tactile indicators
Boss
Bhavin Ghelani
  • Tactile Indicators
  • 12, 07, 2024

Tactile indicators, or tactile ground surface indicators (TGSI), are crucial for helping people, especially those with vision impairments, navigate public spaces safely. These indicators use textured surfaces that can be felt underfoot or with a cane. Choosing the right tactile indicators for your specific needs is vital for ensuring safety and accessibility. In this blog, we’ll discuss how to pick the best tactile indicators for various settings.

What Are Tactile Indicators?

Tactile indicators come in two main types: warning and directional. Warning indicators alert people to hazards, such as stairs or platform edges. Directional indicators guide people along a safe path. Both types are essential for helping individuals navigate spaces independently and safely.

How to Choose the Right Tactile Indicators

1. Choosing the Material

Tactile indicators are made from different materials, each with its own benefits:

  • Stainless Steel: Stainless Steel tactile iDurable and rust-resistant, perfect for high-traffic and outdoor areas.
  • Aluminum: Lightweight and weather-resistant, good for both indoor and outdoor use.
  • Polyurethane: Flexible and cost-effective, ideal for indoor areas.

2. Considering the Location

Where you plan to install tactile indicators affects your choice:

  • Outdoor Areas: Places like train stations and pedestrian crossings need durable materials like stainless steel or aluminum because they can withstand weather and heavy use.
  • Indoor Areas: Shopping malls, offices, and homes can use polyurethane or aluminum indicators, which are both durable and visually appealing.

3. Looking at the Installation Surface

The surface type matters for installation:

  • Concrete: Stainless steel and aluminum indicators can be anchored or glued securely.
  • Tile and Vinyl: Polyurethane indicators with adhesive backs are easy to install on these surfaces.

4. Meeting Standards

It’s important to ensure your tactile indicators meet local and international safety standards, like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the U.S. or the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in Australia. These standards specify the size, spacing, and color of tactile indicators to ensure they are effective and accessible.

Aesthetic and Functional Requirements

Importance of Aesthetics

  • Role of aesthetics in enhancing public and private spaces
  • The need for tactile indicators to blend seamlessly with the environment

Balancing Aesthetics with Functionality

Ensuring tactile indicators provide safety and navigational assistance

Tips for balancing aesthetics and functionality:

  • Choosing contrasting yet complementary colors
  • Selecting materials that offer durability and visual appeal
  • Considering tactile patterns that fit into the design scheme

Examples of Different Tactile Designs and Their Applications

  • Stainless Steel Studs in Modern Offices: Sleek, professional look with safety and compliance
  • Polyurethane Tiles in Residential Areas: Color variety for matching decor with necessary tactile guidance
  • Aluminum Strips in Public Transit Hubs: Durable, resistant to heavy use, and fitting industrial aesthetics

Interior vs. Exterior Applications

Key Differences Between Interior and Exterior Tactile Applications

  • Usage Environment: Interiors are protected from the weather, while exteriors face rain, sun, and temperature changes.
  • Durability Needs: Exteriors need tougher materials to handle harsh conditions.
  • Design Focus: Interiors can blend with the decor, but exteriors must prioritize visibility and strength.

Materials Suitable for Interior vs. Exterior Use

Interior Materials:

  • Polyurethane: Soft, affordable, and comes in many colors to match inside spaces.
  • Aluminum: Light and good-looking, suitable for areas with less foot traffic.

Exterior Materials:

  • Stainless Steel: Strong and rust-resistant, perfect for busy and exposed areas.
  • Heavy-Duty Aluminum: Tough and weather-resistant, ideal for outdoor use.

Environmental Factors to Consider

  • Weather Conditions: Exterior materials must handle rain, sun, snow, and temperature swings.
  • Foot Traffic: High-traffic areas need durable materials to last longer.
  • Maintenance Needs: Exterior indicators might need more cleaning and upkeep due to dirt and weather, while interior ones are easier to maintain.

Required Slip-Resistant Rating

What is a Slip-Resistant Rating and Why is it Important?

Have you ever slipped on a wet floor? Slip-resistant ratings help prevent such accidents by measuring how well a surface prevents slips. These ratings are essential for making sure that tactile indicators are safe to use, especially in areas where the floor might get wet or greasy.

How to Choose the Right Slip-Resistant Rating

Picking the right slip-resistant rating depends on where you’ll be using the tactile indicators:

  • Indoor Use: In places like offices, malls, and homes, a medium slip-resistant rating is usually good enough since these areas are mostly dry.
  • Outdoor Use: For places like train stations and sidewalks, a high slip-resistant rating is needed because these areas are exposed to rain and other weather conditions.
  • High-Risk Areas: Areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and pools need the highest slip-resistant ratings because they are often wet.

Check local safety rules to find out the exact slip-resistant rating required for your specific area.

Common Slip-Resistant Materials and Their Ratings

Different materials have different slip-resistant properties:

  • Stainless Steel: Often has a slip-resistant finish and is durable and rust-resistant, good for both indoor and outdoor use.
  • Polyurethane: Flexible with good slip resistance, suitable for indoor areas.
  • Rubber: Offers excellent slip resistance, ideal for high-risk areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
  • Aluminum: When textured, aluminum provides good slip resistance and can be used both indoors and outdoors.

LRV Rating and Luminance Contrast Testing

What is Light Reflectance Value (LRV) and Why is it Important?

Light Reflectance Value (LRV) shows how much light a surface reflects. It’s measured on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 is pure black (no light reflected) and 100 is pure white (all light reflected). LRV is important because it helps us understand how visible a surface is. For tactile indicators, having a good LRV contrast with the surrounding surface makes them easier to see, especially for people with vision problems.

How to Measure and Understand LRV Ratings

  • Measuring LRV: You can measure LRV using a device called a reflectometer. This device shines light on a surface and measures the amount of light that bounces back.
  • Understanding LRV: High LRV values (above 50) mean the surface reflects more light and looks brighter. Low LRV values (below 50) mean the surface absorbs more light and looks darker. For tactile indicators, a strong contrast in LRV between the indicator and its background helps them stand out more.

Why Luminance Contrast Testing is Important for Visibility and Safety

Luminance contrast testing checks the difference in brightness between two surfaces. For tactile indicators, good luminance contrast is crucial because it makes these indicators easier to spot against the surrounding area. This is especially important for people with vision impairments, as it helps them detect and navigate using these indicators safely.

Standards and Guidelines for LRV and Contrast in Tactile Indicators

There are specific rules to ensure tactile indicators are effective:

  • LRV Standards: Many countries have rules that specify the minimum LRV contrast needed. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) recommends at least a 70% contrast between tactile indicators and their background.
  • Contrast Guidelines: These guidelines explain both the needed LRV contrast and how to test for it. They make sure that tactile indicators are visible in different lighting conditions.

Indian Standard Compliance

Overview of Indian Standards for Tactile Indicators

Did you know India has specific rules to make sure tactile indicators are safe and effective? These rules are set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). They cover everything from how tactile indicators should look to how they should be installed. Following these rules helps make sure that tactile indicators work well and are easy to use for everyone, especially people with vision impairments.

Key Requirements and Specifications for Compliance

To meet Indian Standards, you need to follow certain guidelines:

  • Design Specifications: Tactile indicators must have a certain size, shape, and texture. This makes them easy to feel and different from the surrounding surface.
  • Color Contrast: There must be a strong color contrast between the tactile indicators and the background. This helps people with low vision see them better.
  • Material Durability: The materials used should be strong and able to handle heavy use and different weather conditions.
  • Installation Guidelines: Tactile indicators should be placed and spaced properly to give clear guidance and warnings to users.

The Importance of Following These Standards for Safety and Accessibility

Following Indian Standards is not just about following rules; it’s about making public spaces safer and more accessible. Here’s why it matters:

  • Increased Safety: Well-designed and correctly installed tactile indicators help prevent accidents by alerting visually impaired individuals to hazards like stairs or platform edges.
  • Better Accessibility: When you follow these standards, public spaces become more inclusive, allowing people with visual impairments to move around independently and confidently.
  • Legal Compliance: Meeting these standards helps you comply with Indian laws and regulations, avoiding legal problems and showing that you care about safety and inclusivity.

Conclusion

Choosing the right tactile indicators involves selecting suitable materials for indoor or outdoor use, considering the specific environment, ensuring proper slip resistance and visibility through LRV and luminance contrast, and adhering to Indian standards for safety and accessibility. Balance aesthetics with functionality to ensure the indicators look good and work well. Always consult experts or manufacturers for tailored advice to meet your specific needs, ensuring your tactile indicators are safe, compliant, and effective for creating accessible spaces for everyone.

Share This Article
Boss
Bhavin Ghelani
July 12,2024

Mr. Bhavin Ghelani is an engineer and entrepreneur passed his engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU). Since his adolescence, he has believed in society’s upbringing, and he has always desired to offer some value to society. He also has a religious side too. When in 2015, Our Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi started the Accessible India Campaign, also known as the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan for all the disabled peoples in our country. He saw this initiative as a fantastic opportunity and after lots of deep research, he found the concept of Tactile Ground Surface Indicators which was being already practiced for Visually impaired peoples in countries like, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States of America, and many other developed countries. So at that point, the idea of the formation of ‘Eminent Tactiles’ under ‘Eminent Overseas’ came into his mind. Slowly & Steadily it has become India’s first and foremost manufacturer, supplier & exporter of Tactile Ground Surface Indicator products and under his vision, more range of products kept on developing so far.

Read More

Our Clients

Skip to content