2022 California Standards for Accessible Design Guide (effective January 1, 2023)
11B-703.8 Variable message signs.
11B-703.8.1 General.
High resolution variable message sign (VMS) characters shall comply with Sections 11B-703.5 and 11B-703.8.12 through 11B-703.8.14. Low resolution variable message sign (VMS) characters shall comply with 11B-703.8.
11B-703.8.2 Case.
Low resolution VMS characters shall be uppercase.
11B-703.8.3 Style.
Low resolution VMS characters shall be conventional in form, shall be san serif, and shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative, or of other unusual forms.
11B-703.8.4 Character height.
The uppercase letter “I” shall be used to determine the allowable height of all low resolution VMS characters of a font. Viewing distance shall be measured as the horizontal distance between the character and an obstruction preventing further approach towards the sign. The uppercase letter “I” of the font shall have a minimum height complying with Table 11B-703.8.4.
Exception: In assembly seating where the maximum viewing distance is 100 feet (30.5 m) or greater, the height of the uppercase “I” of low resolution VMS fonts shall be permitted to be 1 inch (25 mm) for every 30 feet (9144 mm) of viewing distance, provided the character height is 8 inches (203 mm) minimum. Viewing distance shall be measured as the horizontal distance between the character and where someone is expected to view the sign.
TABLE 11B-703.8.4 LOW RESOLUTION VMS CHARACTER HEIGHT
| HEIGHT ABOVE FLOOR TO BASELINE OF CHARACTER | HORIZONTAL VIEWING DISTANCE | MINIMUM CHARACTER HEIGHT |
| 40 inches (1016 mm) to less than or equal to 70 inches (1778 mm) | Less than 10 feet (3048 mm) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| 10 feet (3048 mm) and greater | 2 inches (51 mm), plus 1/5 inch (5.1 mm) per foot (305 mm) of viewing distance above 10 feet (3048 mm) | |
| Greater than 70 inches (1778 mm) to less than or equal to 120 inches (3048 mm) | Less than 15 feet (4572 mm) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| 15 feet (4572 mm) and greater | 3 inches (76 mm), plus 1/5 inch (5.1 mm) per foot (305 mm) of viewing distance above 15 feet (4572 mm) | |
| Greater than 120 inches (3048 mm) | Less than 20 feet (6096 mm) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| 20 feet (6096 mm) and greater | 4 inches (102 mm), plus 1/5 inch (5.1 mm) per foot (305 mm) of viewing distance above 20 feet (6096 mm) |
11B-703.8.5 Character width.
The uppercase letter “O” shall be used to determine the allowable width of all low resolution VMS characters of a font. Low resolution VMS characters shall comply with the pixel count for character width in Table 11B-703.8.5.
TABLE 11B-703.8.5 PIXEL COUNT FOR LOW RESOLUTION VMS
|
CHARACTER HEIGHT |
CHARACTER WIDTH RANGE | STROKE WIDTH RANGE |
CHARACTER SPACING RANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 5-6 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | 6-7 | 1-2 | 2-3 |
| 9 | 6-8 | 1-2 | 2-3 |
| 10 | 7-9 | 2 | 2-4 |
| 11 | 8-10 | 2 | 2-4 |
| 12 | 8-11 | 2 | 3-4 |
| 13 | 9-12 | 2-3 | 3-5 |
| 14 | 10-13 | 2-3 | 3-5 |
| 15 | 11-14 | 2-3 | 3-5 |
FIGURE 11B-703.8.5 LOW RESOLUTION VMS CHARACTERS
11B-703.8.6 Stroke width.
The uppercase letter “I” shall be used to determine the allowable stroke width of all low resolution VMS characters of a font. Low resolution VMS characters shall comply with the pixel count for stroke width in Table 11B-703.8.5.
11B-703.8.7 Character spacing.
Spacing shall be measured between the two closest points of adjacent low resolution VMS characters within a message, excluding word spaces. Low resolution VMS character spacing shall comply with the pixel count for character spacing in Table 11B-703.8.5.
11B-703.8.8 Line spacing.
Low resolution VMS characters shall comply with Section 11B-703.5.9.
11B-703.8.9 Height above floor.
Low resolution VMS characters shall be 40 inches (1016 mm) minimum above the floor of the viewing position, measured to the baseline of the character. Heights of low resolution variable message sign characters shall comply with Table 11B-703.8.4, based on the size of the characters on the sign.
11B-703.8.10 Finish.
The background of low resolution VMS characters shall have a non-glare finish.
11B-703.8.11 Contrast.
Low resolution VMS characters shall be light characters on a dark background.
11B-703.8.12 Protective covering.
Where a protective layer is placed over VMS characters through which the VMS characters must be viewed, the protective covering shall have a non-glare finish.
11B-703.8.13 Brightness.
The brightness of variable message signs in exterior locations shall automatically adjust in response to change in ambient light levels.
11B-703.8.14 Rate of change.
Where a VMS message can be displayed in its entirety on a single screen, it shall be displayed on a single screen and shall remain motionless on the screen for a minimum 3 seconds or one second minimum for every 7 characters of the message including spaces, whichever is longer.
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