What types of office building directories are there?

An office building directory system includes 4 main groups: (1) Overall location signs — building name signs, front gate signs; (2) Directional signs — overall maps at the lobby, directional signs to functional areas; (3) Destination identification signs — office name signs, floor numbers, restroom signs, stairwell signs; (4) Safety signs — emergency exits, no-smoking signs. Additionally, modern buildings add touchscreen electronic lookup kiosks at the lobby, allowing visitors to enter a company name to find their way instead of reading static maps.

What is a reasonable font size for building directory signs?

Minimum letter height is calculated by reading distance: 2.5cm for 5m, 5cm for 10m, and 10cm for 20m. For ceiling-mounted signs in 2-3m wide corridors, 3-5cm letter height is suitable. For overall maps at the lobby, where readers stand 1-2m away, minimum letter height is 1.5cm. The width-to-height ratio of letters should be 1:1.2 to 1:1.5. Use sans-serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Roboto) — easier to read at a distance than serif. Note: ALL CAPS should only be used for short signs under 3 words; longer sentences should be in lowercase for 12-15% faster reading.

How should colors be chosen for building directory signs?

The main principle is a contrast ratio between text and background of at least 70% per the WCAG scale. The safest color pairs: white text on dark blue or black — achieving 80-90% contrast. Black text on white is also effective but less premium. Avoid: red text on green, yellow text on white — contrast is only 30-40%, hard for older people to read. Colors should follow a hierarchy system: primary colors (blue/black) for directional signs, accent colors (orange/green) for safety and emergency exit signs. Do not use more than 3 colors in one system to avoid visual confusion.

Where should directory signs be placed in an office building?

Directory signs must be placed at every decision point — where a person must choose a direction. Mandatory locations: (1) Main entrance — building name sign + overall map; (2) Reception lobby — floor map + lookup kiosk; (3) In front of elevators — directory of companies by floor; (4) The start of each corridor — directional signs to offices; (5) Corridor intersections — left/right turn signs; (6) Stairwells — floor number signs. Installation height: sign center 140-160cm from the ground — suitable for the average Vietnamese eye level. The distance between two consecutive signs should not exceed 15-20m in long corridors.

Can electronic lookup kiosks completely replace printed directory signs?

Not completely, but they reduce the number of printed signs needed by 60-70%. Electronic lookup kiosks at the main lobby solve the problem of finding a company by name — something static printed signs do poorly when the company list changes. However, printed signs are still needed for: emergency exits (legal requirement), room name signs, and directional signs in corridors. The optimal solution: digital kiosks for dynamic lookup + printed signs for static orientation. For a 20-floor building, reprinting maps each time a new company moves in costs about 5-8 million VND per time — digital kiosks update for free, taking only 5-10 minutes.

How much does a directory system cost for a 20-floor building?

Costs fall into 3 groups: (1) Static printed signs — mica/stainless steel room name signs at 200,000-500,000 VND each, large floor maps at 2-5 million VND each, totaling 40-80 million VND for 20 floors; (2) Outdoor directional signs — LED mica signs at 5-15 million VND per sign; (3) Electronic lookup kiosks — 21.5-32 inch touchscreens at 25-60 million VND per unit, including remote content management software. Total package cost for a 10,000m² building ranges from 100-200 million VND, depending on materials and quantity. Compared to quarterly reprinting costs (30-50 million VND/year), digital kiosks pay for themselves in 18-24 months.

What legal standards must building directories meet in Vietnam?

According to QCVN 06:2022/BXD on fire safety, signs c

Building Directories: 10,000m² Design No One Gets Lost

Building directories are a wayfinding system that includes room name signs, floor maps, emergency exit signs, and electronic lookup devices. In Vietnam, office buildings of 10,000m² and above are shifting from static printed signs to digital solutions to reduce reprinting costs and improve user experience.

TL;DR · Quick Answer

An effective office building directory needs to be placed at every decision point (entrances, elevators, corridor intersections), with a minimum letter height of 2.5cm for a 5m reading distance, 70%+ contrast, and integrated offline electronic lookup kiosks. Digital kiosks allow instant map updates without reprinting signs — saving 30-50% in printing costs each year.

Building Directories: Designing for a 10,000m² Building Where No One Gets Lost

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