Elevator ADA Braille Signage and Controls Inspection [FREE PDF]

The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (Sections 407 and 703) establish detailed requirements for elevator call buttons, car controls, floor indicators, audible signals, and Braille signage to ensure individuals who are blind or have low vision can independently use elevators. These standards apply to all elevators in facilities covered by ADA Title II (state and local government) and Title III (public accommodations and commercial facilities). Non-compliance can expose facility owners to

  • Industry: All Industries
  • Frequency: Annually
  • Estimated Time: 20-35 minutes
  • Role: Accessibility Specialist
  • Total Items: 43
  • Compliance: ADA Title II - 42 U.S.C. § 12132 Public Services, ADA Title III - 42 U.S.C. § 12182 Public Accommodations, 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design Section 407 - Elevators, 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design Section 703 - Signs, ANSI A117.1-2017 Section 407 Elevators

Lobby Call Buttons

Inspect hall call buttons at each floor landing for height, size, visual contrast, and tactile compliance.

  • Are call buttons located on both sides of the elevator opening where center-opening doors exist, or on the latch side for single-opening doors?
  • Is the centerline of the up/down call button panel located between 35 and 48 inches above the floor?
  • Do call buttons have a minimum 3/4-inch raised dimension and illuminate when activated?
  • Is the 'Up' button located above the 'Down' button at each floor landing?
  • Are call button panels free of obstructions within the required 18-inch side-reach and 48-inch forward-reach clearances?

Hall Lanterns and Audible Signals

Verify that visual and audible hall signals at each floor meet ADA requirements for arrival notification.

  • Is a visual hall lantern (or indicator) provided at each elevator entrance that illuminates to indicate car arrival and travel direction?
  • Is the visible signal element at least 2.5 inches in its smallest dimension and mounted at 72 inches minimum above the floor?
  • Does the elevator provide an audible signal that sounds once for up and twice for down, or announces direction verbally?
  • Is the audible signal clearly audible from the call button area (not obscured by ambient noise)?
  • Where provided, does the verbal hall announcement use a male voice for up and female voice for down, or another clearly distinguishable format?

Elevator Car Controls (Button Panel)

Inspect the interior car control panel for button placement, raised characters, Braille, illumination, and reach range compliance.

  • Are all car control buttons (floor buttons, door open/close, emergency controls) located between 35 and 48 inches above the car floor?
  • Do all car control buttons have a minimum 3/4-inch raised dimension and illuminate when activated?
  • Are floor designation buttons on the main control panel arranged with floors in ascending order from bottom to top?
  • Is the 'Door Open' button identified with a raised open-door symbol and located above the 'Door Close' button?
  • Are emergency controls (emergency stop if provided, alarm, and emergency communication) grouped at the bottom of the panel, at least 35 inches above the floor?
  • Does the two-way emergency communication system comply with ADA (operable without voice when a visual indicator confirms connection)?

Braille and Raised Character Labels

Verify all required Braille and raised character designations on car controls and floor designation signs meet ADA and ANSI standards.

  • Does each car control button have a raised character or symbol immediately to the left of the button?
  • Are Braille designations provided for all floor buttons, using Grade 2 Braille (contracted Braille)?
  • Are Braille dots formed with domed or rounded tops (not flat) and correctly sized per ANSI standards?
  • Are raised characters for floor designations at least 5/8 inch and no more than 2 inches in height?
  • Are all Braille and raised character labels intact, not worn, peeling, or damaged?
  • Is the main entry floor button identified with a raised star or other tactile designation in addition to the floor number?

Car Position Indicators and Announcements

Inspect audible and visual floor position indicators inside the elevator car for compliance with ADA announcement requirements.

  • Is a visual car position indicator provided inside the car that shows the current floor as the elevator travels?
  • Does the elevator provide audible floor announcements as it passes or stops at each floor?
  • Are floor announcements clearly intelligible and at adequate volume to be heard throughout the elevator car?
  • Does the audible announcement system also announce the direction of travel when stopping at a floor?
  • Is the position indicator display legible with high-contrast numerals and functioning without flickering or display errors?

Hoistway and Floor Designation Signage

Verify that tactile and visual floor designation signs at each elevator entrance on every floor meet ADA placement and content requirements.

  • Is a tactile floor designation sign provided on both jambs of the elevator hoistway door at each floor?
  • Are hoistway floor designation signs centered at 60 inches above the floor finish on each door jamb?
  • Do hoistway floor designation signs include both raised characters and Grade 2 Braille?
  • Do hoistway signs use high-contrast characters (light on dark or dark on light) for visual readability?
  • Are all hoistway signs free of damage, fading, or obstruction that would reduce tactile or visual readability?

Door Operation and Timing

Assess elevator door timing, reopening sensitivity, and clear opening width to ensure safe, accessible entry and exit for all users.

  • Does the elevator door remain fully open for at least 3 seconds after the audible and/or visible floor arrival signal?
  • Do elevator doors reopen automatically when obstructed during closing, without requiring contact with the door itself?
  • Does the clear width of the elevator door opening provide at least 36 inches of clear passage?
  • Is the door reopening device functional and not relying solely on a door edge or contact-activated device?
  • Is the elevator car floor level within 1/2 inch of the landing floor when doors open at each floor?

Documentation and Corrective Action

Record all findings, photograph deficiencies, and assign corrective actions with target dates for ADA compliance recordkeeping.

  • Have photographs been taken of all non-compliant Braille labels, signage, controls, or structural deficiencies?
  • Are all deficiencies identified in this inspection logged with exact elevator car ID and specific item location?
  • Please describe all deficiencies found and specify the corrective action required for each:
  • Has a qualified elevator contractor or accessibility consultant been notified of any safety-related or structural non-compliance items?
  • Has a remediation schedule with target completion dates been established for all identified non-compliant items?
  • Has this completed inspection report been submitted to the building ADA Coordinator, Facility Manager, or compliance officer?

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Why Use This Elevator ADA Braille Signage and Controls Inspection [FREE PDF]?

This elevator ada braille signage and controls inspection [free pdf] helps all industries teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for accessibility specialist professionals, this checklist covers 43 critical inspection points across 8 sections. Recommended frequency: annually.

Ensures compliance with ADA Title II - 42 U.S.C. § 12132 Public Services, ADA Title III - 42 U.S.C. § 12182 Public Accommodations, 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design Section 407 - Elevators, 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design Section 703 - Signs, ANSI A117.1-2017 Section 407 Elevators. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Elevator ADA Braille Signage and Controls Inspection [FREE PDF] cover?

This checklist covers 43 inspection items across 8 sections: Lobby Call Buttons, Hall Lanterns and Audible Signals, Elevator Car Controls (Button Panel), Braille and Raised Character Labels, Car Position Indicators and Announcements, Hoistway and Floor Designation Signage, Door Operation and Timing, Documentation and Corrective Action. It is designed for all industries operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed annually. Each completion takes approximately 20-35 minutes.

Who should use this Elevator ADA Braille Signage and Controls Inspection [FREE PDF]?

This checklist is designed for Accessibility Specialist professionals in the all industries industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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