Guidelines

• hazard warning (ie. at the top and bottom of steps)
• directional guidance (ie. guidance around obstacles, finding a specific location)
• presence of an amenity (ie. public telephone, information board, toilets).

• Routes

• Pavements

• Stairs and steps

• Car parks
• Crossings

• Approach to buildings
• Stairs and steps

• Lifts
• Toilets
• Danger warnings

• Rounded flat topped blisters 5mm high. Found at controlled crossings only, this surface should be red. At uncontrolled crossings it should be buff or a colour other than red, so as to contrast with the surrounding area.

• Rounded bars run transversely, 20mm wide and 50mm from the centre of one bar to the centre of the next.

• Comprises offset rows of flat topped domes 5mm high, spaced 60mm apart from centre to centre.

• Comprises rows of oval shapes 6mm high with rounded edges.

• This surface comprises a series of flat topped bars 5mm high, 30mm wide and 70mm apart. It is installed in the line of travel on a cycle path and across the line of travel on a footpath. The delineator strip is 12-20mm high, 150mm wide with sloping sides and flat top.

• This surface comprises oval bars with round ends 5mm high, 30mm wide running almost the width of the slab.

• To denote the location of amenities such as a public telephone, ticket office etc. Soft feel to surface.

• Clear unobstructed routes must be provided throughout all the buildings. It is useful to create a path leading to the reception desk/bar counters etc. using contrasting floor finishes e.g. wood to carpet.
• Recommend guests are able to differentiate between hot and cold water e.g. embossed taps.
• Washing machines and dryers should have clear visible signs, preferably embossed on/off and hot/cold or tactile marking fluid.
• Tactile (tactile marking and 'bumpons') and braille signs must be provided.
  

• Lift locations must be clearly sign posted throughout establishment with guiding tactile markings and braille.
• The floor level/location must be indicated on the wall adjacent to or just above the call buttons, and opposite the lift doors where possible, in large print, tactile and possibly braille (unless an audible floor level indicator is provided).
• The emergency button must be easily identifiable in tactile and braille.
  

• Top and bottom of ramp to be easily distinguished by contrasting texture and colour/tone e.g. a contrast strip.

• Provision underfoot, of a timely warning, that there is a change in level is essential. The top and bottom of the stairs to include a warning surface.

• Raised texture on paving is required when reaching an area that may be dangerous to a guest with visual impairment e.g. road junctions, service areas, water features etc.

Acknowledgement

The information contained in this section was collected from the following source:

• VisitBritain (2004) National Accessible Scheme. [accessed 16/10/07].

• BS 7997:2003 Products for tactile paving surface indicators. British Standards Institute
• BS 8300:2001 Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people - Code of Practice.
• Building Regulations 2000: Access To and Use of Buildings - Approved Document (Part M).
• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995

• Day, E. Tactile Paving. Side View, 73, 28-29, Autumn 2005.
• Department for Transport (1999) Guidance on the use of tactile paving surfaces.
• Department of Transport (2003) Access to Air Travel for Disabled People - Code of Practice. [accessed 24/10/07].
• European Conference of Ministers of Transport (2000) Tactile Surfaces and Audible Signals (PDF).
• Fielding, C. An Introduction to External Tactile Paving. Access Journal, 20, 16-18, Autumn 2005.
• National Council for the Blind of Ireland (2005) Guidelines for Accessibility of the Built Environment. [accessed 25/10/07].
• The Construction Information Service (2005) Tactile and guard surfaces - safety and use of guard and warning surfaces and barriers. Croft Consultants. [accessed 26/10/07].

• Barker, P. Barrick, J. & Wilson, R. (1995) Building Sight - How the needs of blind and partially sighted people can be met in the design of buildings and the environment. London: RNIB. [accessed 16/10/07].
• Bright, K. Flanagan, S. Embleton, J. Selbekk, L. & Cook, G. (2004) Buildings for all to use - improving the accessibility of public buildings and environments. London: CIRIA. [accessed 16/10/07].
• Casserley, C. (2000) Tourism and the DDA: your guide to understanding the Disability Discrimination Act. London: RNIB.
• Centre for Accessible Environments (2005) Specifiers' Handbooks for Inclusive Design Series. [accessed 08/10/07].
• Communities and Local Governement (2003) Planning and access for disabled people: a good practice guide. [accessed 16/10/07].
• Department for Transport (2005) Inclusive Mobility. [accessed 16/10/07].
• EuCAN (European Concept for Accessibility Network) (2003) The European Concept For Accessibility. [accessed 16/10/07].
• Equality and Human Rights Commission (2001) FOCUS 7: Creating an Inclusive Environment.
• Equality and Human Rights Commission (2004) Making access to goods and services easier for disabled customers - A practical guide for small businesses and other small service providers. [accessed 24/10/07].
• Equality and Human Rights Commission (2005) The Duty to Promote Disability Equality - Statutory Code of Practice.
• Equality and Human Rights Commission (2006) Code of Practice - Rights of Access: services to the public, public authority functions, private clubs and premises. [accessed 16/10/07].
• Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (2007 ) The good, the bad and the ugly – design and construction for access. [accessed 16/10/07].
• Lacey, A. (2004) Designing for Accessibility. London: Centre for Accessible Environments. [accessed 08/10/07].
• JMU Access Partnership (n.d.) Buildings and Internal Environments. London: RNIB.
• Merseytravel (2006) Code of Practice on Access and Mobility. [accessed 16/10/07].
• National Disability Authority (2002) Building for Everyone. [accessed 16/10/07].
• RNIB (2000) Welcoming your visually impaired customers, leisure industry pack. [accessed 16/10/07].
• RNIB (2003) The Talking Images Guide - Museums, galleries and heritage sites: improving access for blind and partially sighted people.
• Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [n.d.] Accessibility for the Disabled - A Design Manual for a Barrier Free Environment. [accessed 16/10/07].
• Sport England (2002) Access for Disabled People. [accessed 16/10/07].
• VisitBritain (2004) National Accessible Scheme. [accessed 16/10/07].

• Umeå Institute of Design, Umeå University
• AJ McCormack and Son
• Watco UK Limited
• FibreGrid Ltd
• Ability Online Support Network
• AJ McCormack and Son
• FibreGrid Ltd
• AJ McCormack and Son
• Marshalls Plc
• RNIB Scientific Research Unit
• Marshalls Plc