CAN-ASC-2.4 - Wayfinding and Signage

Designation Number:
CAN-ASC-2.4
Standard Type:
National Standard of Canada - Domestic
Standard Development Activity:
New Standard
ICS code(s):
01.080;03.220; 11.180; 13.180; 91.040; 91.060; 91.140
Status:
Proceeding to development
SDO Comment Period Start Date:
SDO Comment Period End Date:
Posted On:

Scope:

The purpose of CAN-ASC-2.4 is to develop a standard that goes above mandatory minimum technical specifications and produces equity-based technical requirements.

There are common areas where persons with disabilities may face barriers related to wayfinding and signage. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSIs)
    • Tactile Attention Indicator Surfaces
    • Tactile Direction (Guidance) Indicator Surfaces
  • Signage (indoor and outdoor)
    • Tactile
    • Braille
    • Graphical symbols
    • Maps, diagrams and directional signage
  • Accessible paths of travel
    • Indoor
    • Outdoor (reference to Outdoor Spaces standard currently being developed by Accessibility Standards Canada)
  • Wayfinding cues
    • Colour and Texture Contrast (each section noted above could/should have their own subsection on colour and texture contrast)
  • Lighting
  • Audible beacons
  • Public Announcements
  • Acoustics
  • Hearing Loops and Assistive Listening Systems 
  • Emerging technologies
  • Wayfinding and signage for transportation
  •  Wayfinding and Signage in emergencies (reference to Emergency Egress and Emergency Measures standard currently being developed by Accessibility Standards Canada)

Notice of intent posted to the Accessibility Standards Canada webpage on November 24, 2021.

Project need:

Accessibility Standards Canada was created under the Accessible Canada Act. Its mandate is to prevent, identify, and remove barriers to accessibility for Canadians with disabilities. In pursuit of this mandate, Accessibility Standards Canada develops standards based on the needs of people with disabilities. These needs have been identified in consultations with Canadians with disabilities, including the Governor in Council appointed Board of Directors, who are primarily people with disabilities and have approved the development of this standard.

In addition to these identified needs, Accessibility Standards Canada standards are developed following the principle of “nothing without us”. This means that Accessibility Standards Canada standards are developed with research that has been led by people with disabilities or lived experience, participation of people with disabilities on our technical committees and produce equity-based requirements that take into account the needs and perspectives of people with disabilities. This also means that the public review process for this standard will be accessible, allowing even more people with disabilities to be part of the standards development process.

Note: The information provided above was obtained by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and is provided as part of a centralized, transparent notification system for new standards development. The system allows SCC-accredited Standards Development Organizations (SDOs), and members of the public, to be informed of new work in Canadian standards development, and allows SCC-accredited SDOs to identify and resolve potential duplication of standards and effort.

Individual SDOs are responsible for the content and accuracy of the information presented here. The text is presented in the language in which it was provided to SCC.