone to the nearest usable circulation path.
No Special Requirements. Once notified, people who are deaf or hard of hearing
can read and follow standard exit and directional signs and use any standard means
of egress from the building.
Elevators are required to have both a telephone and an emergency signaling device.
People with hearing or speech impairments should be aware of whether the
telephone is limited to voice communications and where the emergency signaling
device rings — whether it connects or rings inside the building or to an outside line
— and who would be responding to it.
IS ASSISTANCE REQUIRED?
No Special Requirements. Once notified, many people who are deaf or hard of
hearing can read and follow standard exit and directional signs and use any standard
means of egress from the building. However, some may need assistance in areas of
low light or no light where their balance could be affected without visual references.
Chapter 5
No Special Requirements. People with a speech disability can hear standard alarms
and voice announcements and can see visual indicators that warn of danger and the
need to evacuate. Therefore, no additional planning or special accommodations for
this function are required.
WAY FINDING
Simple floor plans of the building indicating the location of and routes to usable
circulation paths should be available in alternative formats such as single-line, high-
contrast plans. These plans should be given to visitors when they enter the building
so they can find the exits in an emergency. Signs in alternative formats should be
posted at the building entrances stating the availability of the floor plans and where
to pick them up. Building security personnel, including those staffing the entrances,
should be trained in all accessible building evacuation systems and be able to direct
anyone to the nearest usable circulation path.
The only standard building egress system that may require the ability to speak in
order to evacuate a building is an emergency phone in an elevator. Elevators are
required to have both a telephone and an emergency signaling device. People with
a speech disability should be aware of whether the telephone is limited to voice
communications and where the emergency signaling device rings — whether it
connects or rings inside the building or to an outside line — and who would be
responding to it.
IS ASSISTANCE REQUIRED?
No Special Requirements. Once notified, people with a speech disability can read
and follow standard exit and directional signs and use any standard means of egress
from the building. However, some may need assistance with voice communication
devices in an elevator.
Chapter 6
Possible accommodations for people with cognitive disabilities might include the
following:
WAY FINDING
Simple floor plans of the building indicating the location of and routes to usable
circulation paths should be available in alternative formats such as single-line, high-
contrast plans. These plans should be given to visitors when they enter the building
so they can find the exits in an emergency. Signs in alternative formats should be
posted at the building entrances stating the availability of the floor plans and where
to pick them up. Building security personnel, including those staffing the entrances,
should be trained in all accessible building evacuation systems and be able to direct
anyone to the nearest usable circulation path.
IS ASSISTANCE REQUIRED?
Primary
Name: Location:
Primary
Building (home, office, etc.):______________________ Phone:
Cell
Address : _____________________________________ Phone:
Floor: E-mail:
Service Animal: Yes No
OCCUPANT NOTIFICATION
Type of Is there Method or Device
Emergency for Notification? Comment
YES (√ ) NO (√ ) N/A (√ )
Fire
Earthquake
Flood
Storm
Attack
Other
(specify)
YES NO N/A
(√ ) (√ ) (√ ) Comments
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YES NO N/A
(√ ) (√ ) (√ ) Comments
Earthquake
Flood
Storm
Attack
Other
Does this person know the location of
each emergency notification
device/system and understand its
meaning/function?
Fire
Earthquake
Flood
Storm
Attack
Other
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All or portions of this work may be reproduced, displayed, or distributed for personal or noncommercial purposes. Commercial
reproduction, display, or distribution may only be with permission of the National Fire Protection Association.
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YES NO N/A
(√ ) (√ ) (√ ) Comments
Clearly visible?
In tactile text?
In braille?
Audile?
Do exterior circulation paths have
guardrails to protect open sides of
walking surfaces?
Are exterior circulation paths smooth,
solid, and substantially level travel
surfaces?
Do exterior circulation paths branch
off and head away from the public
way? (They should not.)
Is each exit marked with a sign
reading “EXIT” that is properly
located and:
Clearly visible?
In tactile text?
In braille?
Directional Sound?
Are there brightly lit signs, displays,
or other objects in or near the line of
vision that:
Obstruct exit signs?
Distract attention from exit signs?
(Particularly for people with low
vision?)
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YES NO N/A
(√ ) (√ ) (√ ) Comments
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YES NO N/A
(√ ) (√ ) (√ ) Comments
Cell
Name Phone Phone E-mail
Assistant 1:
Assistant 2:
Assistant 3:
Assistant 4:
Assistant 5:
Assistant 6:
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YES NO
(√ ) (√ ) Comments
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Annex A
The bad news is that, while we have made a good start on “accessibility” in the past 55 years, we still have a
long way to go. Why does it seem to take so much time and effort to write workable codes and standards for
accessibility? What makes dealing with quality-of-life issues, particularly accessibility, so difficult? After all,
the goal is simple — we want everyone to have the right to the same opportunities, a right that flows directly
from our Constitution. So why are we having such a hard time reaching that goal?
What makes it so difficult is simply that each one of us is unique. We certainly have many general physical
features in common, like eyes and ears and organs. But there are differences even in those areas, some small,
some great. My eyes are blue, yours are brown, her vision is 20/20, he is blind — there are literally billions of
combinations. It’s relatively easy to write code so that we’re all protected in buildings that won’t burn or won’t
collapse during an earthquake. It’s much more difficult to make sure that everyone can use a building with
equal facility. We now have computer software that can “read” word documents out loud to assist people with
visual impairments. We have voice-activated software that can “type” into a computer to assist people with
limited use of their hands and fingers. Our goal in accessible code requirements for buildings is to provide that
same kind of flexibility and to accommodate anyone and everyone who uses every building.
The first regulations for accessibility adopted in the late 1960s and early 1970s were successful and produced
benefits for millions of people. Ramps, elevators, curb cuts, accessible toilets, and signage provided a new
freedom for getting to, into, and around thousands of public facilities. Now we’ve learned that those
adaptations are only a small part of the solution. We need to address audio and visual accessibility as well as
mobility accessibility. What do people do once they’re inside a building? Where do they sit? How good is the
quality of those seats? How well can people see and hear? How might they get out of the building in an
emergency?
In 1990 Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which is generally considered the
flagship piece of legislation on the subject of accessibility. In the act, the term disability means one of the
following:
A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of a
person
A record of such an impairment
Being regarded as having such an impairment
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Some 43,000,000 Americans have one or more physical or mental disabilities, and this number is increasing
as the population grows older.
Historically, society has tended to isolate and segregate people with disabilities. Despite some improvements,
discrimination against people with disabilities continues to be a serious and pervasive social problem.
Discrimination against people with disabilities persists in the critical areas of employment, housing, public
accommodations, education, transportation, communication, recreation, institutionalization, health services,
voting, and access to public services. Unlike people who experience discrimination on the basis of race, color,
sex, national origin, religion, or age, those of us who experience discrimination on the basis of disability often
have no legal recourse to redress such discrimination.
People with disabilities continually encounter various forms of discrimination, including outright intentional
exclusion; the discriminatory effects of architectural, transportation, and communication barriers;
overprotective rules and policies; the effects of failure to make modifications to existing facilities and practices;
exclusionary qualification standards and criteria; segregation; and relegation to lesser services, programs,
activities, benefits, jobs, or other opportunities.
Census data, national polls, and other studies document that people with disabilities, as a group, occupy an
inferior status in our society and are severely disadvantaged socially, vocationally, economically, and
educationally. People with disabilities have been faced with restrictions and limitations, subjected to a history
of purposeful unequal treatment, and relegated to a position of political powerlessness in our society, based on
characteristics beyond their control and resulting from stereotypic assumptions not truly indicative of the their
abilities to participate in and contribute to society.
The nation's proper goals regarding people with disabilities are to ensure equality of opportunity, full
participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for such people. Yet, the continuing existence
of unfair and unnecessary discrimination and prejudice denies people with disabilities the opportunity to
compete on an equal basis and to pursue those opportunities for which our free society is justifiably famous.
This discrimination costs the United States billions of dollars in unnecessary expenses resulting from
dependency and non-productivity.
To provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against
people with disabilities
To provide clear, strong, consistent, and enforceable standards that address discrimination against
people with disabilities
To ensure that the federal government plays a central role in enforcing the standards established in the
ADA on behalf of people with disabilities
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To invoke the sweep of congressional authority, including the power to enforce the 14th Amendment
and to regulate commerce in order to address the major areas of discrimination that people with
disabilities face daily
That clear and powerful message was sent to the American people over 15 years ago, but somehow we missed
the point. Somehow we continue to miss the point. Right now, more than 43 million Americans have
disabilities. The members of this group are constantly changing — at any moment, you and I could become
part of this group for some period of time.
Disability is not about a specific group of people. Disability is about a specific time in the life of each and
every one of us. For some it may be temporary, for others it may last much longer.
It’s about the fourth-grader who breaks her leg falling off the playground slide and the hockey player who
crashes into the boards 15 seconds into his first college game and is paralyzed from the neck down.
It’s about the construction worker who’s nearly deaf from running a jackhammer and the person born with no
arms.
It’s about the 30-year-old asthma sufferer and the 60-year-old office worker recuperating from bypass surgery.
It’s about each and every one of us at some point in our lives.
As a society, we have mistakenly adopted a mindset that divides us into two groups, “able bodied” and
“disabled.” The fact is that we all will be part of the disabled community for some time in our lives. It is from
that perspective that we need to think about and regulate our built environment and our programs. If we act
from the perspective of what we would want when, rather than if, we become disabled, we truly will be able
to make great progress for all people.
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Annex B
GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
This listing of government resources (provided by the U.S. Access Board) may be helpful in developing
integrated emergency plans that fully consider the needs of people with disabilities.
A variety of organizations in the public and private sectors provide information on accessibility and accessible
design. These links are provided for information purposes only; NFPA and the U.S. Access Board make no
warranty, expressed or implied, that the information obtained from these sources is accurate or correct.
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DisabilityInfo.Gov
This website is a one-stop interagency portal for information on federal programs, services, and resources for
people with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers, and other community members.
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FirstGov.gov (http://www.firstgov.gov)
This is the official U.S. gateway to all government information and is the catalyst for a growing electronic
government. This site provides a powerful search engine and links to information from the federal
government, local and tribal governments, and nations around the world.
Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov)
Established by a consortium of federal agencies, this website allows users to find and apply for competitive
grant opportunities from all federal grant-making agencies. It contains information on more than 900 grant
programs offered by 26 federal agencies.
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The IRS provides information about tax code provisions including tax credits (Section 44) and deductions
(Section 190) for businesses that comply with the ADA. These provisions are explained in Publication 907
which can be accessed online (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p907.pdf) or ordered by calling the number
below.
Tax code information: 800-829-1040 (voice); 800-829-4059 (TTY)
To order Publication 907: 800-829-3676 (voice); 800-829-4059 (TTY)
Within Washington D.C.: 202-622-3110 (voice); (for TTY, use relay service)
Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR) at www.ktdrr.org
(Formerly National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR))
The purpose of the Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR) is
to make it easier to find, understand, and use the results of research that can make a positive impact on the
lives of people with disabilities. In collaboration with several national and international partners, the Center
on KTDRR carries out integrated training, dissemination, utilization, and technical assistance activities to
(a.) increase use of valid and relevant evidence-based research findings that inform decision-making and (b.)
increase the understanding and application of knowledge translation principles.
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Thomas (http://thomas.loc.gov)
This is the site operated by the Library of Congress where one can obtain status and full text of current and
previous years’ legislation, as well as the Congressional Record.
Usability.gov (http://www.usability.gov)
This site is designed to provide current and accurate information on how to make websites and other user
interfaces more accessible and useful for people with disabilities. Information is provided by the National
Cancer Institute (NCI), the federal government's principal agency for cancer research. This site also links to a
variety of quality websites and resources on usability, accessibility, and related topics.
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Annex C
702.1 General. Fire alarm systems shall have permanently installed audible and visible alarms
complying with NFPA 72 (1999 or 2002 edition) (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced
Standards” in Chapter 1), except that the maximum allowable sound level of audible notification
appliances complying with section 4-3.2.1 of NFPA 72 (1999 edition) shall have a sound level no
more than 110 dB at the minimum hearing distance from the audible appliance. In addition, alarms
in guest rooms required to provide communication features shall comply with Sections 4-3 and 4-4
of NFPA 72 (1999 edition) or Sections 7.4 and 7.5 of NFPA 72 (2002 edition).
EXCEPTION: Fire alarm systems in medical care facilities shall be permitted to be provided
in accordance with industry practice.
703 Signs.
703.1 General. Signs shall comply with 703. Where both visual and tactile characters are required,
either one sign with both visual and tactile characters, or two separate signs, one with visual, and
one with tactile characters, shall be provided.
703.2 Raised Characters. Raised characters shall comply with 703.2 and shall be duplicated in
braille complying with 703.3. Raised characters shall be installed in accordance with 703.4.
Advisory 703.2 Raised Characters. Signs that are designed to be read by touch should not have
sharp or abrasive edges.
703.2.1 Depth. Raised characters shall be 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) minimum above their background.
703.2.3 Style. Characters shall be sans serif. Characters shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly
decorative, or of other unusual forms.
703.2.4 Character Proportions. Characters shall be selected from fonts where the width of the
uppercase letter “O” is 55 percent minimum and 110 percent maximum of the height of the uppercase
letter “I”.
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703.2.5 Character Height. Character height measured vertically from the baseline of the character
shall be 5/8 inch (16 mm) minimum and 2 inches (51 mm) maximum based on the height of the
uppercase letter “I”.
EXCEPTION: Where separate raised and visual characters with the same information are
provided, raised character height shall be permitted to be ½ inch (13 mm) minimum.
Figure 703.2.5
Height of Raised Characters
703.2.6 Stroke Thickness. Stroke thickness of the uppercase letter “I” shall be 15 percent maximum
of the height of the character.
703.2.7 Character Spacing. Character spacing shall be measured between the two closest points
of adjacent raised characters within a message, excluding word spaces. Where characters have
rectangular cross sections, spacing between individual raised characters shall be 1/8 inch (3.2 mm)
minimum and 4 times the raised character stroke width maximum. Where characters 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.
703.2.8 Line Spacing. Spacing between the baselines of separate lines of raised characters within
a message shall be 135 percent minimum and 170 percent maximum of the raised character height.
703.3 Braille. Braille shall be contracted (Grade 2) and shall comply with 703.3 and 703.4.
703.3.1 Dimensions and Capitalization. Braille dots shall have a domed or rounded shape and
shall comply with Table 703.3.1. The indication of an uppercase letter or letters shall only be used
before the first word of sentences, proper nouns and names, individual letters of the alphabet, initials,
and acronyms.
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Figure 703.3.1
Braille Measurement
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703.3.2 Position. Braille shall be positioned below the corresponding text. If text is multi-lined, braille
shall be placed below the entire text. Braille shall be separated 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) minimum 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 either directly below or adjacent to the corresponding raised
characters or symbols.
Figure 703.3.2
Position of Braille
703.4 Installation Height and Location. Signs with tactile characters shall comply with 703.4.
703.4.1 Height Above Finish Floor or Ground. Tactile characters on signs shall be located 48
inches (1220 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground surface, measured from the baseline of
the lowest tactile character and 60 inches (1525 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground
surface, measured from the baseline of the highest tactile character.
EXCEPTION: Tactile characters for elevator car controls shall not be required to comply with
703.4.1.
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Figure 703.4.1
Height of Tactile Characters Above Finish Floor or Ground
703.4.2 Location. Where a tactile sign is provided at a door, the sign shall be located alongside the
door at the latch side. Where a tactile sign is provided at double doors with one active leaf, the sign
shall be located on the inactive leaf. Where 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. Where 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 nearest
adjacent wall. Signs containing tactile characters shall be located so that a clear floor space of 18
inches (455 mm) minimum by 18 inches (455 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.
EXCEPTION: Signs with tactile characters shall be permitted on the push side of doors with
closers and without hold-open devices.
Figure 703.4.2
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EXCEPTION: Where visual characters comply with 703.2 and are accompanied by braille
complying with 703.3, they shall not be required to comply with 703.5.2 through 703.5.9.
703.5.1 Finish and Contrast. Characters and their background shall have a non-glare finish.
Characters shall contrast with their background with either light characters on a dark background or
dark characters on a light background.
Advisory 703.5.1 Finish and Contrast. Signs are more legible for persons with low vision when
characters contrast as much as possible with their background. Additional factors affecting the ease
with which the text can be distinguished from its background include shadows cast by lighting
sources, surface glare, and the uniformity of the text and its background colors and textures.
703.5.3 Style. Characters shall be conventional in form. Characters shall not be italic, oblique, script,
highly decorative, or of other unusual forms.
703.5.4 Character Proportions. Characters shall be selected from fonts where the width of the
uppercase letter “O” is 55 percent minimum and 110 percent maximum of the height of the uppercase
letter “I”.
703.5.5 Character Height. Minimum character height shall comply with Table 703.5.5. 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”.
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703.5.6 Height From Finish Floor or Ground. Visual characters shall be 40 inches (1015 mm)
minimum above the finish floor or ground.
EXCEPTION: Visual characters indicating elevator car controls shall not be required to
comply with 703.5.6.
703.5.7 Stroke Thickness. Stroke thickness of the uppercase letter “I” shall be 10 percent minimum
and 30 percent maximum of the height of the character.
703.5.8 Character Spacing. Character spacing shall be measured between the two closest points
of adjacent characters, excluding word spaces. Spacing between individual characters shall be 10
percent minimum and 35 percent maximum of character height.
703.5.9 Line Spacing. Spacing between the baselines of separate lines of characters within a
message shall be 135 percent minimum and 170 percent maximum of the character height.
703.6.1 Pictogram Field. Pictograms shall have a field height of 6 inches (150 mm) minimum.
Characters and braille shall not be located in the pictogram field.
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Figure 703.6.1
Pictogram Field
703.6.2 Finish and Contrast. Pictograms and their field shall have a non-glare finish. Pictograms
shall contrast with their field with either a light pictogram on a dark field or a dark pictogram on a light
field.
Advisory 703.6.2 Finish and Contrast. Signs are more legible for persons with low vision when
characters contrast as much as possible with their background. Additional factors affecting the ease
with which the text can be distinguished from its background include shadows cast by lighting
sources, surface glare, and the uniformity of the text and background colors and textures.
703.6.3 Text Descriptors. Pictograms shall have text descriptors located directly below the
pictogram field. Text descriptors shall comply with 703.2, 703.3 and 703.4.
703.7.1 Finish and Contrast. 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.
Advisory 703.7.1 Finish and Contrast. Signs are more legible for persons with low vision when
characters contrast as much as possible with their background. Additional factors affecting the ease
with which the text can be distinguished from its background include shadows cast by lighting
sources, surface glare, and the uniformity of the text and background colors and textures.
703.7.2 Symbols.
Figure 703.7.2.1
International Symbol of Accessibility
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703.7.2.2 International Symbol of TTY. The International Symbol of TTY shall comply with
Figure 703.7.2.2.
Figure 703.7.2.2
International Symbol of TTY
703.7.2.3 Volume Control Telephones. Telephones with a volume control shall be identified by a
pictogram of a telephone handset with radiating sound waves on a square field such as shown in
Figure 703.7.2.3.
Figure 703.7.2.3
Volume Control Telephone
703.7.2.4 Assistive Listening Systems. Assistive listening systems shall be identified by the
International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss complying with Figure 703.7.2.4.
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Figure 703.7.2.4
International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss
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Annex D
§102(a) General Rule. No covered entity shall discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability
because of the disability of such individual in regard to job application procedures, the hiring, advancement,
or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges
of employment.
§302(a) General Rule. No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and
equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of
public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public
accommodation.
§301(7) Public accommodation. The following private entities are considered public accommodations for
purposes of this title, if the operations of such entities affect commerce:
§301(7)(A) An inn, hotel, motel, or other place of lodging, except for an establishment located within a
building that contains not more than five rooms for rent or hire and that is actually occupied by the proprietor
of such establishment as the residence of such proprietor;
§301(7)(C) A motion picture house, theater, concert hall, stadium, or other place of exhibition or
entertainment;
§301(7)(D) An auditorium, convention center, lecture hall, or other place of public gathering;
§301(7)(E) A bakery, grocery store, clothing store, hardware store, shopping center, or other sales or rental
establishment;
§301(7)(F) A laundromat, dry-cleaner, bank, barber shop, beauty shop, travel service, shoe repair service,
funeral parlor, gas station, office of an accountant or lawyer, pharmacy, insurance office, professional office
of a health care provider, hospital, or other service establishment;
§301(7)(G) A terminal, depot, or other station used for specified public transportation;
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§301(7)(J) A nursery, elementary, secondary, undergraduate, or postgraduate private school, or other place of
education;
§301(7)(K) A day care center, senior citizen center, homeless shelter, food bank, adoption agency, or other
social service center establishment; and
§301(7)(L) A gymnasium, health spa, bowling alley, golf course, or other place of exercise or recreation.
§301(8) Rail and railroad. The terms "rail" and "railroad" have the meaning given the term "railroad" in section
202(e) of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (45 U.S.C. 431(e)).
§304(a) General Rule. No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and
equal enjoyment of specified public transportation services provided by a private entity that is primarily
engaged in the business of transporting people and whose operations affect commerce.
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