Choosing the right tactile paving slab for your public realm project

Tactile paving slabs are designed to improve the accessibility of public realm spaces by conveying important safety information to visually impaired people in public spaces. Each type of tactile paving has a meaning that is primarily delivered by the pattern on its surface and supported by low vision-friendly colour. This usually needs to be a contrasting colour to the rest of the pavement to help it stand out; however, the colour red also has special significance in some cases. 

Tactile paving slabs must be used correctly and consistently throughout the public realm. Failure to do so could send the wrong signal to those who rely on tactile paving slabs to help them safely navigate these areas. Misinformation could have potentially hazardous results. All those specifying tactile slabs for the public realm must ensure compliance with the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ‘Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces’. 

What information do the different types of tactile paving slabs convey? 

 There are six different types of tactile paving surfaces: 

We will give an overview of each. However, the DfT document and any local authority guidance should be sought to ensure each is used in the correct manner. 

Tactile blister slabs

Paving with tactile blister slabs helps the visually impaired transition safely from paving slab to kerb. If the kerb upstand is not greater than 25mm high, it is difficult to differentiate between where the pedestrian walkway ends and the road begins.  

The surface of the tactile blister slab acts as this warning and is essential where drop kerbs are present at crossings for wheelchair users as this makes the footway level with the road surface.  

In the case of blister surfaces its colour also has meaning. If the crossing is signal controlled, then the blister surface must be red. If the crossing is uncontrolled where traffic should give way to pedestrians, such as on a zebra crossing, then colours other than red are used. 

Corduroy tactile hazard warning slab 

The corduroy surface acts as a warning for the pedestrian to proceed with caution and is placed: 

• At the top and bottom of steps 

• The approach to level crossings 

• At the approaches to on-street tram and other Light Rapid Transit (LRT) platforms 

• At transitions from footways to areas shared with other users 

Platform edge (on street) tactile paving warning surface (lozenge) 

The lozenge surface of tactile paving warns people that they are approaching the edge of an on-street tram or other LRT platform. It is normally buff coloured, although, apart from red, it can be any other colour that achieves a good contrast with the surrounding area. The tactile paving is set back at least 500mm from the platform edge to enable enough time for people to stop a safe distance away. 

Segregated shared cycleway paving slabs and central delineator strip (ladder & tramline)  

These tactile cycleway paving slabs are used on any segregated shared cycle track/footway to advise visually impaired people, cyclists, and all other users of the correct side to enter. The central delineator strip is designed to help users to keep to the correct side. 

On the footway side, the surface is laid so that the bars are transversely across the main direction of travel for people walking and is known as the ‘ladder’ surface. Whilst on the cycle track side, the cycleway paving slab surface is laid so that the bars are in line with the main direction of travel for people cycling and this is referred to as the ‘tramline’. 

Guidance path tactile surface

Guidance path tactile paving is used to guide visually impaired people along a safe route in areas where factors that are usually used for guidance, such as kerbs or a property line, are absent. It can be used to guide people around obstacles. The surface is installed with the bars running along the desired direction of travel and is designed so that canes can maintain contact with the bars to aid guidance further. 

Platform edge (off street) tactile warning surface

This tactile surface warns visually impaired people that they are approaching the edge of all off-street rail platforms such as heavy rail and those on the underground. The blister pattern is different to that used at pedestrian crossing point and should be of a colour that stands out from its surroundings, although it cannot be red. It should be at least 500mm from the edge and is usually between 600mm and 700mm. 

What other factors need to be considered when choosing tactile paving slabs for public realm projects? 

Once the tactile slabs have been correctly selected to ensure that public spaces are accessible and safe places for all users, the focus is on materials being robust, hard-wearing and easy to maintain. Public realm slabs will be subjected to a lot of foot and wheeled traffic and concrete tactile slabs offer a superb hard-wearing surface. This reduces maintenance costs for local authorities and concrete tactile slabs are readily available from stock so sourcing these specialist slabs will not cause any delays to a project.  

Where can I find out more about tactile paving for the public realm? 

Tobermore has a range of tactile slabs that are designed to assist pedestrians who are visually impaired or blind and have a wealth of experience in helping create safe and accessible hard landscaping areas in the public realm. 

Craig McBride, Tobermore’s Technical and Product Training Manager, comments:

“The correct specification of tactile paving is important to ensure that our products help improve the safety and accessibility of the public realm. We have the technical expertise to help customers make the right choices and deliver robust and compliant tactile paving solutions”.