With over 2 million people in the UK living with sight impairment, the need for braille and tactile signage has become an important consideration for all businesses.
Properly planned and well thought out signage can allow those with visual impairments to function more independently within a given space. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 states that UK service providers have a duty to reasonably change their provision to be as inclusive as possible for all members of society. Within this act, businesses should consider the inclusivity of their signage and whether their systems can be modified to accommodate disability within their facility.
Braille and tactile signs can help the visually impaired to navigate a building without the need for assistance. Braille, a reading and writing code, is designed to be felt under the pad of a user’s fingers and provides the same information as written text. This should be used alongside tactile lettering, which is formed of embossed characters that can be understood through touch. Signs with both raised letters and braille communication open the door to equal opportunities and allow visitors with loss of sight to move around independently.
Here at Morgans Consult, we have full capability in designing and manufacturing a range of DDA compliant signage that caters to the visually impaired. We can use a range of materials, colours and styles to match your existing branding while also remaining compliant, working alongside you to create an effective signage system that is tailored for your business.
To be DDA compliant, design elements to consider include:
Finish – Compliant signs must be made with a non-reflective matte substrate that reduces glare. All tactile letteringand Braille dots should be domed and not sharp.
Placement – All information should left-aligned on signs. Braille must be placed directly underneath the tactile lettering, with a raised semi-circle at the left-hand edge to indicate the start of the information.
Consistency – All signs need to follow the same design and general placement, as this provides a consistent look that is easier to follow. A common height and distance from items such as doorframes must be adhered to for consistency.
Colour – DDA signs must include text in a colour that contrasts significantly with its background to allow for increased legibility. The colour of the sign must also contrast with the colour of the wall or backdrop that the sign is mounted to, in order to ensure clarity.
Text – Simple fonts should be used in a combination of upper- and lower-case text. Commonly recognised symbols should be used wherever possible alongside easily read text. The space between characters should be increased by roughly 25%, but both sides of the character should be felt with a single press.
Our expert team can create a full and effective wayfinding signage system for your business that incorporates braille signs and tactile signs, ensuring that all visitors have a smooth experience when inside your premises. Our knowledge in DDA signage ensures that your signage system will be compliant for all partially sighted visitors while incorporating your specific branding.
