Braille & Tactile Signs Australia
Accessible signage in Australia is driven by AS 1428.1, the Disability (Access to Premises — Buildings) Standards 2010, and the NCC. This guide explains what braille and tactile characters are required, where, and how the rules fit together.
Last reviewed:
The three frameworks
- AS 1428.1 — Design for Access and Mobility (Part 1). Published by Standards Australia. Technical requirements for accessible design in new buildings, including the dimensional and material rules for braille and tactile signs (Section 8 of the Standard).
- Disability (Access to Premises — Buildings) Standards 2010. Commonwealth legal instrument under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Covers public and commercial buildings in scope; enforced through the building approval process. References AS 1428.1 as the deemed-to-satisfy pathway.
- NCC Volume 1 Part D4 (Access for People with a Disability). The deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the National Construction Code that align with the Premises Standards for Class 2-9 buildings. Maintained by the Australian Building Codes Board.
What AS 1428.1 requires of a braille/tactile sign
AS 1428.1 sets minimum technical requirements so that signs can actually be read by touch and by people with low vision. The core rules in Section 8:
- Tactile characters. Raised letters (not engraved or flat-print). Minimum 15mm, maximum 55mm letter height (depending on sign type). Sans-serif typeface. Specific stroke width and spacing.
- Grade 1 (uncontracted) braille. Each word spelled out letter-by-letter. Dots must be dome-shaped (not engraved) with specific diameter, height and cell spacing.
- Luminance contrast. Minimum 30% luminance contrast between characters and background so readers with low vision can distinguish text.
- Non-reflective finish. Matt or satin — high-gloss signs defeat low-vision readability.
- Installation height 1200–1600mm above finished floor level to the centreline of the tactile text, so the sign is reachable by standing, seated and shorter users.
- Consistent location. Usually on the latch side of the door, at a constant height across the building, so users can reliably find signs by touch.
Signs typically required to have braille and tactile characters
- Sanitary facility identification — Male, Female, Accessible (wheelchair symbol), Ambulant (walking-support symbol), Unisex, Baby Change.
- Exit identification — tactile EXIT signs at each fire exit door (at latch side, at the required installation height — separate from the overhead NCC/AS 2293 exit sign).
- Stair identification — where stairs form part of an accessible path of travel or emergency egress.
- Lift levels — floor-number identification inside and outside lift cars.
- Room identification — on accessible paths of travel, for rooms that need to be found reliably.
- Hearing augmentation — where loops, FM or infrared systems are installed (AS 1428.5).
Accessible vs ambulant — not the same sign
A common mistake in refurbishments is to install one symbol where the other is needed. The International Symbol of Access (wheelchair pictogram) is used where a cubicle meets AS 1428.1 accessible-toilet dimensions (larger footprint, wheelchair circulation space, transfer space, grab rails). The ambulant symbol (figure with walking stick / grab rails) is used on a standard-width cubicle fitted with grab rails on both sides — for people who walk but need support.
Most larger commercial buildings need both: at least one accessible toilet per sanitary compartment group, plus ambulant cubicles in multi-cubicle bathrooms. Get the floor plan and fixture schedule from the architect/access consultant before ordering signs so the signage matches what’s been built.
Wayfinding beyond the toilet door
Accessible signage is more than just toilet identification. Well-planned buildings also include:
- Directional wayfinding signs at decision points along accessible paths
- Lift lobby signage with tactile level numbers
- Reception / information desk signs at accessible heights
- Hearing augmentation signs where loops or FM systems are installed
- Tactile ground surface indicators (TGSI) at stairs, ramps, kerbs and platforms (covered by AS 1428.4 — not strictly signage, but part of the same accessible-design conversation)
Product ranges we manufacture
Information Signs
Room identification, wayfinding, accessible toilet and ambulant-toilet signs with braille and tactile characters.
Legal Compliance Signs
Hearing augmentation, assistance animal, and other access-related compliance signs.
Amenity Signs
Toilet, shower, parents' room and change-room identification — accessible-formatted variants.
Browse range →Official references
- Standards Australia — AS 1428.1 (Design for Access and Mobility — Part 1)
- Disability (Access to Premises — Buildings) Standards 2010 — Commonwealth legal instrument
- Australian Building Codes Board — National Construction Code (Part D4)
- Australian Human Rights Commission — Disability rights — background on the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
Frequently asked questions
What is AS 1428.1?
AS 1428.1 — Design for Access and Mobility, Part 1: General requirements for access — New building work — is the Australian Standard that sets out how buildings should be designed to be accessible to people with disability. Section 8 specifically covers braille and tactile signs: character height, stroke width, braille-dot geometry, colour contrast, luminance contrast with the background, and installation height and location. It is referenced by the NCC and by the Disability (Access to Premises — Buildings) Standards 2010.
Which signs are required to have braille and tactile characters?
In most commercial, public and multi-residential buildings covered by the Premises Standards, braille and tactile characters are typically required on: sanitary facility identification (male, female, accessible, ambulant, unisex), exit door identification (EXIT at each fire-exit door), stair identification where stairs form part of an accessible path of travel, and room identification on accessible paths (lift levels, room numbers in some cases). Requirements vary by building classification — check the NCC and the Premises Standards, or have your access consultant specify.
What's the difference between accessible and ambulant toilet signs?
An accessible toilet is a larger cubicle designed to accommodate a wheelchair user, with circulation space, grab rails and a fold-down change surface (in some cases). The accessible sign uses the International Symbol of Access (wheelchair pictogram). An ambulant toilet is a standard-width cubicle with grab rails on either side for a person who can walk but needs support — it uses a different pictogram (a figure with a walking stick or grab rail). Both signs are required to have braille and tactile characters where specified by AS 1428.1.
What are the Disability (Access to Premises — Buildings) Standards 2010?
The Premises Standards are a Commonwealth legal instrument made under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. They cover access to public and commercial buildings and are enforced via the building approval process — a building certifier cannot issue a final approval for an in-scope building that fails the Premises Standards. The Standards reference AS 1428.1 as the deemed-to-satisfy way to meet access requirements, including braille and tactile signage. They are separate from the state/territory WHS regulators and sit alongside the NCC.
Does the braille need to be Grade 1 or Grade 2?
AS 1428.1 specifies Grade 1 (uncontracted) braille for signage. Grade 1 braille spells out each word letter-by-letter, making it accessible to readers who have not learned the contractions used in Grade 2. The braille dots must meet specific geometry (dot diameter, dot height, cell spacing) and must be raised (dome-shaped, not engraved). Text on the sign must also be in tactile raised characters, not just flat print.
What height should a braille/tactile sign be installed at?
AS 1428.1 sets the installation height for braille and tactile signs at between 1200mm and 1600mm above finished floor level, measured to the centreline of the sign's text. The sign is typically installed on the wall adjacent to the latch side of the door at a consistent height across a building so users can locate signs reliably by touch. Check the Standard and your access consultant for edge cases (sliding doors, recessed entries, short walls).
Do I need a hearing augmentation sign?
Where a space has a hearing augmentation system installed (hearing loop, FM, infrared), the space is typically required to be identified with the international hearing-augmentation symbol plus text indicating the type of system. This is common in cinemas, lecture theatres, courts, meeting rooms, reception counters and places of worship. The Premises Standards reference AS 1428.5 (Communication for people who are deaf or hearing impaired) for specification of the system and the signage.
Braille & tactile sign packs
AS 1428.1-styled accessible toilet, ambulant toilet, unisex, male, female, exit-level braille and hearing augmentation signs. Manufactured with Grade 1 braille dots and raised tactile characters, matt finish, 30% luminance contrast.
Planning signage for a specific site? These interactive checklists bring together the sign families covered above alongside the rest of what the workplace typically needs.