Installing an exit sign? The Australian standards for exit signs, as determined in section D3.6 of The Building Code of Australia (BCA), have strict standards that must be met.

Exit Sign Requirements Australia

• Exits signs must follow an egress path (a path leading occupants to a determined final exit or evacuation area).
• Signage must be placed on the walls facing a person seeking to exit the building.
• Exit signs indicating a door providing egress or part of an egress path must be fixed directly above, on or beside the door. 
• Clearly display the words “Exit” and “Level” as well as a floor level number, descriptor or both
• Braille and tactile signage needs to be well-illuminated with emergency lighting so that they may be read at any time.

Height Requirements For Braille Exit Signs in Australia

Braille tactile signage has strict standards that must be met in Australia. If there are numbers, symbols or letters on a sign, the following installation requirements apply: 

• Signs must be located no less than 1,200mm and no higher than 1,600mm above the floor or ground surface.
• Signs with single lines of characters must have the tactile characters not less than 1,250mm and not higher than 1,350mm above the floor or ground surface.
• Signs identifying rooms containing features or facilities listed in D3.6 must be located:
• on the wall on the latch side of the door with the leading edge of the sign located between 50mm and 300mm from the architrave
• in the event of insufficient latch side dimension, a sign may be placed on the non-latch side of the door
• where (i) and (ii) is not possible, the sign may be placed on the door itself.
• Signs identifying paths of travel must be placed so that they are located directly ahead in the direction of travel.  Where one wall continues in the direction of travel and the other forms a corner, the sign must be placed on the continuing wall.

Tim The Sign Man Compliance Specifications

• Our signs are crafted from PVC at a width of 3mm (due to the thickness no backing panel is needed).
• All signs are injection moulded so that all graphics are of a continuous nature for hygiene purposes as set out in Building Code of Australia BCA section D3.6.
• All signs are moulded to prevent adhesive failure on symbols, letters and braille dots, extending the life of each sign.
• Sign size is 180mm x 50mm x 3mm.
• Our silver signs are finished with a micro metallic acrylic lacquer to resemble clear anodized aluminium.
• Tactile characters and symbols have a minimum 30% luminance–contrast with the background. This means it will be easy to read when light reflects on it.
• Complies with The Building Code of Australia (Section D3.6).
• Complies with Design for Access and Mobility (AS1428.1-2011).
• Complies with Public Information Symbol Signs (AS2899.1-1986).

Require an exit sign for your building? Tim the Sign Man produces high-quality Braille signs in a range of colours, with guaranteed dispatch within 24 hours. Browse our code-compliant exit signs here.