{"id":21311,"date":"2024-10-17T15:18:09","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T14:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/?p=21311"},"modified":"2025-02-18T09:40:16","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T09:40:16","slug":"tactile-paving-slabs-how-to-design-inclusive-and-accessible-public-spaces-in-accordance-with-british-standards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/blog\/tactile-paving-slabs-how-to-design-inclusive-and-accessible-public-spaces-in-accordance-with-british-standards\/","title":{"rendered":"Tactile Paving Slabs: How to design inclusive and accessible public spaces in accordance with British Standards"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 2 million people (over double the population of Birmingham) in the UK and Ireland are blind or partially sighted. Approximately 5% of these people have no sight at all. Tactile paving slabs provide essential navigational assistance to visually impaired individuals through detectable contrasts, surface texture, and colour. The distinct profiles of tactile paving can be detected under foot or by using a cane to convey the meaning of the patterns. These textures help in detecting changes in the environment, such as approaching hazards, pedestrian crossings, and changes in walking direction.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While only a small proportion of visually impaired people have no sight at all, many have sufficient residual vision to detect contrasts in tone and colour. Visual contrasts should therefore be used to highlight the presence of certain key features including the presence of tactile paving. This will enable many people to use their residual vision to obtain information. Without these tactile indicators, visually impaired people are at a greater risk of accidents and disorientation, which can significantly impact their mobility and quality of life. Ensuring the correct implementation and maintenance of tactile flags is a vital component of creating inclusive and accessible public spaces.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tobermore manufactures three types of tactile slabs designed for various applications in public spaces. These include blister, hazard warning, and cycleway slabs, each serving distinct purposes. In this blog, we will explore the correct methods for using and laying these tactile slabs in accordance with British standards.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Type 1: Blister tactile paving slabs<\/a><\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n
\"Tactile
Image Source- Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces, DfT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Blister tactile paving slabs<\/a> are used at roads or crossings. The slab profile comprises of rows of flat-topped ‘blisters’, 5mm (\u00b10.5mm) high, arranged in straight lines. This ensures that visually impaired people can detect the surface. At controlled crossings (such as zebra or pelican crossings) the blister surface should be red in colour to indicate to partially sighted people that the crossing is controlled. Red blister paving should not be used in any other circumstances. Where the dropped kerb at a controlled crossing is in the direct line of travel for people walking, the tactile surface should be laid to a depth of 1200mm. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Image Source- Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces, DfT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At all other controlled crossings, a depth of 800mm should be laid. At uncontrolled crossings the blister surface should be installed across the full width of the flush dropped kerb. When the crossing is not in the direct line of travel for people walking, the tactile surface should be installed to a depth of just 400mm.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Image Source- Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces, DfT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where the crossing is in the direct line of travel for people walking, the tactile surface should be installed to a depth of 1200mm. All other colours of blister tactile slabs (as long as they are in contrast to the footpath) are for uncontrolled crossings whereby the pedestrian must gauge themselves when it is safe to cross.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Image Source- Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces, DfT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Type 2: Hazard warning tactile paving slabs<\/a><\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Tactile
Image Source- Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces, DfT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hazard warning tactile paving slabs<\/a>, also known as Corduroy slabs, convey that a hazard is approaching, and that the pedestrian should proceed with caution. Hazard warning slabs have rounded bars that run transversely across the direction of pedestrian travel and usually warn pedestrians of hazards such as steps, level crossings, approaches to an on-street tram, and other Light Rapid Transit (LRT) platforms. The bars are 6mm (\u00b1 0.5mm) high, 20mm wide and spaced 50mm from the centre of one bar to the centre of the next. There should be eight bars on a standard 400mm by 400mm module. These slabs can be any colour other than red but should deliver good visual contrast with the surrounding surface.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When used for steps, the corduroy surface should extend across the steps’ full width at the top and bottom of the flight. Where possible, the surface should start 400mm from the first nosing, to give people time to adjust their walking speed. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Image Source- Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces, DfT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Type 3: Cycle way tactile paving slabs<\/a><\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Image Source- Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces, DfT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cycle way tactile paving slabs<\/a> are used to indicate the beginning or end of shared pedestrian and cycle routes. They are used to segregate shared cycle tracks and footways to advise visually impaired people, cyclists and all other users of the correct site to enter. These slabs can be any colour except red, but they should provide good visual contrast with the surrounding surface. The profile of the shared cycle path slabs comprises a series of raised flat top bars spaced 70mm apart. There should be four bars on a standard 400x400mm flag. For pedestrians walking on a cycle track, the tactile slabs will be laid transversely across the main direction of travel (like a \u2018ladder\u2019). This arrangement was chosen so that it would deter cyclists from entering through the rumble effect the pattern would create. On the cycle track side, the surface is laid so that the bars are in line with the main direction of travel (\u2018tramline\u2019). A raised central delineator strip should run the entire length of the route, creating a \u2018kerb\u2019 effect between the designated walkway and the designated cycle track.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Tactile
Image Source- Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces, DfT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Laying tactile paving slabs correctly in accordance with British Standards is crucial for enhancing public safety and accessibility. Ensuring precise alignment, appropriate spacing, and secure attachment are essential steps. Adhering to these standards not only ensures compliance but also significantly improves the safety and navigability of public spaces for everyone.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you would like to learn more about designing public realm spaces to meet building regulations, get in touch with our technical team today<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More than 2 million people (over double the population of Birmingham) in the UK and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":21538,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[971],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technical","tax_posts_products-paving-slabs"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTactile Paving Slabs: How to design inclusive and accessible public spaces in accordance with British Standards | Tobermore Commercial Block Paving<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking closely at British Standards and how to use tactile paving slabs correctly to design inclusive and accessible public spaces\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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