Vista System Frames Engineered to Accept All ADA Sign Substrates
Vista System International, a fast growing Israel based pioneer and world leader in Modular Curved Frame (MCFT) Technology with US based operations in Sarasota, Florida, has engineered Vista System frames to accept all ADA sign substrates. Samples of an assortment of Vista System frames with ADA signage inserted can be found at http://xrl.us/j5va
With ADA compliance laws on the minds of many sign manufacturers, it is important that compliant signs are functional  in terms of the letter of the law  yet also attractive  in terms of getting people's attention and generating new business. When the ADA laws were initially passed, manufacturers frequently focused on functionality, sacrificing aesthetics. Whether a sign professional is interested in new signage or in retrofitting existing ones, the balance of form and function should always be maintained. As time has elapsed, the industry has learned how to maintain this balance. ADA laws have now been around so long that most manufacturers can utilize the fabrication limitations associated with the law and incorporate them into signs that are attractive yet help all individuals, and not just those visually or physically impaired.
Vista System MCFT frames are the choice for many ADA compliant sign projects thanks to their beauty and functionality. Standardized units can be assembled in different ways, using both standard and custom Vista System accessories and attachments. They combine the enhanced functionality of a curved shape with the beauty of Euro design into a collection of profiles that keep inserted materials firmly in place using its strong tension grip. Frames can be created with Vista frame extrusions using any flat, flexible substrate to create a curved-face sign. They accept substrates such as thin metals, laminates, engraving plastics, and paper + lens. Compatible signage methods include ADA Braille and many more, and. Vista frame extrusions are fast and easy to work with; you simply flex to insert and pull to remove the sign, and changing inserts is equally simple. They have a large mounting surface, offer a mechanical screw option, and are vandal resistant. Vista's frame system is economically priced and is offered in a variety of widths of Vista extrusions and any size lengths. Standard colors are gray and black for plastic end caps, and brushed silver, gold, and black, for aluminum end caps. Standard component colors are brushed aluminum, gold and black. Custom sizes, glossy, matte, paint or anodized finishes, and clear lenses are also available.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) published its ANSI A117.1-1998 standards for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signage in 1998. Nearly identical federal ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) has been presented for final comment. The final version is being integrated with Title II guidelines for state and local government facilities, the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) for federal facilities and fair housing standards. The federal ADAAG hasn't changed much since their 1992 inception and to date, ANSI A117.1 has the only final and published changes for accessible buildings and facilities. The new ANSI standards are similar to the old ones because most of the same people worked on both projects. They are even clearer and more consistent; it appears prudent to begin using most of the new standards immediately.
The new standards include two important provisions that give designers more options. Standards now provide for beveled or rounded tactile characters, which are easier to read by touch than straight-side characters. They allow characters to be closer together visually and permit bolder typestyles. The visual reader sees the character from its base, while the tactile reader only feels the more slender top surface. The new ANSI standards offer more additions, refinements and clarifications than actual changes. Even if the new standards are implemented immediately, where they won't directly conflict with ADAAG or state guidelines, the signs probably will be more useful to people with disabilities than most current sign systems. They also give signage professionals the opportunity to design more creative, attractive signs that still meet accessibility guidelines.
When it comes to signs, one of the best-kept secrets of the ADA is how Braille signs are merely the tip of the iceberg. Room identification signs are just a small portion of an effective architectural sign system, merely the final piece in solving the wayfinding puzzle for people who need to get around complicated sites and buildings. Present ADA Accessibility Guidelines deal with traditional displayed signs, so the only practical place to include tactile characters and Braille is on signs that can be easily located -- the signs that are installed next to doors, and which identify the rooms behind those doors. Incorporating Vista System MCFT frames into ADA sign projects enables sign producers to manufacture signs that offer the best of both worlds, designing a sign that meets ADA requirements while maintaining the beauty, functionality, and ease of installation that has made The Vista System a world leader in wayfinding solutions.
For further information, visit www.vistasystem.com or contact Sales Department at Vista System Inc., 1800 N East Avenue Unit 102, Sarasota, FL 34234 USA. Phone: 800-468-4782 (941-365-4646 Internationally). Fax: 888-316-5198 (941-955-2681 Internationally).
