{"id":22602,"date":"2025-03-06T10:04:47","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T10:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/?p=22602"},"modified":"2025-09-15T14:14:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T13:14:10","slug":"choosing-the-right-tactile-paving-slab-for-your-public-realm-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/blog\/choosing-the-right-tactile-paving-slab-for-your-public-realm-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the right tactile paving slab for your public realm project"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tactile paving slabs<\/span><\/a> 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 <\/span>low vision-friendly <\/span>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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tactile paving slabs must be<\/span> used correctly and consistently throughout the public realm. Failure to do so could send the wrong <\/span>signal<\/span> to those who rely on tactile paving slabs to help them safely navigate these areas. Misinformation could have potentially hazardous results. <\/span>All those<\/span> specifying tactile slabs for the public realm must e<\/span>nsure <\/span>compliance with the Department for Transport\u2019s (DfT) <\/span>\u2018Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces\u2019<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What information do the different types of tactile paving <\/span><\/b>slabs<\/span><\/b> convey?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0There are six different <\/span>types<\/span> of tactile paving <\/span>surfaces<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Type of tactile surface <\/th>Purpose <\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Tactile blister slabs <\/td>Used at pedestrian crossing points <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Corduroy tactile hazard warning slab <\/td>Indicates pedestrians should proceed with caution e.g. when approaching steps <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Platform edge (on street) tactile paving warning surface (lozenge) <\/td>Warns of an on-street platform edge <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Segregated shared cycleway paving slabs and central delineator strip (ladder & tramline) <\/td>Indicates presence of a shared of cycle lane and walkway <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Guidance path tactile surface <\/td>Provides safe guidance path <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Platform edge (off street) tactile warning surface <\/td>Warns of an off-street platform edge e.g. rail or underground platforms <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

We will give an overview of each<\/span>. H<\/span>owever<\/span>,<\/span> the DfT document and any local authority guidance should be sought to ensure each is used in the correct manner<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tactile blister slabs<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Image Source- Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces, DfT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paving with tactile blister slabs<\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Corduroy tactile hazard warning slab<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"public
Image Source- Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces, DfT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The corduroy surface acts as a warning for the pedestrian to proceed with caution and is placed:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n