Where to Install Wayfinding Signage in Your Building
Whether it is a first-time visitor trying to find their way around or a long-term resident looking for the nearest exit in an emergency, wayfinding signage is a critical tool in pointing occupants in the right direction! Making wayfinding information readily available and easy to understand is critical to building and fire safety, as the installation of directional signage is intended to allow occupants to safely navigate your building with speed and ease.
Considering these key points while creating the wayfinding systems in your building will help ensure you create a safe and effective pathway that all occupants can easily follow.
Flow of Traffic
Consider how occupants will travel through your building, and make sure to install wayfinding signage in the areas you believe will have the heaviest foot traffic, such as lobby and reception areas. Directional signage should also be installed at every entrance, corridor intersection, and decision point, as well as each room, elevator, and stairwell.
Areas of the building with lesser foot traffic, such as the exit stairwells, still require detailed wayfinding signage. While the exit stairwells may not get a lot of day-to-day use in your building, they must be clearly marked in order to facilitate a safe and efficient emergency egress. Some examples of wayfinding signage required in exit stairwells are floor identification signs, exit signs and other directional signage.
Level of Installation
After mapping out where wayfinding signage is required in your building, consider where and how each sign will be installed to ensure easy visibility. As a general rule of thumb, wayfinding signs should be installed at an average sightline or eye-level for easier readability. Some directional signage, however, may benefit from higher or lower-level placement.
In crowded areas overhead signs can be helpful to direct occupants towards the nearest exit or main points of interest. Additionally, some signage, such as luminous egress path markings, may benefit from a low-level installation, as to not cast shadows during a power outage, enhancing visibility.
Visibility
The wayfinding and directional signs you install in your building must either be easily seen and understood from a distance or installed more frequently along the pathway to ensure visibility. Generally, small signs should be mounted at eye level for viewing from 20-30 feet away. Larger signs can be installed at higher levels for a greater viewing distance.
Additionally, signs should be positioned in such a way they point occupants in the right direction without any confusion or distraction. In cases of hazard or caution signs, these signs should only be installed close to the hazardous area or the specific hazard.
Wayfinding signs play a vital role in building safety, both in the day-to-day operations of the building as well as during emergency evacuations. Considering the flow of traffic, level of installation, and visibility of the directional signage can help create a wayfinding system that best supports the accessibility and safety of your building.
In addition to our wide range of luminous egress path markings, Ecoglo® offers a full line of ADA compliant signage which can be completely customized to your building’s needs! Made with or without our patented photoluminescent technology, our wayfinding signs help to create a visibility better egress pathway in any building!