Australia Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 17.6: Braille and tactile signs and labels: grade 1 uncontracted braille to the Rules of Unified English Braille, raised and domed, 8 mm below the text, left justified with solid arrows and a semicircular locator on multi-line signs; tactile characters 1 to 1.5 mm proud, title case with 15 to 55 mm capitals, rounded edges, 2 mm letter and 10 mm word spacing, sans serif; matte finish, braille matching the text and pictograms, 30% contrast tested in situ; mounted 1200 to 1600 mm above the floor (1250 to 1350 mm for a single line); signs with both symbols for every sanitary facility and hearing augmentation space, signs on the latch side 50 to 300 mm from the architrave for rooms with accessible features, braille Exit and Level signs at exit doors, rounded sign edges and 30% contrast of the sign against its mounting

What does 17.6 require?

Braille on a sign or label must be grade 1 (uncontracted) to the Rules of Unified English Braille, raised and domed, 8 mm below the bottom line of text, left justified, with a solid arrow for any arrow shown and a semicircular locator at the left margin aligned with the first braille line on multi-line signs. Tactile characters and symbols must be raised 1 to 1.5 mm, use title case with capitals 15 to 55 mm high and lower case at least half that height, have rounded edges, 2 mm letter and 10 mm word spacing, be left justified (single words may be centred) and sans serif. Backgrounds, braille and tactile elements must have a matte or low sheen finish, braille must match the written message and render any pictogram, and tactile elements must show at least 30% luminance contrast against the sign surface tested in the lighting where the sign sits. Braille and tactile elements must be 1200 to 1600 mm above the floor, or 1250 to 1350 mm for a single line of characters. A braille and tactile sign with both the access and deafness symbols to clauses 5.2.1 and 5.2.2 of AS 1428.1 (2021) must identify every sanitary facility and hearing augmentation space; every room with accessible features needs a braille and tactile sign on the latch side wall 50 to 300 mm from the architrave or, failing that, on the door; and every exit door in premises and infrastructure needs a second sign on the egress side reading Exit and Level with the level number or description. Any sign with braille or tactile elements must have all edges rounded and its background (including borders 5 mm or wider) contrasting at least 30% with its mounting and surfaces within 2 m. Applies to signage installed on or after 13 October 2026.