Tactile paths provide visually impaired people with secure directions for their journeys, both in open spaces and inside public buildings such as, for example, train stations or subways, airports, banks, hospitals, post offices or sports stadiums.
Tactile paths enable people with visual impairments to reach their chosen destination after consulting the tactile map: tactile maps and paths have to be coordinated because maps provide information about the services in the area and the paths enable people to reach the chosen services.
Tactile paths cannot be simple strips on the paving with different textures than the surrounding paving because they would not provide the visually impaired person with enough information. Tactile paths have to consist of modular elements providing recognizable standard codes.
The solution adopted by Happy Vision involves using the: 6 standard codes that are most widely used in Italy but Happy Vision also uses the geometry required by international regulations.
The blind person receives the information about orientation and direction by using the foot sole's tactile sense and his or her white stick; partially sighted people also use their residual vision, then receive the information thanks to the existing color contrast between the path and the surrounding paving.
Depending on the environment in which the tactile path is laid on the ground, Happy Vision uses different materials, but all of them are able to maintain the code's relief over time.
1. Vibro-compressed concrete, thickness 32 - 50 mm UNI EN 13748:2004
2. porcelain stoneware, thickness 0.9 - 12 - 14 and 20 mm UNI EN 14411:2012
3. rubber UNI EN 14041:2004
4. PVC UNI EN 14041:2004
5. marble
6. granite
7. stone
The color of the material must ensure a color contrast with the surrounding paving: for rubber and PVC the colors yellow or gray or red or anthracite are used; for concrete or porcelain stoneware white or yellow or light gray or dark gray or red are used.
International tactile pathways
Happy Vision can supply tactile ground floor paths that are made of different materials and have the geometry required by the customer, both inside and outside Italy.
Outside Italy, the geometry is based on 2 or 3 code systems.
HAZARD : code to indicate a hazard, a staircase, a platform at the station
DIRECTIONAL : code to indicate a direction
POSITIONAL : code to indicate a change of direction
