Dorothy
There does not appear to be any definitive answer or guidance in the published Standards or the Building Regulations as to whether or not tactile signs should be provided in refuges, however we would make the following comments on the issue.
We would always recommend that the signage in the building should be consistent, if for example all the locational signage in the building has a tactile element, then it would seem prudent to incorporate this into the signage identifying the refuge area.
Although many blind and partially sighted people may be shown the emergency egress routes in a particular building, or have a buddy system for an evacuation, this may not always be the case. Therefore people who are blind or partially sighted should also be able to identify the refuge area independently. This may be at the time of an evacuation, or it could be prior to such an event as someone familiarises themselves with the building.
In the event of an emergency, many blind and partially sighted people may choose to wait in a refuge area until the main rush for the stairs is over. Whilst we may hope that other evacuees would inform them that they were in the correct place, it is possible that this may not happen. Tactile signage in the refuge would thus be an additional tool to assist people to independently get confirmation of where they are.
Finally, there may also be additional instructional signage in a printed format located at the refuge point, and consideration should be given to providing this in alternative formats, including tactile.
Regards Peter
Peter Nelson
Senior Access Consultant
JMU Access Partnership
--------------------------------------------
JMU Access Partnership is the UK's leading access consultancy working to make the built environment more accessible for disabled people.
We undertake this through our policy, research and consultancy activities for buildings, transport and the street environment.
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Update - Now Available: 'Sign Design Guide' - a guide to inclusive signage. To order visit www.jmuaccess.org.uk/publications.asp
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Accessibuilt list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
> Marcus Ormerod
> Sent: 20 April 2005 14:53
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ACCESSIBUILT] Tactile signs
>
>
> Hi Dorothy and Anthony
>
> The link that Anthony sent through got split across 2 lines
> so I have used
> TinyURL (www.tinlyurl.com) to make it shorter
> http://tinyurl.com/d7c3t
>
> This should take you to the Sheffield page.
>
> Regards
> Marcus
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of
> Anthony Rylands
> Sent: 20 April 2005 14:41
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ACCESSIBUILT] Tactile signs
>
>
> Dorothy,
>
> Yes it does or did when I was Access Officer at the Council
> and offered
> guidance on it. However you should discuss it with Brian in
> detail since
> effectively it's not by business anymore! The guidance is
> available on the
> Council's web page at:
> http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/planning-and-city-dev
> elopment/u
> rban-design--conservation/disability-access/design-guidance
> and should be
> read in conjunction with the Sign Design Guide. The guidance
> is a simple one
> line statement along with other key bullet point style requirements.
>
> Some of the evacuation signs comply and some don't but they
> all came out of
> standard sign catalogues and meet the relevant BS.
>
> Anthony
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 20 April 2005 15:23
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Tactile signs
>
> Anthony,
> Do you have copy of this guidance and does it support tactile
> signage for
> all signs as standard, regardless of whether it is public,
> staff, or related
> to fire signage? Signage associated with fire evacuation must meet
> requirements of BS 5499-1:2002 which as far as I can see
> makes no reference
> to tactile signage. I have asked JMU for their guidance on
> this matter.
> Dorothy
>
>
>
> Anthony Rylands (20/04/2005 10:47):
> >Diana,
> >
> >Sheffield City Council has tactile signs as standard as a
> part of its
> >adopted Council Access Policy, together with the use of pictograms,
> >contrasting lettering/backgrounds etc and Braille. There is also a
> >locational requirement. The local Access Group tested and
> fully support
> >the standard and see it as being the minimum. It's used across the
> >Council. The Howden House offices in Union Street are a good
> example of
> >its use.
> >
> >Contact Brian Messider (Access Officer) at the Council on
> 0114 273 4197
> >for details.
> >
> >Anthony Rylands, North Somerset Access Officer
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >Sent: 20 April 2005 12:26
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Tactile signs
> >
> >Diana,
> >I am trying at present to put together a sign for contractor to erect
> at
> >Refuge.
> >I like you could not have seen an application for tactile signage in
> >this instance. Interesting to see if other forum users would
> consider a
> >tactile sign
> >a minimum standard.
> >Dorothy
> >
> >diana maniati (19/04/2005 12:19):
> >>Hi all,
> >>
> >>I would be grateful if you could help me.
> >>
> >>Here, at West London College we have an DDA Access Audit plan.
> >According to
> >this plan Fire refuge point signs need to be tactile.
> >>
> >>I am not sure if this is useful for blind people. I am blind and I
> >don't know
> >how this can work.
> >>If there is a tactile sign on the wall how can I know that is there?
> >and if
> >somebody tells me that it is there why I need to touch it
> each time I
> >need the fire refuge point ? would be more useful somebody to sow me
> >the root to the
> >fire refuge point.
> >>
> >>Does the access code says that tactile signs are required?
> >>
> >>Any ideas, thoughts and comments are welcome.
> >>
> >>Thank you
> >>
> >>Diana Maniati
> >>Disability Advisor
> >>Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College
> >>Email: [log in to unmask]
> >>The Code of Practice can be found at http://www.accesscode.info
> >>
> >>Run by SURFACE for more information on research,
> consultancy and MSc.
> >in
> >Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit
> >>
> >>
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> >>
> >>
> >>Archives for Accesscode list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.
> >uk/lists/accesscode.html
> >>
> >>
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> >>
> >
> >
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