Tactile Ground Surface Indicators
Application Principles
Information referenced from BCA accessibility code 2013 on homogeneous (ceramic) and stainless steel ground surface indicator tactile here.
When considering the application of tactile ground surface indicators, four major aspects shall be taken into consideration:
1
Minimalist application
2
Dimensions
3
Colour and luminance contrast
4
Orientation and position
1
Minimalist application
Tactile ground surface indicators acts as landmarks. As such, its application must be targeted and minimised as far as possible. Widespread ad hoc application of tactile ground surface indicators will confuse rather than inform, and will compromise the effectiveness of the specific cue being provided.
2
Dimensions
The dimensions of the treatment are critical. Remembering that tactile ground surface indicators will be identified under-foot, it is important to ensure that a minimum depth of treatment is applied. To be detectable under-foot, the treatment must make contact with the ball of the foot. To ensure this will always occur, treatments must have a minimum depth of 600 mm in the direction of travel. This dimension applies to both warning and direction treatments at their initial point of identification.
3
Colour and luminance contrast
Tactile ground surface indicators should be coloured and luminance contrasted against their surrounding surfaces. This will greatly assist those using their residual vision to move around.
Many people with low vision also have difficulty distinguishing between different colours particularly if they appear next to each other. For example, the "tomato effect", that is red on green, does not provide adequate luminance contrast and as such will be extremely difficult to identify. For this reason, a minimum luminance contrast of 30% is required to fulfill this principle.
4
Orientation and position
In general, a warning treatment should be applied in a perpendicular direction, which is at 90 degrees, to the line of approach or to the target object. In addition, a warning treatment should be set back 300 mm from the hazard or target object.
A directional treatment is usually applied along the center line of the indicated path of travel and must provide a minimum clear width on either side of at least 800 mm in which there is no obstacle or obstruction.
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Our homogeneous (ceramic) and stainless steel tactile ground surface indicators are designed and manufactured to BCA and LTA's standards and support the application principles above. Contact us for our wholesale rates.