Viking Electronics ARS-TB100 Area of Refuge Tactile Braille Sign
The Viking Electronics ARS-TB100 is a 6" wide x 9" tall tactile sign designed for installation next to area of refuge (stairwell exit) doors in commercial and institutional buildings. Built to satisfy IBC, ADA, NFPA, ICC, and California Title 24 requirements in a single unit, the ARS-TB100 removes the guesswork from compliant signage selection for life-safety and access control installations.
Overview
Area of refuge signage is a code-mandated element in virtually every multi-story commercial building — and getting it wrong means failed inspections, costly rework, and potential liability. The ARS-TB100 (often searched as ARS TB100) addresses the full compliance stack: Grade 2 contracted braille, 0.031" raised white letters with accessibility symbol, Arial Bold font, and PMS 300 blue acrylic substrate. One sign, one SKU, no field fabrication required.
This sign is part of the Viking Electronics ARS Series of area of refuge signage, which covers tactile, instructional, and directional variants for complete code-compliant refuge communication systems.
Key Features
- Contracted Grade 2 Braille, California-Compliant: Grade 2 contracted braille is the standard required by ADA guidelines and California Title 24 — the most stringent state standard in the US. If your project is in California or a jurisdiction that mirrors Title 24, this sign satisfies that requirement without modification or supplemental signage.
- 0.031" Raised White Letters and Accessibility Symbol: The 0.031" character raise height meets tactile character depth requirements under ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The integrated accessibility symbol means no secondary pictogram sign is needed alongside the tactile text.
- PMS 300 Blue Acrylic Substrate: The PMS 300 color specification matters for facilities with design standards or when matching existing area of refuge signs installed under prior phases. Acrylic holds color without fading under fluorescent or LED corridor lighting, and the matte non-glare finish prevents light bounce that can obscure tactile characters or cause visual discomfort for low-vision users.
- 6" x 9" x 0.093" Footprint: The 6" x 9" format is the standard tactile sign dimension referenced in IBC and ADA mounting specifications. At 0.093" total thickness (approximately 1/16"), the sign sits flush when surface-mounted, keeping the door-side clear of protrusions that could interfere with door hardware or egress clearance.
- 1.6 oz Dead Weight: At 1.6 oz, the ARS-TB100 can be adhesive-mounted to virtually any substrate — drywall, concrete masonry, metal door frames — without anchor hardware concerns. Useful in retrofit installs where drilling into CMU or steel framing is restricted.
- 175°F Operating Temperature Rating: Rated to 175°F, this sign maintains structural and visual integrity in stairwell environments that can experience elevated temperatures during fire events — the exact scenario where area of refuge signage is most critical. Standard commercial corridor temperatures won't approach this threshold under normal operating conditions.
- Multi-Code Compliance in One Unit: IBC, ADA, NFPA, ICC, and California Title 24 compliance in a single sign reduces specification risk. On projects where the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) pulls from multiple code sources, a single-SKU solution avoids the version-conflict problems that arise when mixing signs from different manufacturers or production runs.
- Arial Bold Font: Arial Bold is specified for legibility under low-light and emergency lighting conditions. It's a sans-serif font with high stroke contrast — the practical choice for a sign that must be readable when building lighting is degraded or when a person is in distress.
Integration and Compatibility
The ARS-TB100 is designed to pair with other signs in the Viking ARS Series for complete area of refuge compliance. For directional guidance (arrow signs), the ARS-DRB100 provides a 12" x 4" engraved directional sign in the same PMS blue family. For two-way communication instruction, the ARS-IB100 instructional sign covers the "PUSH FOR HELP" requirement at 6" x 7.5". Deploying these as a coordinated set ensures visual consistency across all required refuge signage points and simplifies the submittal package for the AHJ.
When planning a full area of refuge system, pair compliant signage with area of refuge communication equipment such as two-way emergency call stations. Viking Electronics produces both the signage and the communication hardware, which simplifies vendor consolidation on design-build projects. Consult your life safety equipment selections alongside signage to ensure the overall system meets IBC Section 1009 requirements end to end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the ARS-TB100 compliant with California Title 24?
A: Yes. The ARS-TB100 features California-compliant contracted Grade 2 braille, which satisfies California Title 24 requirements — the most stringent braille standard applied to accessible signage in the US. It also meets IBC, ADA, NFPA, and ICC requirements.
Q: What are the exact dimensions of the ARS-TB100?
A: The sign measures 6" wide x 9" tall x 0.093" thick (approximately 1/16"). It weighs 1.6 oz.
Q: What type of braille does the ARS-TB100 use?
A: The ARS-TB100 uses contracted Grade 2 braille, which is the standard required by ADA and California Title 24 for accessible signage.
Q: Can the ARS-TB100 be used outdoors or in high-temperature environments?
A: The sign is rated to 175°F operating temperature, making it suitable for stairwell and egress environments that may experience elevated temperatures. It is not rated for outdoor UV exposure or submersion — consult Viking for exterior-rated signage options.
Q: What other signs are needed to complete a code-compliant area of refuge installation?
A: The ARS-TB100 covers the tactile door-side sign requirement. A complete installation typically also requires a directional sign (ARS-DRB100) and an instructional sign for the two-way communication station (ARS-IB100), both available in the Viking ARS Series.
Q: What mounting method is recommended for the ARS-TB100?
A: At 1.6 oz, the ARS-TB100 can be adhesive-mounted to most substrates including drywall, CMU, and metal door frames. Verify with local code authority whether adhesive mounting meets your jurisdiction's installation requirements for permanent tactile signage.
The detail that catches most integrators off guard on the ARS-TB100 is the California-compliant contracted Grade 2 braille spec — it's not just a checkbox. California Title 24 is frequently adopted by other jurisdictions as the de facto high-water mark, and specifying a sign that meets it upfront prevents costly sign replacement when a project's AHJ later clarifies their requirements. The 0.031" raised character height and the matte non-glare PMS 300 blue acrylic are the two physical specs most likely to get scrutinized during an accessibility inspection.
Technical Highlights:
- 0.031" Raised White Characters: Meets ADA tactile character depth requirements; the integrated accessibility symbol eliminates the need for a separate pictogram plate alongside the text sign.
- 175°F Temperature Rating: Acrylic substrate maintains dimensional and color stability at temperatures well above normal corridor conditions — relevant for stairwell shaft environments during fire events where refuge signage must remain legible.
- 6" x 9" x 0.093" Profile: Standard ADA tactile sign footprint at 1/16" thin; at 1.6 oz, adhesive-mount is structurally viable on CMU and metal frame without anchor hardware.
Deployment Considerations:
- Match the ARS-TB100 with the ARS-IB100 instructional sign and ARS-DRB100 directional sign from the same series — the PMS 300 blue family ensures visual consistency across all refuge signage points, which matters for submittal packages and post-occupancy inspections.
- Watch out: the ARS-TB100's PMS 300 blue is distinct from the PMS 294 blue used on the ARS-DRB100 directional sign — close enough visually, but worth documenting in your submittal if the AHJ is detail-oriented about color specification matching.
The ARS-TB100 is the right call for any commercial office, healthcare, or educational project where the tactile door-side sign is on the submittal checklist and California Title 24 compliance is either required or used as the specification baseline.
