Trust Housing Association 1Colour & Wayfinding

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1.0 Introduction Aims&objectives Scope&formofguidance Definitionofterms

2.0 TheAgeingEye Visuo-perceptualdifficulties Commonvisualimpairments Environmentaladaptions Colour&ageingeye

3.0 ColourinContext Basiccolourterms Coloursemantics Colourcoding

4.0 ColourPreference Preferenceacrossage&sex Perception&sensation Mood&emotion RAL‘ColoursforHealthCare’

5.0 ColourContrast Contrastincolour Measuringcontrast Specifyingcontrast

6.0 ColourVersus... Pattern Signage Object

7.0 ColourPrinciples inApplication Principlesforcolourchoice Principlesforperception Principlesforachieving contrast Principlesofapplication

8.0 SampleBoards &LRVMatrix

9.0 Signing Whysigninthiscontext Whatissigningin thiscontext? Thepurposeofthesesigns Typesofsigns Fire,healthandsafety Statutorysigns

10.0 SigningforDementia Principle Currentmarket Thesignenvironment Pictorialelements Colourcoding Colourhighlighting

11.0 DesignPrinciples andAspirations

12.0 DesignGuidance

13.0 Examples

BibliographyAppendix

A StatutoryGuidanceB LRVTables

ContentsContributorsPreface

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ContributorsINCHINCHArchitecture+DesignisadynamicsocialenterprisearchitectureandresearchpracticebasedinGlasgow,Scotland.

INCHwasestablishedtoassist&supportthirdsectororganisations,charitiesandcommunitiestofurthertheirideasandambitionsinrealisingcapitalprojectsandimprovingtheconstructedspacesinwhichweinhabit.Underpinningallourprojectsisoursocialintentandobjectives–thesedefinethecompanyandourlong-termaspirations.

INCHDirectorLesleyPalmerandprincipalcontributortothisresearchhasextensiveexperienceofworkingcloselywithhousingassociationsandregisteredsociallandlordsthroughoutScotlandonbothnew-buildandrefurbishmentprojectsforScotland’sdedicatedolderpeople’shousingstock.

UrbanPioneersUrbanPioneersIStadtpioniereisaLandscapeArchitectureandArtPracticefoundedbyMarionPreezandLianeBauerspecialisinginprojectsthatareuniquebycreatingenduringdesignsthatfitbesttheparametersoftheproject,contextandclient.

UrbanPioneersIStadtpioniereencompassesanalysis,planning,designandmanagementoftheopenspacesandexplorecreativeandinnovativethinking.Withthecombinedbackgroundoflandscapearchitectureandarttheygeneratefunctional,coherentandsitespecificconceptsthatareplayful,capturetheusers,createinterest,educateandconnectpeopleandcommunities.Bespokeelementsrepresentingtypicalfeaturesofthesurrounding,itshistory,tellingastoryorunderliningspecificfunctionsarecharacteristicfortheirdesigns,thuscreatingidentification,ensuringthesuccessoftheprojectandlong-termbenefitstothelocalcommunity.

UrbanPioneersIStadtpioniereworkinpublicrealmdesign,way-finding,interpretation,publicartprojects,regeneration,publicsquaresandlearningspaces.

Graphical HouseGraphicalHouseisadesignconsultancybasedinGlasgow,producingthoughtful,craftedworkacrossdigital,analogueandenvironmentalapplications.Wehavespecialistexperienceinway-finding,signingandlandmarkcreation.

Webelievethatdesignisadialogue.Itmustbeintuitive,functionalandmemorabletobeeffective.

Weread,collaborate,researchanddiscuss,spendingtimewithourclientsandreachingouttotheiraudiencestoensurethatwehavethebestpossibleunderstandingoftheirneedsandaspirations.Ourapproachisspecifictoeveryprojectweundertake.

GraphicalHousecarriesoutprojectsofvaryingscalesandscopes,bothlocallyandinternationally.

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Trust HousingTrusthasbeenoperatingsince1973andisnowamarketleaderintheprovisionofsocialhousing,careandsupportservicesforolderpeopleacrossthewholeofScotland.Muchhaschangedoverthistimeperiodandwhilstthecorevaluesremainthesamehowwedeliverservicesisunrecognisablefromouroriginsbackinthe1970’sandweunderstandthatwewilllookverydifferentagaininthenext40years.Werecognisethattheneedsandaspirationsofourcustomersarechangingandwewillrequiretoprovideaccommodationandserviceswhichareflexibleandabletocaterforadivergentcustomergroup.

TheOlderPeople’sChangeFundwasestablishedaspartoftheReshapingCareforOlderPeopleProgrammeforChange2011-2021asameanstoprovidetheopportunityfordevelopingandtriallinginitiativestoreshapeolderpeopleservices.NorthLanarkshireCouncilagreedtofundthesestudiesfromtheirChangeFundresourceswithaviewtofocussingonwhatwecandowithexistingassets.

Trusthasbeendelightedtobepartoftheteamproducingthesestudiesandwearealreadyimplementingsomeofthepracticalsuggestionsflowingfromthisworkwithgreatimpact.

North Lanarkshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership

PlanningforanincreasingolderpopulationisakeypriorityforNorthLanarkshire’sHealthandSocialCarePartnershipandforourpartnersfromotherservicesandorganisations.ByworkingtogetherwecanhelpensuretherearearangeofoptionsandsupportsavailableforolderpeopleinNorthLanarkshiretohelppeoplelivesafelyandwellandasindependentlyaspossibleintheirownhomeforlonger.

Werecognisetheimportanceofhighquality,welldesigned,affordablehousinginhelpingolderpeoplecontinuetoliveforlongerintheirownhomeandrecognisetheparticularcontributionthatspecialisthousingforolderpeoplehasinrespectofprovidingadditionalhousingsupporttohelpolderpeoplestaysociallyconnectedandsupportedintheirdailyactivities.

Theprovisionofwelldesigned,highqualityspecialisthousingforolderpeopleiscrucialinmeetingthehousingandsupportneedsofolderpeopleandisbecomingevenmoreimportantaswecontinuetosupportmoreolderpeopleathomeasopposedtolongtermcare.

Thereforethisresearchiswelcomedbythepartnership,improvingourunderstandingoftheimpacttheenvironmentofspecialisthousinghasonolderindividualsandcruciallywhatchangesormodificationswecanconsidertoimprovetheenvironmentandsubsequentoutcomesforolderpeoplelivingacrossshelteredandveryshelteredhousinginNorthLanarkshire.

your home & more

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PrefaceWeareinatransitionalperiodinrelationtothefutureofolderpeoplehousing,thetypesofhousingweprovideandthewayinwhichwedesign.Society’sdemandforanintegratedcommunityisdrivingstatutorydesignpoliciestobecomefullyinclusive.Asaresult,thedifferencesbetweenspecialisthousingdesign,suchasshelteredoramenityhousingandgeneralhousingdesign,arebeingdesigned-out.

Traditionally,ithasbeenconsideredthat‘olderpeople’housingcaterspredominatelyforthe+65,butwhoarethe+65andwhataretheimplicationsoftheirneedsonourexistinghousingstock?

The+65cannolongerbeconsideredasahomogeneousgroupofpeople,theyareanincreasingdemographicwhoaremobile,vocalintheirdemandsandinthefuturemanymaystillbeemployed.

LifetimeHomesPrinciplesisoneofthemostinfluentialpiecesofdesignguidancepublishedanditinformedhowwedesigntoday.

InScotland,theprincipleswereintegratedintoourBuildingTechnicalStandardswiththeresultthatallhousing(bothpublicandprivate)mustcomplytothespacestandardsandconstructionmethodrequirements.Theprinciplebeingthatourhomesaredesignedandconstructedtoadaptovertimetosuitthechangingneedsofthetenant.

Therefore,intheory,weshouldbemovingintoaperiodofhousingconstructionwherebythehousingwhichwebuildtodayshouldbeabletosupportthetenantandtheirchangingneedsfortheirfuture.Withtheexceptionofacutecareneeds,ourgeneralamenityhousingtodayshouldbetheolderpeoplehousingoftomorrow

Thishasthepotentialtochangetheroleofolderpeoplehousinginthefuture.Ratherthanbeingahousingmodelwhichisdesignedtosuitcaresupport,itwillbedesignedtosuitqualitystandards,whichhasthepotentialtosupportavarietyofcaremodels.

ThisdesignguidehasbeencommissionedbyTrustHousingAssociationwithgrantfundingfromNorthLanarkshire’sHealthandSocialCarePartnershipinrecognitionofthechangingfutureneedsofanageingpopulation;changingbestpracticeanddesignprinciplesforolderpeoplehousingandthedesirebyTrusttoinvestinit’sexistinghousingforthebenefitofcurrentandfuturetenants.

Thisdesignguidehasbeenpreparedtohelpunravelthecomplexitiesofremodellingexistingolderpeoplehousingtomakeourhousingdevelopmentsmoreattractiveandaccessibleforeveryone,regardlessofageorability.

Itwillprovideafoundationofpracticalknowledgetoaidclientsanddeveloperstomakepracticalalterationstoexistingolderpeoplehousingdevelopments.

Theguideformspartofacollectionofdesignguideswhichreviewbestpolicyandpractice,designandpracticalalterationstoexistingolderpeoplehousing.

Thedesignguideisdividedinto4parts:theimportanceofdaylightandtypesofdaylightspaces;bestpracticedesignprinciples;designguidance;andrecommendationsformovingforward.Includedineachsectionareillustratedexamplesofthepointsraised.

Thisdesignguideisdividedintotwoparts:colourdesignandtheory;andwayfindingandsignage.Includedineachsectionareillustratedexamplesofthepointsraised.

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ExperiencehassuggestedtoTrustHousingAssociationthatthecolourschemesusedwithinthecommunalenvironmentscanmakeavastdifferencetothelevelofcomfortfeltbytenantsandtheirfamilies,andtheperceivedfunctionalityofthesefacilities.Assuchthecolourpalettesemployedcanimprovetheattractivenessofdevelopmentsasclienthomes,andtheperceivedprofessionalismoftheserviceasawhole.

Thisdesignguidewillconsiderthefollowingissues:

• Sightlossinolderpeopleandthekeyelementsrequiredtoensuresafetyandlegibilityofthedomesticenvironment

• Thekeyelementstoopportunitiesforolderpeopletousethespacesasindependentlyaspossible

• Thekeyelementsofimprovingtheuseofcolourandsignagewithincommunalareasofasharedresidentialenvironment

• Theattractivenessofthedevelopmentsascontributedtobycolourandsignagethroughoutthecommunalareas

Thisresearchprojectwillprovidethecommissioningagencyandanypartnerswithclearguidanceonhowtheapplicationofcolouranddesignofsignagearoundhousingdevelopmentscanbedesignedforolderpeopletogreatereffect.TherecommendationswithinthisguideareintendedassupplementaryguidanceanddonotprecludetheneedtocomplywiththeBuildingTechnicalHandbookbuildingregulationsfortheUK.

Aims & objectivesThisguidancesetsthecontextfortheapplicationanddesignofcoloursandsignagewithinolderpeoplehousingdevelopments.Itconsiderstheeffectsofvisualimpairmentsprevalentwithinthe+65populationandtheimpactthishasonthewayinwhichthephysicalenvironmentisviewedandperceived.

Thedocumentsetsoutguidanceonthefollowing:

Visual ContrastThisexplainstheprinciplesofvisualcontrastandsetsouttherequirementsofvisualcontrastinprovidinguniversallyaccessibleenvironments.

Colour as a tool for creating attractive, legible environmentsThisoutlinesthebenefitsofboldcolourincomparisontopatternandexplainsgeneralprinciplesforapplicationofcolourwithinanolderpersonshousingdevelopment.

Colour choice and specificationThisexplainstheimportanceofaholisticapproachtocolourchoiceandspecification,andtheneedtoconsidercontrastinmultipleelementswhendoingso.

Signing & signing for dementiaThisoutlinestheimportanceandpurposeofsigningincommunalareasandtheneedtoconsidermoreonerousdesignsolutionswhichtakecognisanceofanincreaseinpeoplewithdementiainourfutureageingpopulation.

Signage design and applicationThisexplainsbestpracticeprinciplesforsignagedesign,colour,legibility,placementandform.Examplesaregiventoillustratetherecommendationsforsignagedesignandapplication.

Scope & form of guidanceThisguidancerelatestothedesignofcolourandsignage.Itdoesnotmakereferencetothesitespecifics,whichwouldberequiredtobeestablishedaspartofadetaileddesignreviewandsignagestrategy.

Thisguidancecoversthedesignofexistinghousingdevelopmentsforolderpeople.Itdoesnotmakereferencetodevelopmentordwellingsizebutinsteadmakesassumptionsondesignattributesprevalentinsuchdevelopments.

Anumberofsitevisitsweremadebythedesignteamtoexistingolderpeoplehousingdevelopmentsduringtheinitialresearchstagesoftheprojectandobservationsmadewhichhelpedinformtheguidancewithinthisdocument.Inadditionaperiodofdesktopanalysisandresearchwasundertaken,consideringexamplesofotherolderpeople&amenityhousingthroughoutEurope.ThisenabledthedesignteamtomakecomparisonsofcurrentattitudestoBestPractice&Designinawidercontext.

Introduction

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Cap height: Theheightofacapital letterofatypeface.

Chroma: Thevibrancy&purity ofacolourorhue.

Development: Anybuildingorgroupingof buildingsforresidentialuse.

Directional: Asignthatpointsinaparticular direction,forexample ‘exitthisway’.

Directory: Asignlistinginformation.

Identifying: Asignthatexplainswhat somethingis,forexample‘toilet’.

Informative: Aplan,orasignthatinforms, forexample‘openinghours’.

Hue: Colourorshade.

Light Reflectance Value (LRV): LRVisbasedonascaleof0:100, where0=blackand100=white.

Luminance: Theintensityoflightemitted fromasurfaceperunitarea inagivendirection.

Muted: (withreferencetocolour)– acolourorhuewhichhas beendilutedandappears dullerandlessintensethan saturatedcolours.

Pictorial elements: Anypartofasignthatiseither illustrated,agraphicdrawing orphotograph.

Saturation: Strengthorintensityofthecolour (asaturatedcolourisinitspurest form.Ithasnotbeendilutedby anyotherhueorcolouror byblackorwhite).

Type face or type style: Thetermtodescribeaprinted letter,orreferencetoitsdesigned characteristics–oftenreferred toasafont.

Value: (withreferencetocolour)– theamountoflightthatthe surfacecanreflect.

Visual contrast: Visualcontrastisgivenasa differenceinlightreflectance value(LRV)betweentwosurfaces ofgreaterthan30points.

Wayfinding: Negotiatingobstructions andnavigatingwithinthe builtenvironment.

Definition of terms

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Figure01

Illustrationsshowingvarietyofcoloursutilisedinthecommunalareasofasinglehousingdevelopment.

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Figure02

Illustrationsshowingvarietyofcoloursutilisedinthecommunalareasofasinglehousingdevelopment.

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Figure03

Illustrationsshowingvarietyofcoloursutilisedinthecommunalareasofasinglehousingdevelopment.

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Figure04

Illustrationsshowingvarietyofcoloursutilisedinthecommunalareasofasinglehousingdevelopment.

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The Ageing EyeAswegetolderthefunctionalabilitiesoftheeyedeteriorate,whichaffectsourabilityto‘see’.

Inaddition,thefunctionalcomponentsofthevisualsystem(processingvisualinformation)alsodeteriorateandthisaffectsourabilityto‘perceive’.

Accuratevision(Seeing&perceiving)requirestheco-ordinationofeveryaspectofthefunctionalabilitiesoftheeyeandthefunctionalabilitiesofthecomponentsofthevisualsystem.

Normalagerelatedchangesinvisioncaninclude:

• Reducedvisualacuity• Anincreaseintheamount

oflightneededtosee• Anincreaseinthenegative

effectsofglare• Moretimerequiredtoadapt

tomarkedchangesinlightlevel.• Areductioninsizeofthe

peripheralvisualfield• Decreasedcontrastsensitivity• Decreaseddepthofperception• Changedcolourvision(gradual

lossoftheblue/violetpartofthecolourspectrum)

• Blurringfrom‘floaters’• Lightflashesormomentary

distortionofimages

“Aswellastheeffectsofnormalageingonthevisualsystem,anumberofvisualdisordersarecommonlyassociatedwithageing.Theseincludecataracts,glaucoma,maculardegenerationandretinalcomplicationsfromdiabetes.Thesecanallresultinchangessuchasblurring,partiallossofvisualfield,throughtogenuinevisualhallucinationsandcompleteblindness.Useofalcoholandotherrecreationaldrugscanalsoaffectvision,ascanwithdrawalfromthem.Sometimesmedicationscancauseorcontributetovisualdifficulties.Asurprisingnumberofmedicationscommonlytakenbyolderpeoplecanhavevisualside-effects.Theyincludesomedrugsfromthefollowingcategories:cardiovascular,nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory,antibiotics,anti-Parkinson,andeveneyemedications.”(AlzheimersSociety,2003)

Visuo-perceptual difficultiesTheAlzheimersSociety(2003)intheirstudyofvisuo-perceptualdifficultiesnotedthatsomeoftherepeatedvisualerrorsmadebypeoplewithvisualdifficultiesasbeing:

• Difficultyre-adjustingone’sspatialorientationwhenmovingaround(eveninfamiliarenvironments)

• Difficultyjudgingtheheightofthefloorwhenthecolourflooringchanges

• High-steppingovercarpetrodsorshadows,thinkingtheysignifyachangeoflevel

• Difficultyproblemsolvingvisualillusioneffects(forexample,whengoingdownstairs–determininghowmanystepsthereare,andwherethenextoneis)

• Resistingwalkingonshinyflooringbecauseitlookswetorslippery

• Walkingonthedarkestpatterns(orshadows)offlooringtoavoidfalling

• Misinterpretingreflectionsinmirrors,windowsorshinysurfaces(refusingtogointoatoiletbecausereflectionsmakethemappeartobeoccupied)

• Difficultyinlocatingpeopleorobjectsbecauseofotherdistractingorcompetingvisualinformation(suchaspatternedwallpaper)

• Inabilitytofindaparticularitemeventhoughtheitemisinfrontofapersonandappearstobeintheirfieldofvision

• Difficultyinpositioningoneselfaccuratelytositdowninachair,onthebed,onthetoilet

• Inabilitytofindobjectsorplacesbecauseofalackofcolourcontrast(forexample,notseeingpastaonawhiteplate

• Restlessnessfromvisuallyover-stimulatingenvironments(egtoomanyshinyornaments,decorationsorpatterns)

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ResearchundertakenbyProjectRainbow(1997)‘Colour,Contrast&Perception’identifiedthatthefivemostcommoneyepathologiesintheUKwere:

• MacularDegeneration• Cataract• Glaucoma• RetinitisPigmentosa• DiabeticRetinopathy

Furtheranalysisidentifiedthatvisualimpairmentscouldbedividedintothreeclassificationsoffieldloss:

• Centralvisualfieldloss• Peripheralvisualfieldloss• General/sporadic

visualfieldloss

Eachclassificationrelatestohowaparticularperson’sabilitytoperceivecolouranddetailisdistributedacrossthevisualfieldandthemethodtheyarelikelytoadoptinsearchingforvisualclues.1

Common visual impairmentsAsummaryofthethreemostcommonvisualimpairmentsinadultsintheUKisprovidedbelowalongwiththeirassociatedclassificationoffieldlossandabriefdescriptionofhowtheimpairmentsmayaffectvision.

1. Central Visual Field Loss – Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)AMDisaneyeconditionwhichleadstothegraduallossofcentralvisionandusuallyeffectsbotheyes,1 Colour,Contrast&Percpetion, KBrightetal,19972 StatisticprovidedbyNHSUK

butthespeedatwhichitprogressescanvarybetweeneyes.AMDistheleadingcauseofvisualimpairmentintheUKanditestimatedthat1in500peopleaged55–64haveAMD,to1in8inpeopleaged85orover.2

ADMcanresultindifficultyrecognisingpeople’sfaces,blurringofimages,distortionandcoloursappearlessvibrant.

2. General Visual Field Loss – CataractsCataractsarecloudypatchesinthelensthatcanmakevisionblurredormistyandagenerallossofnormalfield.

Cataractscanresultindifficultiesinthefocussingoflightontotheretina,whichincreasesthelikelihoodofglare.Itisalsocommonfortheretobeareductioninthepersonsabilitytoperceiveshortwavelengths(bluespectrum),althoughyellowandorangecanbeintensified.

3. Peripheral Visual Field Loss – GlaucomaGlaucomaisatermwhichdescribesagroupofeyeconditionswhichresultinanincreaseinintra-ocularpressureintheeye.Theoutcomeisagradualdecreaseintheextentofvisualfield,untilalossofperipheralvisionisdetectedatthelaterstagesofthedisease–commonlyreferredtoas‘tunnelvision’.

Glaucomacanresultindifficultiesinspatialperceptionastheindividualwouldrequiretoscantheenvironmentinordertounderstandtheirsurroundings.

Environmental adaptations Adaptingthephysicalenvironmentcanhelppeoplewithvisualimpairments.Abriefsummaryofsomeadaptationsisprovidedbelow,althoughnotintendedtobeexhaustive

• Increaselightlevels.Improvedlightingisconsideredinstrumentalinpreventingfalls

• Inaddition,visuallyimpairedpeoplenormallyusetheceilingasanunclutteredareatoassessthesizeandshapeofaroomonentry.Wheretheceilingispoorlylitthisisamoredifficulttask

• Provideevenlighting(topreventpeoplegoingneartodarkareasincorridorsandrooms

• Minimise/eliminateshadows• Minimisebusypatterns

onwallsandfloors• Trytoeliminatetheuseofrugs• Avoidshinyfloorsurfaces• Highlightimportantobjects

andvisualcues(signposting/wayfinding)

• Minimisevisualobstaclessuchaschangesinfloorfinishes

• Minimisevisualcluttersuchasnotices,signage,ornaments

• Maximisevisualcontrastinobjectsandtheenvironment

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Colour & the ageing eyeWehavepreviouslyoutlinedtheeffectsageinghasontheeyeandvisualperception.However,inrelationtochangesinperceptionrelativetocolourperception&wayfindingthefollowingprovidesageneraloverviewofcurrentfindings:

• Colourperceptionorcolourdiscriminationdiminisheswithage

• Ayellowingoftheeyelensoccurswhichmakesitharderdifferentiatebetweencoloursinthegreenandbluespectrum.Inadditionlessbluelightisabsorbedbythelens,whichrenderstheindividualsviewoftheirenvironmentalmostasthoughtheyareviewingthroughayellowfilter

• Confusion&difficultyunderstandingenvironmentswhichare‘visuallycluttered’.

• Abilitytoviewobjectsatheightisdiminished

• Abilitytodifferentiatesometexts/fontsisdiminished

Basic colour termsBasiccolourterms(BCT’s)arethedescriptivetermsusedtodiscriminatebetweendifferentcolours.

Berlin&Kayidentified11basiccolourterms:white,black,red,green,yellow,blue,brown,purple,pink,orangeandgrey,whichweresupportedinmanylanguagesthroughoutthedevelopedworlds.

TheirresearchidentifiedthatlanguagesofhighlyindustrialisedplacessuchasEuropeandAsiauseall11BCT’s.Incontrast,countrieswhicharelessindustrialised,withsmallerpopulations,amaximumof4BCT’swereused.

Thispresentsaninteresting,directcorrelationbetweenindustrialisation,growthanddevelopment(asanation)andourabilitytoarticulatedifferencesinhue(colour).

Colour semanticsThevastmajorityofpaperspresentedinthefieldofcolourstudiesaddresstheissueslinkedtothespecificvocabularyusedwhendescribingcoloursandtheimplicationsthesecouldhaveininfluencingcolourperceptionandpreference.

‘Thepowerofcolourtermprecision’(Steinvall,A.2011)showedthatcommoncolourtermsaredefinedindifferentwaysandthatthereisnounanimousviewofthecolourthesetermsrepresent.Forexampleseabluecanbeperceivedwithvaryingsaturation.

Palmer&Schloss(2011)studyintoecologicalvalence&humancolourpreferencesupportsthetheorythatcolourtermsaffectcolourpreferenceandsuggestthatgenderandagealsoaffectourperceptionandpreferenceofcolour.

“Theecologicalvalencetheory(EVT)isbasedontheassumptionthatpeople’scolorpreferencesresultfromanevolutionaryprocesswhoseneteffectisto‘steer’themtowardsbeneficialobjectsandsituationsandawayfromdetrimentalones”.

(Palmer&Schloss,2011)

TheEVTtheoryassumescolourpreferenceasanevolutionaryprocessculminatinginabsolutecolourpreferencebyolderage.However,Palmernotes,systematicchangesincolourpreferencecanoccurdependingonchangesinculture,contemporarytrendsetc.

Meaningsarealsosubjecttocontinuousnegotiationandinfluencedbypersonalexperience.Itisnotedthatbothoversimplificationorundersimplificationofcolournuanceaffectsourinterpretation.But,whereisthebalance?

Onerecommendationistoremovebasiccolourterminologyfromcolourdiscussion,usingonlythevisualrepresentationofthecolouroranumericdigitcodetoidentify.

Colour in Context

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3.0

Evidencesuggeststhatamoreaccurateunderstandingofactual‘preference’canbeachievedbyremovingopportunityforsubjectivitybasedoncolourterminologyorcolourassociationtoanobject

Forexamplethecolour‘saffron’isassociatedwiththespice,whichisveryexpensiveandtherefore,thecolourconsideredexclusive.Thesamecolourdescribedas‘shanghaismog’conjuresnegativeconnotationsandwouldbeunlikelytobeconsideredanythingmorethaninappropriate.

Colour codingColourcodingorcolournumberingisastandardisedmethodwithintheprintandbuiltenvironmentfordifferentiatingcolourandensuringcolourcontinuityinspecification,suchasRALorPantone.

Byremovinganyopportunityforcolourbias,onthebasisofcolourtermsandsemantics,colourcodingcouldbeapplied.Thiscouldreduceopportunityforsubjectivityorcolourpreferencebornefromlearnedwordassociationortheassumed‘mood’ofanyonecolour.

Figure05

Colourselectionacrosstheexistingupholsterycolourpaletteofcommissioningbody-noteaclearpreferencetowardspink&purple

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Colour PreferenceWehavepreviouslyoutlinedtheopportunityforcolourpreferencetobeinfluencedbycolourtermsandsubsequentwordassociation.Thereisalsoempiricalevidencewhichsupportsthetheoryofcolourpreferencerelativetosex,ageandperception.

Preference across age & sexLing&Hurlbert(2001)identifiedthatfewstudieshavebeenundertakentocomparecolourpreferenceacrossmultipleagegroupsandinparticularacrosselderlysubjects.Inresponse,theycarriedoutasystematicexaminationofpreferenceacrosschildren,youngadultsandtheelderly.

Overaperiodof2.5years,fouragegroupsweretested(Age8–9,11–12,18–22&61–88yrs).Aseriesofdetailed,controlledexperimentswerecarriedouttoexaminecolourpreferenceusingaseriesofvisualstimuli,suchascolourcardstorank‘pleasantness’ortoselectfavouritecoloursbyaprocessofelimination.Asimplifiedoverviewoftheirfindingsisnotedbelow.

• Theresultsindicatedasignificantsexdifferenceincolourpreferenceinages8–9,whichincreasedforthe11–12yeargroupandwasstillnotableinthe18–22yeargroup

• Thiseffectivelyvanishedforthe61–88yeargroup,althoughitwasnotedthattherewasa‘weaktrend’towardsanincreasepreferenceoffemalesfor‘red-purple’.Male&Femalepreferenceweightedhighlytowardstheblue–yellowaxis

• Violetcolourswerepreferredtoyellow–greencolours

• Femalesweightedmorepositivelytowardsred–greenandmalestowardsblue–green

Inelderlyhousing,wherethereistypicallyahighernumberoffemaletenantsitisinterestingtonotethetrendtowardscolourpreferenceinthered-purplespectrum.

Perception & sensation“Colourscausesensationslikecoldandwarm,heavyandlightweight,fragileandsolid,whichinturngeneratefeelings,whichmeansaqualitativeassessmentsuchaspleasantorunpleasant,friendlyorunfriendly,upliftingorindifferent.Thesefeelingsarefollowedbyintuitivenotionscontaininganautomaticsearchforpreviousperceptionsorfeelingswithanexperience-basednature.Reflectioncomesattheend.”(Wolfetal,2011,p.)

ArecentstudybyWolfetal,commissionedbyRALGmbH(anindustrycolourmatchingcompany)intocoloursforhealth&care,investigatedthepsychologyofcoloursandidentifiedthatcertaincolourstriggeridenticalcollectivelyeffectiveperceptualandbehaviouralpatterns.

Thestudyinvolvedanempiricalanalysisof70peopleagedbetween18and83years,whowereaskedtoselecttheirindividualcolourpreferencefrom340individualcoloursfor120adjectives,suchas‘beautiful’,‘soothing’‘pain-free’.Aseriesofpiechartswereformed,

whichordercolourrelativetocolourpreferencepercentageresponse.

Inadditionaseriesofmatrixwereprepared,whichoutlinecoloursynaesthetic,colourassociationandcolourattitudes&action.Theresultisastructuredcolourfanof120huestitle‘ColoursofHealth&Care’.

Mood & emotion“Whenaskedabouttheassociationstheymakebetweencertaincoloursandcertainemotions,mostpeoplewillhappilyexpressastrongopinion.Forexample,weconventionallyassociateredwithanger,greenwithenvyandbluewithsadness.”

(Simmons,2011.p.)

ThecoloursemanticdifferentialstudycarriedoutbyValdez&Mehrabian(1994)aimedtoestablishiftherearesystematiclinksbetweenparticularcoloursandparticularemotions.Asampleof250participantswereaskedtorateeachsample(coloursofvaryingsaturationandbrightness)usingalternativewordassociationssuchas‘happy’or‘pleasant’.Theparticipantswerepresentedwithacolourandaskedtomapwhereonaspectrumofhappytocruelitmadethemfeel.

Theconclusionwasthatsaturationandbrightnessdominatedemotionalresponsestocolour.Hue(100%colour)accountedforlessthan30%.Insimplifiedterms,theshadeofcoloureffectedtheindividualsperceptionofmoodasopposedtothebasiccolour.

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Colour ContrastTheageingeyeandindividualswithvisualimpairmentsfinditdifficulttodiscriminatebetweencoloursandassuch,theuseofcontrastisaneffectivetooltoassistwiththeirinterpretationoftheirphysicalenvironment.

Untilrecently,theperceptionwasthatopposingcolours(forexampleredandyellow)wouldprovidesufficientcontrasttoaidsomeonewithavisualimpairmenttodistinguishbetweentwoobjectsorsurfaces.However,despitethedifferenceinhue,theluminosityofthecolourmaybethesame.Forexampleadeepredwithalightreflectancevalue(LRV)of50willappearthesameasayellowwiththesameLRV.

Contrast in colourVisualcontrastisgivenasadifferenceinlightreflectancevalue(LRV)betweentwosurfacesofgreaterthan30points.

TheLRVscalerunsfrom0,whichisperfectlyabsorbingsurfacethatcouldbeassumedtobetotallyblack,upto100,whichisperfectlyreflectivesurfacethatcouldbeconsideredtobetheperfectwhite.

Measuring contrastColourswhichappeartobedifferentfromoneanotherincolourcanbeverysimilartonallyandtherefore,donotgivesufficientcontrast.Asimple(butnotscientific)methodofjudginggoodcontrastistotakeablack&whitephotographofthesceneoraphotocopyofacolourphotograph.Agoodcontrastwillshowupblack&white,poorcontrastwillshowupasgrey.

AnaccuratemethodoftestingLRVisrequiredwhenspecifyingproducts.ThenewBritishStandardBS8493:2008specifiesthemethodoftesttodeterminethelightreflectancevalue(LRV)ofdifferentsurfacematerials.Thisstandardstipulatestheuseofspecialistspheretypespectrophotometerequipmentwhichhasbeendesignedforthetask.ThisequipmentcanaccuratelymeasuretheLRVofflatandcurveditemsandbothmattandspecularfinishes.

InmanycasestheLRVofthecoloursamplescanbeobtainedfromthemanufacturerwhoproducedthecolourswatches.

SeveralmanufacturersidentifytheLRVofaproductandfromthiscontrastbetweenfinishescanbedeterminedaccuratelybythespecifier.

AtableofLRVratingsformaterialscommonlyusedbythecommissioningbodyisprovidedinappendixBandasamplematerial:LRVmatrixisprovidedinappendixCtoaidappropriateselectionofdifferentmaterials&colours.

Specifying contrastTheapprovedDocumentMoftheBuildingStandardsstipulatesthefollowinginrelationtovisualcontrast:

• Alldooropeningfurnitureshouldcontrastvisuallywiththesurfaceofthedoorandisnotcoldtothetouch

• Doors,whetheropenorclosed,shouldbeapparenttovisuallyimpairedpeoplethroughthecarefulchoiceofcolourandmaterialforthedooranditssurroundings.Forexample,whenadoorisopen,peoplewithimpairedsightshouldbeabletoidentifythedooropeningwithinthewall,aswellastheleadingedgeofthedoor

• Inordertohelppeoplewithvisualimpairmenttoappreciatethesizeofaspacetheyhaveentered,ortofindtheirwayaround,thereshouldbeavisualcontrastbetweenthewallandtheceiling,andbetweenthewallandthefloor.Suchattentiontosurfacefinishesshouldbecoupledwithgoodnaturalandartificiallightingdesign

• Signsindicatingthelocationofaliftingdeviceaccessiblebymobilityimpairedpeopleshouldbeclearlyvisiblefromthebuildingentrance

• Additionally,asignidentifyingthefloorreachedshouldbeprovidedoneachlandinginalocationthatcanbeeasilyseenfromtheliftingdeviceandiddesignedsothatitcontrastsvisuallywithitssurroundings

5.018

• Controlsthatcontrastvisuallywiththeirsurroundingsaremoreconvenientforvisuallyimpairedpeople.Thecoloursredandgreenshouldnotbeusedincombinationasindicatorsforswitchesandcontrols.Itmaybeusefultousetextorapictogramtoclarifythepurposeandstatusofmultipleswitchesandcontrols

• Thesurfacefinishofsanitaryfittingsandgrabbarscontrastvisuallywithbackgroundwallandfloorfinishes,andthereisalsovisualcontrastbetweenwallandfloorfinishes

1

2

3

5.0

Figure06

1 Upholsteredseatand carpetcontrast:casestudy2 Existingfloor–skirting– wallcontrast:casestudy3 Existingfloor–floorcontrast:casestudy

19

5.0

Figure07

Casestudy:contrastincommunalcirculation

20

PatternItisrecommendedthatpatternisavoidedinareaswhereindividualsmayhaveavisualimpairmentasboldpatternsorgeometricdesignscancreatetoomuchvisualstimulus,whichinturncancauseconfusioninthewaytheenvironmentisperceived.

Inadditiontothepotentialnegativeeffectspatterncanhaveforindividualswithvisualimpairment,recentstudiessuggestthatcommunicationthroughsignlanguageagainstahighlypatternedbackgroundismoredifficult.Asisthecasewherestrongcolourdifferencesareusedacrosssmallareas.

“Thepresenceingeneralofbusypatternsonthefloororwallisdislikedbydeafandhearingimpairedpeople.Thisisduetotheproblemwithbalancethatpeoplewhohaveproblemswiththeirearsmayhave.”(Bright.p72)

Signage (in wayfinding)Colourcanbeusedasaneffectivetoolfornavigatingthroughabuilding.Howeverthisshouldnottaketheplaceofwell-designedsignagewhichwillprovideadditional(oftentextual,numericorpictorial)information.

Theeasewithwhichthesignisnoticedisdependentontheuseofcolour,bothinthesignagedesignandtheimmediateenvironmentinwhichthesignisplaced.Ingeneralthefollowingprinciplesapply:

• Asignboardshouldcontrastvisuallywiththewallbehind

• Thetext,pictogramornumericshouldcontrastvisuallywiththesignboard.ForexamplewhiteletteringonadarkgreysignwithaLRVdifferenceof30unitswillprovidevisualcontrast

Objects (in wayfinding)“Itshouldbeemphasisedthatlandmarksaremoreimportantthancolourinassistingwayfinding”.

(DementiaServicesDevelopmentCenter)

ResearchfromtheDementiaServicesDevelopmentCentreattheUniversityofStirlingsuggeststhatobjectsaremoreeffectivethancolourinassistingindividualstoorientateandnavigatethroughtheirenvironment.

Anappropriatelyplacedobjectalongapath,whichhassufficientlygoodlightingandvisualcontrasttothesurfacebehindwillensurethatpositivefeaturescanbeclearlyidentifiedandassistindividualswithwayfinding.

Formulti-storeybuildingstheuseofcolourtodifferentiateindividualfloorsisoftenusedtoassistwithnavigation.However,thisshouldnotnegatetheneedforclearsignage.Elderlytenantswhohavedifficultywithcolourdiscriminationormemorymaynotfindcolournavigationhelpful.Insteadclearnumeralspositionedoppositetheliftdoors,whichareclearlyvisibleandcontrastwiththewallbehindprovideasuitablealternative.

Indeedtheuseofbothcoloursandnumericsfordifferentiatingfloorlevelswillensurebothwayfindingstrategiesareoffered.

DetailedinformationonwayfindingandsignageisprovidedinSections9–13.

Colour Versus...

6.0 21

6.0

Public Public/Semi-public Semi-public Private

Rooms

Ent

ranc

e

Cir

cula

tion

/St

airs

Din

ing

Roo

m

Lau

ndry

Loun

ge

Act

iviti

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rdre

sser

s

Gue

st

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room

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iste

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athr

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fOffi

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Kitc

hen

AdjectivesAiry X X X X

Ambient X

Appealing X

Appetising X X X

Attractive X

Bright X X X X X X

Calm X

Clean X X X X X X X X X

Clear X

Clinical X

Comfortable X X X X

Confident X

Contemporary X X

Cool X X

Corporate X X

Cosy X

Flexible X X X

Functional X X X X X

Informative X

Inviting X X X X

Light X X

Linear X

Organised X

Practical X X X

Private X

Professional X X

Relaxing X

Safe X X X

Shiny X

Spacious X

Sterile X

Tidy X X X

Timeless X

Uncluttered X X

Ventilated X X

Vibrant X

Warm X X X X X X

Welcoming X X X X

Well-planned X

22

Figure08Adjective-boards(left)OutcomefromaworkshopwithTrustHousingAssociationemployees.Eachgroupwasaskedtoprepareadjectiveboardstorepresenttheiraspriationsforthemoodandfeelingofeacharea.

Figure09Colourmood,perception&sensoryassociations(referenceto‘ColoursofHealth&Care’RAL,2011)

6.0

Colours

Skinsensation Gre

en,Y

ello

w,

Turq

uois

e

Viol

et,E

arth

y,

Gol

d

Ros

e,V

iola

,A

pric

ot

Bei

ge,G

rey,

W

hite

Bla

ck,G

rey,

W

hite

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pR

ed,R

ed,

Ora

nge

Blu

e,L

ight

B

lue,

Aqu

a

Whi

te,L

ight

G

rey

Warm X X

Cosy

Cool X X

Neutral X

SpatialfeelingCosy X

Cool X

HealthandcareClean X

Professional X

Warming X

Calming X

TimeorientationStable X X X X X X

Medium X

RoomtypesSedate X X

Luxurious X

Gentle X

Functional X

Minimalist

Conscious X

Clear X

Factual X

23

6.0

Figure10Tableidentifyingroomswhichrequiremorethanonefloorfinish.Whererequiredrecommendationsforbothfloorfinishesisgiveninthecorrespondingmoodboard&considerationgiventoensuringsimilarcontrastisachievedtoprevent‘high-stepping’overaperceivedchangeinfloorlevel.

Figure11Tableidentifyingtheaspirationaladjectivesidentifiedinthestaffworkshop,theircolourassociationandcorrespondingroom.Thisinformationinformedthecolourpaletteswithinthemoodboards.

Public Public/Semi-public Semi-public Private

Rooms

Ent

ranc

e

Cir

cula

tion

/St

airs

Din

ing

Roo

m

Lau

ndry

Loun

ge

Act

iviti

es

Roo

m

Hai

rdre

sser

s

Gue

st

Bed

room

Ass

iste

dB

athr

oom

Staf

fOffi

ce

Kitc

hen

FloorfinishVinylflooring X X X X X X X

Carpetflooring X X X X X X

Matwellflooring X

Public Public/Semi-public Semi-public Private

Rooms

Ent

ranc

e

Cir

cula

tion

/St

airs

Din

ing

Roo

m

Lau

ndry

Loun

ge

Act

iviti

es

Roo

m

Hai

rdre

sser

s

Gue

st

Bed

room

Ass

iste

dB

athr

oom

Staf

fOffi

ce

Kitc

hen

Adjective/mood/colourGreen,Yellow,Turquoise X

Violet,Earthy,Gold X X X

Rose,Viola,Apricot X

Beige,Matt,Cream X X X X

Black,Grey,White X X X X X

DeepRed,Red,Orange X X X

Blue,LightBlue,Aqua X X X X X

White,LightGrey X X X X X

24

Wehavediscussedindetailtheprinciplesofcolourchoice,preferenceandcontrast.Howevertobenefitfullyfromcolourinourbuiltenvironmentsitisimportantthattheprinciplesofapplicationareunderstood.Thiswillnotonlyensureappropriatecolourplacementbutitwillalsoaiddesignersandclientstousecolourasatooltocreatebetteraccessibleenvironments.

Principles for colour choiceWehavepreviouslyoutlinedinourreviewofcurrentcolourresearch&theory,thatsocial,culturalandphysiologicalfactorsplayanimportantpartinourcolourpreferencedevelopment.

AsarguedbyWolfetal,certainbasiccolourstriggeracollectiveresponseandpreference.Theoriginsofthiscollectiveresponseremainunknown&widelydebated.

However,whatisapparentisthatcolourpreferencebecomesmoreindividualwhenchoiceofcoloursaturationincreases.Forexamplewomenintheirlateryearsarerecordedaspreferringthecolourviolettoyellow-green.Establishingwhichshade,saturationandluminanceofthecolourvioletcouldbewidelydebatedwithinthegroupandaunanimityneverachieved.

Adegreeofobjectivitymightcomeforexample,ifitwasagreedcollectivelythatthecommonloungeshouldbe‘violet’(adoptingvioletasabasiccolourterm).

Thedecisiononsaturationorluminancecouldthereforebemadebythecommissioningpartyordesignerandadecisionmadeinparalleltoensuringtherequirementsofcontrastaremetintheirselectionofadjacentwalls,floorsandironmongeryetc.

Principles for perception, sensation & moodTheresearchundertakenbyWolfetalindicatesacollectiveresponseincoloursynaesthesia(sensoryexperience)–blueroomsareperceivedasbeingcolderthanredroomsforexample.

Withthisinmindacollectiveagreementontheassociated‘experience’or‘mood’ofaroomcouldbesoughtandfromthisappropriatecolourschemesdeveloped.

Thiswasfurtherexploredwiththecommissioningbodyduringaone-dayworkshopwherebyrepresentativeswereaskedtopreparemoodboardsfortypicalcommunalroomsusingadjectiveswhichtheybelievedbestdescribedtheiraspirationsforeachroom.

Inadditioneachgroupwasaskedtomakeadecisiononwhetheraroomwaspublic,semi-publicorprivate.

Abriefsummaryoftheresultsareprovidedbelow:

• 11moodboardswerepreparedfor11communalrooms

• Theentrance,circulationareas,diningroomandlaundrywereconsidered‘public’areas

• Thelounge,activitiesroomandhairdresserswereconsidered‘public/semi-public’areas

• Theguestbedroom,assistedbathroomandstaffofficewereconsidered‘semi-public’

• Thekitchenwastheonlyroomidentifiedasbeing‘private’(tostaff)

• ‘Clean’,‘bright’and‘warm’werethemostcommonlyusedadjectives

• ‘Contemporary’rankedhigherinaspirationsto‘relaxing’

Colour Principles in Application

7.0 25

01.

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Figure12Colourapplicationto‘dead-end’corridors

broad wall

broad wall

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Thecollectiveaspirationaladjectivesforeachareaarenotedinthefollowingtables:

PublicareasAiry,appealing,attractive,bright,clean,cool,corporate,flexible,functional,informative,inviting,light,practical,safe,tidy,ventilated,warm,welcoming.

Public/semi-publicareasAiry,bright,clean,clear,clinical,comfortable,contemporary,flexible,functional,professional,relaxing,safe,spacious,timeless,ventilated,vibrant.

Semi-publicareasAmbient,bright,calm,clean,comfortable,confident,contemporary,corporate,cosy,functional,inviting,organised,practical,private,professional,safe,tidy,warm,welcoming.

PrivateareasBright,clean,cool,functional,light,linear,shiny,sterile,tidy,ventilated,well-planned.

Asanexampleofhowthisinformationcouldbeintegratedintocolourchoice,theentranceandcirculationareasarebothconsidered‘public’andsimilaraspirations.Bothshouldpredominatelybeairy,brightandclean.Thereforeacolourpalettewhichbestreflectsthecollectiveunderstandingofthemoodandfeeling(synaesthetic)ofthesespacescouldbeapplied–‘cool’beingpredominatelygreensandturquoise.

Principles for achieving contrastThefollowingaregeneralprinciplesforachievingcontrastincolourinkeyareas.

Wall:Wall & ceilingInordertohelppeoplewithvisualimpairmenttoappreciatethesizeofaspacetheyhaveentered,ortofindtheirwayaround,thereshouldbeavisualcontrastbetweenthewallandtheceiling.

Itisassumedinallcasesthattheceilingwillbeapaintedsurface,colouredwhite.Thelightreflectancevalueofwhiteis100(orcloseto)andthereforeanywallsadjoiningtheceilingmusthaveamaximumLRVratingof70.

Inaddition,wall:wallcontrastisrecommendedwherecolourisbeingutilisedasatooltoassistwayfinding.Inthisinstancewallcoloursshouldbechosenwhichprovidevisualcontrasttoeachother,inadditiontocontrasttoceilings,floorsanddoors,signsetc.

Wall:DoorVisualcontrastshouldbeprovidedbetweenadoorandthewallitislocatedwithin.Becarefultoensureironmongeryfittedtothedoorfacecontrastswiththedoorfinish.

Wall:SkirtingItisrecommendedthatvisualcontrastbeprovidedbetweenthewall–skirtingandskirting–flooring,toassistthevisuallyimpairedunderstandthespatialarrangementoftheroomandnavigatewithinit.

Figure13Colourapplicationto‘window-end’corridors

26

04. RECESS/RECESSED ENT br

oad

wal

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feature wall

feature wall

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SING

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broad wall

feature wall

Figure14Colourapplicationtocorridorswheresignageisrequiredalongit’slength(wherenosignageisrequiredbroadwalltoallareas)

Figure15Colourapplicationat90degcornerswheresignageisrequired

Figure16Colourapplicationtorecessedareas

feature wallbroad wall

broad wall

feature wall

broad wall

Ifskirtingsarepaintedthroughouttobrilliantwhite(asrecommendedforceilings)agreaterchoiceofwallcolourisavailablei.e.withanLRVratingof70orless.

Covedskirtingsshouldcontrastwiththefloorfinishtobetterenhancethejunctionofthefloorandwall.

Whereskirtingsarebeingreplaced,considerinstallingdeeperskirtingswhichwillincreasethevisiblelineoftheskirting.

Floor:DoorThejunctionoffloortodoorisalsoimportantwhenthedoorisintheclosedposition.Ifthereisnotsufficientvisualcontrastbetweentheseelementsorifbothelementsareofasimilarluminance,itwillbedifficultforvisuallyimpairedpeopletodistinguishbetween.

Floor:FloorVisualcontrastbetweenadjoiningoradjacentfloorsshouldbeavoidedasthiscanbeperceivedasachangeinheightorvoidintheflooring.

Whenspecifyingtwodifferentfloorfinisheswithinonespace,forexamplevinylandcarpet,referenceshouldbemadetothemanufacturerswrittenLRVratingtoensurebothhaveanequalorsimilarrating.Thiswillhelppreventhigh-steppingoveraperceivedchangeinlevel.

Floor:UpholsteryAsnotedpreviously,somevisualimpairmentsresultinindividualsexperiencingdifficultyinpositioningthemselvesaccuratelytositdowninachair,onthebedoronthetoilet.

Thereforeitisimportanttoconsidertheflooringandtheobject(chair,toilet,bed)togetherwhenspecifyingafinishorcolour.Thisisrelativelystraightforwardwhenselectingthecolourofatoiletseatorasolidcolourforapaintedchairforexample.However,itiscurrentlynotcommonpracticeforfabricmanufacturerstoprovide(orobtain)lightreflectancevalues.Thereforediligenceshouldbetakenwhenspecifyingupholsterycoloursandfloorfinishestoensureadequatevisualcontrast.

7.0 27

Principles of applicationWhereandhowtoapplycolourwilldependupontheroom,it’sdesiredmoodandthepurposeforcolouringe.g.toassistwithwayfinding.Itwillalsodependonthespecificsofthesite(orientation,layout,size,ceilingheight).

Thefollowingprinciplesforapplicationareprovidedasgeneralguidance.Themeritsandlimitationsofeachprojectshouldbeassessedonsiteanddiscussedwiththedesignteam,clientandoccupantspriortoanyredecoration.

WallfinishesGuidanceforaccessibledesignindicatesthatpatternedwallfinishesandmaterialswhichenhanceglareshouldbeavoided.

Busypatternsnotonlymakeitdifficultforthevisuallyimpairedtoreadtheirenvironmentbutresearchalsoindicatesthatpatternalsoaffectsthosewithhearingimpairmentsandcanrestrictcommunicationthroughsign-language.

Apaintfinish(withoutpattern)willprovideasuitablefinishtocommunalareas,whichshouldbeneutralintheirdecoranduniversallyaccessibleintheirdesign.

1 AreviewofDuluxTradeColour fanindicatedpaintfinishesvaried inLRVratingsfrom5-87

Paintfinishesarealsoavailableinavarietyofcolourchoices,whichincreasesopportunitytoprovidevisualcontrast1.Amattfinishispreferredasthiswillalsohelptoreduceglare.Paintiseasytomaintainandrepairifdamagedandwater-basedmattpaintsareavailablewhicharealsocleanable.

FloorfinishesFlooringtocommunalareasforolderpeoplehousingshouldbe:

• Slipresistant• Easytomaintain&clean• Lowtomediumpile(carpets)• Avoidpatterns,floraldesigns,

specklesorflecksandstronggeometricdesign

• Bemattinfinish(avoidshinyfinishesduetoproblemswithglareandtheperceptionthattheyarewet)

• HavethesameorsimilarLRVwheretwofloorfinishesmeet

• Avoidhighlyreflectivethresholdbarsortransitionalstripsasthiscanbeperceivedasachangeinlevel

• Shouldbeprovidedwithnosingtostairs,whichcontrastsvisuallywiththestairtreadandriser.

• Havethesamefinishedlevelwheretwofloorfinishesmeet-thismayrequireanalternativesubstrateorscreedtoeachtoensurethefinishedfloorlevelsmatch

• Beintegratedwithtactilewarningsurface(ribbedrubbermattingusetoindicateachangeinlevel)

Thelightreflectancevalueofflooringshouldbeconsideredwhenspecifying:

• Flooringaccessories(trims,edging,tactilewarningsurfaces).

• Barriermatting/entrancematting• Morethanonefloorfinish

toanyonearea• Kickplates,grabrails,

edgeprotection

7.0

ARRIVALFOCUS WALL?

feature wall

broad wall

feat

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Figure17Colourapplicationatentrances

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Doors & frames“IfthearchitravehasthesameLRVasthedoorbutadifferentLRVfromthesurroundingwall,itcanoutlinetheopeningforsomepartiallysighteduserswhenthedoorisopen”(BS8300:2009:9.1.1)

Thefollowingprinciplesprovidegeneralguidanceonachievingvisualcontrastfordooropeningsandthesurroundingwall:

• ThedoorfaceandarchitravearepaintedtohavethesameLRV,whichcontrastsvisuallywiththesurroundingwall.Asnotedabove,ifthedoorisopen,thearchitravewillprovidevisualcontrasttothesurroundingwallandthereforeoutlinethedooropening

• ThearchitraveandskirtingarepaintedtohavethesameLRV,whichcontrastvisuallywiththesurroundingwallanddoorface.Ifthedoorisopen,thearchitravewillcontinuetoprovidevisualcontrasttothesurroundingwall.

• ThisscenarioinvolvesgreaterconsiderationtothespecifiedLRVsasthreecontrastingcoloursarerequired,asopposedtotwointheaforementionedscenario

UpholsteryUpholsteredchairsshould:

• Contrastvisuallywiththeflooringbelowtoassistsomeindividualswhohavedifficultypositioningthemselvesduetovisualimpairments

• Wherepossiblethearmsshouldcontrastwiththeseat

7.0

ELEVATION - A(DOORS CLOSED)

ELEVATION - A(DOORS OPEN)

feature wallfeature wall

Figure18Colourapplicationatsmokecontroldoorstocorridors

Figure19Colourapplicationatsmokecontroldoorstocorridors

feature wall

broad wallbr

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SMOKE CONTROL DOOR JUNCTION

PLAN

29

Arequirementofthecommissioningbodybriefwasfortheproductionofsampleboardsfortypicalcommunalareas,whichincorporatethedesignprinciples,statutoryrequirementsandstaffconsultation.

Thefollowingsampleboardsareprovidedasgeneralguidanceandarespecifictotherequirementsofthecommissioningbody.

Sampleboardshavebeenpreparedforcommunalroomsandareastypicallyfoundwithinanolderpersonshousingdevelopment.

Theseareasfollows:

• Entrance• Circulation/Stairs• DiningRoom• Laundry• Lounge• ActivitiesRoom• Hairdressers• GuestBedroom• AssistedBathroom• Staffoffice• Kitchen(commercialfor

preparingmealservice)

Eachsampleboardhasbeendevelopedtoincorporatethecommissioningbody’sexistingfloor&upholsteryspecification.Fromthisappropriate,contrastingcolourswereselectedforeacharea.

Theoverall‘mood’foreachroomwasdevelopedfollowingtheoutcomeofaone-dayworkshopwiththecommissioningbodywherebyrepresentativesprepared‘adjectiveboards’tobestarticulatetheiraspirationalmood,functionandfeelingofeachroom.Fromthisandwithreferencetothecolourresearchappropriatecolourswereselected.

Foreachmaterialorfinish,manufacturerslightreflectancevaluesarenoted(whereknown).

Ageneralruleof+/–30unitshasbeenadoptedtoprovidecontrastbetween:

• Broad&featurewalls• Walls&skirting• Walls&floor• Floor&floor(wheresome

roomsrequiremorethanonefloorfinishi.e.vinyl&carpetorcarpetandmatwell)

• Floor&trim

UpholsteryrecommendationshavealsobeenmadebutitisnotedthatLRV’sforupholsterywerenotavailablefromthemanufacturersatthetimeofpreparingthisguidance.

LRVmatrixwerealsopreparedwhichaccountforallcolourswithineachsamplerange.Dashedlinesidentifyappropriatematerialmatches,relevanttoLRVandaesthetic.

Sample Boards & LRV Matrix

8.030

SigningWhat function do signs have? Theydirect,inform,identifyandevenwarn.Bydirecting,theycantellushowtoreachadestination.Byinforming,theycantelluswhattoexpectbehindthedoorofaparticularroomwemaybeabouttoenter.Byidentifying,theycantellusthatwehavereachedourdestination,orfoundsomethinginparticular.And,bywarningtheycantelluswhenwemaybeatrisk.

Butsignsalsocommunicate,describe,implyandhaveanaddedtoneabouttheenvironmenttheyarein,whilstnavigatingyouthroughthatenvironment.

Why sign in this context?Theolderpersonshousingenvironmentperformsmanyfunctionsfromtheprovisionofahometothecareofindividuals,anditisalsoaworkplaceandadestinationforvisitors.

Clarityofdirectionanduseisimportantinthiscontexttodefinethespacesforeitherpublicorprivateoccupation.Itisimportanttodirecttenants,visitorsandstaffwiththeminimumofimpactontheirenvironmentwhilstmaintainingclarityforresidentswhommaybevisuallyimpairedorhavedifficultyincomprehendingtheirenvironment.

What is signing in this context? Signsthattellyouwhereyouare,wheretogo,whatyouareseeing,wheretofindhelp,andwhatsomethingmightbe.Entrance,reception,toilet,roomorflatnumber,laundry,loungeandkitchenaresomeexamples.

The purpose of these signsTheydirect,inform,orientateandidentifybuttheyalsocommunicate,describeandaddtexturetotheirenvironment.Inadditiontheycanimplysomethingaboutthatenvironmentbytheirtone,colour,languageandmaterial.

Types of signsDirectional,informativeandidentifyingsignsallperformfundamentalfunctions.

Apaletteofsigntypesisrequiredtocovertheexpectedusesandsigningscenariosinthisenvironment.Aflexiblesystemthatallowsforthesigningofthefollowing:directionalsigns;externalsigns;floornumbering;entranceandexit;signingofparticularrooms.

Forexample:toilets;apartmentorroomnumbering;floor-planorfloordirectory;andinternalliftsigns.

Fire, Health and Safety Statutory SignsThereisalegislativerequirementforastandardoffire,health,safetyandotherstatutorysignstobeincludedinanybuilding.

Theirinclusioninanydevelopmentarenotpartofthescopeofthisreport.Thisissitespecificandwouldthereforerequiredetaileddesigninputandconsultationwithspecialistconsultants.

However,theirinclusionisessential,andtherelevantdocumentationorexpertiseshouldbeconsultedaspartofanysigningproject.

9.0 31

9.0

Long distance

100mm Cap Height

Distance from

entrance

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destination

Longdistance

150mm Cap Height

Medium

distance

100mm – 50mm Cap Height

Close-up

25mm – 15mm Cap Height

InternalExternal

Whiteorlightcolourondarkbackgrounds

Borderscanbeusedontexturedbackgrounds

Avoidblack/white

Figure20

Figure21

32

Signing for dementiaPrincipleTodevelopasigningsolutionthatfitstherequirementsoftheolder-personshousingenvironment,beingmindfulofthelikelyincreaseinthosewithdementiaasalongertermlivingcondition.

Toinclusivelysignforthefutureneedsofallfutureresidentsandspecificallythosewithdementia.

Current market Proprietarysignageproductsavailableuseacombinationofphotographyandillustrationinconjunctionwithgenericnamingterms.

Theyareanattemptatacatch-allsolutionforaspecificproblemandbytheirnaturedonottakeintoaccountanyparticularsetoflocalenvironmentalfactors.

Whilsttheymightserveasagoodsolutionfordementiaspecificenvironmentstheycouldberegardedasintrusiveinmorewidelyusedspacesdesignedforarangeofresidents,withvaryinglevelsofcareneeds.(Seefigure18).

The sign environment Signingwithdementiaandthelongtermprospectsofadevelopmentinmind–thenatureofthesepropertiesisthattheyarepopulatedbyavarietyoftenantswithdifferingneeds–suggeststhatcarefulinterventionandadaptationofthesigningisrequired.

Itispossibletobeinclusive,utilisingthethemesfromthepolicyandbestpractice–alsowithinclusionofelementsthatareconsideredasdementiaspecific.Forexampleillustratedorphotographicimagesandusingraisedtactileareasinsigns.

Inclusionoftheseitemsintoadesigncanstillbeachievedwhilstproducingasystemthatissympathetictotheneedsanduseofallresidents.

Pictorial elementsInclusionofpictorialelementswithinthesignsystemsisthebestwaytoaidrecognitionandhelpinstilthemeaningofasignforthosewithdementia.

Carehastobetakenintheinclusionofthetypesofpictorialelementswithregardstotheirclarityandlevelofrecognition.Regardlessofhowtheseimagesarevisualised.

Forexample,theimageofatelephonemaybeusedtorepresentanareawhereatelephonecallcanbemade.But,therewouldbelittlepointindepictingthelatestsmartphoneinthissituation.Asthiswouldnotrepresenttheuniversalimageofatelephonethatwouldberecognisabletosomeonewhoseformativeimpressionofaphonepre-datestheirdementia.

Colour coding Colourcoding,whetherdrawingattentiontogeneralareasofasign,showingthedifferencebetweenuseofspacesonplans,ordefiningdifferentfloorsofapropertybycolourhasnoinfluenceonthosewithdementiaintermsofaidingtheirorientation.

Colour highlightingWhilstcolourcodingtosignifyspaceshaslittleimpactonthosewithdementia,highlightingsignificantitemswiththeuseofcontrastingcolourcanbeeffective.

Forexample,theuseofacontrastingcolouronadoortohighlightitagainstawallorframeofanothercolour,cansignifyitasadoorthatmaybeaccessed.

Conversely,ifthedesireistonotgiveaccess,thenthedoorandframecanbepaintedouttomatchthebackgroundcolourofthewall,reducingtheperceptionofthedooractuallybeingthere.

10.0 33

11.0

Design principles and aspirationsLegibilityLegibilityacrossallsigningisthedesiredoutcome.Allsignsshouldbeclear,conciseandconsistent.Themessageofthesignshouldbeeasilyunderstood–withthegreatestpossibleclarity,noexcessoflanguage,minimaldecoration,usingareducedandappropriatecolourpalette.

Maintainingsimilarityofsigningacrossadevelopmentwillaidtherecognitionofthosesignsandwillbenefitlegibility.

SizeThereisadirectcorrelationbetweenthesizeoftextonasignanditslegibilityoverdistance.Anappropriatechoiceofsize–forbothsignandchoiceoftypesize–shouldbemadedependingonthelocationanduseofthesign.(Seefigure20).

TypefaceChoiceoftypefaceiscritical.Overlydecorative,italic,script,condensedorextendedtypefacesmustbeavoided.Sanseriftypefacesprovetobethebestoption.

Preferenceisgiventotypefaceswithconsistentweightsandletterspacing,whichisacharacteristicofsansseriftype.(Seefigure22).

ContrastContrastbetweenasign’stextanditsbackgroundwillhelptoaidlegibility.Thisalsoappliestotheactualbackgroundthatasignismountedto.

However,starkcontrastsuchastheuseblackandwhitemustbeaavoided.

Theuseofbordersaroundtheouteredgeofasigncanbeused,whenthereisnoalternativetofixingthatsignonabackgroundthatistextured,orwherethebackgroundcolourcannotbeaffected.(Seefigure21).

PlacementPlacementofsigningacrossadevelopmentshouldbeconsistent.Thiscanbeachievedthroughthesamepositioningofthesignsintermsofheightfromthefloor.

Logicshoulddeterminetheplacementofsignsinpositionsthatareexpectedtobesigned.

Ifthereisadesire,needorexpectationforsomethingtobesignedthenthesignshouldbethere.Forexample,havingafloornumberadjacenttoaliftdoor.

ConsistencyAllthesigningshouldbeofsimilarsize(dependingonlocation),style,colour,materialandappliedinpositions,thataresetouttoanexpectedvisualstandard,fromfirstenteringadevelopment.

ColourBearinginmindtheoptimumuseofcontrast–andtheenvironmentthesignistobesetwithin–considerationshouldbegiventothecolourofboththecontentandthebackgroundofthesign.

Theuseofalimitedcolourpalette,onetothreecoloursmaximum,shouldbeusedacrossallsigns.

Form & materialAcommonapproachtomaterial,shapeandformshouldbeused.

Again,bearinginmindcontrast,choiceofmaterialcanalsobemadetoaidthetactilityandcolourpaletteofthesignscheme.However,theuseofreflectivematerialsorglossymaterialsshouldbeavoided.

Aconsistentformorshapecanalsoaidinrecognitionanddeterminingthatsomethingisasignorbeingsigned.

Theuseofembossingorraisingofthecontentcanhelpinthetactilerecognitionofthatcontent.

34

Men

Forexample,theinclusionofaraisedillustrationofamalefigureonasigndepictingamaletoilet,meansthattheoutlineofthefigurewouldberecognisabletothosewhomayusetouchtohelpfindthereway.(Seefigure23).

LanguageClearuseoflanguageisanimportantelement.Apolicyofclearnamingshouldbeadopted.Forexample,useoftheword‘toilet’asopposedtotermssuchasWC,restroomorbathroom(except,whenaroomincludesabath),shouldbeadoptedandusedthroughout.

LayoutHierarchyinthelayoutofinformationisimportant,thoughmayvaryfromsitetosite.

Dependingonlocationitmaybemoreimportanttoguidevisitorstoareceptionorprovideanobviousprominentdirectiontoanearbytoilet.

Onmultiplefloordirectoriesthestructureshouldfollowthesystemoflowestfloortothebottom,higherfloorsabove,culminatingwiththeuppermostflooratthetop.

Directional arrowsPlacementofdirectionalarrowsshouldbeorientatednexttothetextinthedirectiontheyarepointing.Forexample,aleftpointingarrowwillfalltotheleftofthetext.(Seefigure24).

Use of brailleWherebrailleistobeuseditshouldbelocateddirectlybeloworadjacenttothetextitisinterpreting.

Anembossedorraisedsignalmustbeincludedinthesigntotheleftofthebrailletextmarkingitasanareathatbrailleisavailabletoberead.(Seefigure25).

Figure23

Figure24Figure22

Figure25

11.0

Sans Serif Decorative

Italic

Script

CONDENSED

Extended

35

12.0

Figure26

Design guidanceThefollowingdesignguidancesetsoutaspirationdesignstandardsandtheirexpectedoutcomes.

Thisguidanceisbasedupontheculminationofourresearchfromandadopted:sitevisits;designworkshops;researchworkshops;clientmeetings;writtenresearch;surveysfromplan;signplacementstudiesonplan;consultationwithindustryexpertise;deskbasedandinternetresearch.

TheextentofwrittenresearchforthedesignandapplicationofsignageislimitedtoasmallnumberofRoyalNationalInstitutefortheBlind(RNIB)andSignDesignSocietypublications.

Consequently,asignificantpartoftheguidancehasbeendrawnfromprofessionalexperienceandresearchinrelatedgraphicdesignfields.

Byadoptingthebestprinciplesandadaptingthemtotheneedsofdementiaspecificsolutions.Wecanthensetgoalsforthecreationofasystemofsigningthatfitsboththerequirementsfordementiaandtherestoftheresidentialcommunity.

PlanningAfullsurveyandsigningplanmustbeconductedforeverypropertythatistobesigned.

Placementofdirectionalsigns,directoriesinformationalsignsneedtobeassignedandplotted.

Carealsoneedstobetakeninascertainingwhetherallareasaretobesignedorifspecificsaretobeleftunsignedornothighlighted.

Forexample,itmaynotbedesirabletodrawattentiontostaffonlyareasortoadevelopmentsplantrooms.(Seefigure26).

36

12.0

Reduction of visual clutterIfareasarevisuallycluttered–especiallythoseinrelationtoentrancesandcirculationareas–forexamplewiththeuseofgeneralnoticeboards,thereshouldbeefforttode-clutter.Giventhatresearchsuggestsacalmandorderedspaceisbeneficialineasingtherestlessnessofthosewithvisualimpairments,clearingthesigningoftheseareasinparticularwillbenefitnotonlythespacesbutalsotheunderstandingofthosespacesandtheinitialimpressionoftheinterior.

Aspartofthesiteplanningavisualsurveyshouldbeconductedoftheexistingsignsandotherelementsthatimpactontheflowthroughadevelopment.

Atakedownorreplacementlistneedstobecollated,withthegoalofallowinganynewersigningtobevisibleandeffective.(Seefigure27).

Temporarysigningshouldberemovedandassessedastoitslifespan.Anytemporarysignthathasbeeninexistenceforover6weeks–oranyotherarbitraryperiod–shouldbedeterminedwhetheritisofuseandtobecomeapermanentsign.(Seefigure28).

Figure27

Figure28

37

Positioning & placementAcombinationofsitevisit,informationgarneredatdesignworkshopandaseriesofdrawnelevationandplanbasedassessmentshaveinformedthefollowingguidanceonplacementandpositioningofsigning.

Industryexpertisewasalsosoughtwiththeregardtosignpositioning,resultinginaplanbasedpositioningexercise.

Conclusionsweresimilarhoweversomeaspectsofculturalprecedentwerebroughttothefore,positionondoorasopposedtonexttodoor,butspecificdesigndecisiononthisaspectshouldbemadewithinformationfromasitesurveyofanyparticulardevelopment.

Suggested placement and types of signs:

Directional: Wallmountedatappropriate junctions,accesspoints, doorways,entrances,stairways andhallsorcourts.

Informational: Onornexttodoors,atentrances, floornumbering.

Identifying: Onornexttodoors, floornumbering.

Directories: Insideandadjacenttoliftexits, lifts,entrancetoandinside stairwellsandatentrances.

Plans: Withinentrances todevelopments. (Seefigure29)

12.0

Flats 100–107

Laundry

Hair Dresser

Activities Room

Lounge

Lounge

Lounge

Lounge

Informational Directory Directional Identifying Identifying

Figure29

38

12.0

Figure30

Type size Long distance Forexampleexternaloflarge scalesigns–minimum 150mmcapheight.

Medium distance Forexampleinternalsigning orentrances–minimum 50–100mmcapheight.

Close-up Forexampledirectorysigns, identifiersignsminimum 15–25mmcapheight.

Symbols Suggestedminimum100mm inheightoverallwhenused (Seefigure30).

39

12.0

ContrastContrastbetweenletterandbackgroundwillbeusedtohelpincreaselegibilityandvisualimpactofthesigning.Thefollowingprincipleswillreferenced;

• Avoidanceofblackonwhiteorwhiteonblack

• Therewillbegoodcontrastbetweenbackgroundandletter

• Borderswillbeusedonedgeswherethereistexturebehindasignor,wherethebackgroundcolourcannotbeaffected

• Minimalamountofcolourwillbeused

• Nouseofcoloursofthesameorsimilarhue

• Whiteoralighttoneplusoneortwoadditionalcoloursisregardedasbestforasystemofsigningandwayfinding

ColourFirstly,aneutralcolourpalettewillbedevelopedtoallowthesigningtofunctionacrossdispiritdevelopmentenvironments.

Secondly,aseriesoffurtherpalettesareavailablethatwillexist,whichwillbecomplimentarytoanddevelopedtobeusedinconjunctionwiththe‘Colours’environmentresearchfindings.

FormThesignswillallowfortheinclusionofthefollowingelementstobecontainedwithinthestructuralform;

• Text• Multiplecoloursononesign• Apictorialelement• Raisedtextandillustration• Symbol,annotationsand

directionalarrows• Includebrailleandbraille

markertotheedgeofthesigns

LayoutThelayoutofalltheelementscontainedwithinasignwillbebasedontheapplicationofasystematicgridstructure.

Arigid,logicalandstructuredhierarchyofinformationwillalsobeapplied.

ConsistencyBydesigningasignschemefrombestprinciplesforward–wecanensurethereisalevelofconsistencyacrossallsigninginanygivendevelopment.

Consistencywillalsobekeytorecognition.Asignwillberecognisableinitsfunction,ifitisdesignedaspartofacoherentandinterconnectedsolution.

Anunifiedvisualrelationshipwillexistbetweenthesignsacrossandbetweendevelopments.

ComprehensionTheinclusionofpictorialanddirectionalelementstoaidcomprehension.

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12.0

Pictorial elementsInclusionofapictorialelementtothesigningforthosewithdementiaiskey.

Thesewillbeincludedateveryopportunity,wheretheirrelevanceisbeneficialtounderstanding.

Illustratedorgraphicelementsareincludedinthedesignsolutionasopposedtophotographic.Duetosimplicityofformandtheeaseofproductionasaraisedelementinthesigning.(Seefigure31).

Construction & productionThefollowingitemsaresignificanttothedesignofthesigningandconsequentlywilldeterminetheproductionmethodsemployed.

• Colourproductionisintrinsictothedesignsandmustbeaccuratelyreproduced

• Pictorialelementswillbeincluded

• Theywillmakeuseofraisedtext,raisedillustrationandbraille.

• Theuseofmaterialsmustbesympathetictothedesignedenvironment

• Signswillbeflushmountednofixturesshouldshow

• Signsmustbedurableandpermanent

Illustration

Photographic

Graphic

41

13.0

Lounge

Lounge

Flats 100–107

Laundry

Hair Dresser

Activities Room

Shower

Lounge

Lounge

Lounge

Shower

Lounge

Flats 100–107

Examples

Figure31Colourapplicationatentrances

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13.0

Flats 100–107

Laundry

Hair Dresser

Activities Room

Shower

Lounge

Lounge

Lounge

Flats 100–107

Lounge

Loung

Shower

Lounge

Figure32Typical‘colours’palette

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AppendixStatutory regulations Thefollowingregulationsandstatedsub-clausesareapplicabletothecontentsofthisstudy:

• EqualitiesAct(2010)• ScottishBuildingTechnical

Standards

BS8300statesminimumvisualcontrastas20,preferably30,pointsdifferenceinLRV.However,thiscanleadtomonochromatic,unappealingcolourschemesandpotentiallylittlescopeforcolourchoice.

BS8300:2009+A1:2010: Eachstepnosingshouldincorporatea:

• Ermanentlycontrastingcontinuousmaterialforthefullwidthofthestaironboththetreadandtherisertohelpblindandpartiallysightedpeople.

• Appreciatetheextentofthestairandidentifyindividualtreads.

• Thematerialshouldbe50mmto65mmonthetreadand30mmto55mmontheriser,andshouldcontrastvisuallywiththeremainderofthetreadandriser.’

BS8300:2009+A1:2010: ‘Togiveadvancewarningofastep,tactilepavingwithacorduroyhazardwarningsurfaceshouldbeprovidedatthetopandbottomofeachflight.Wheretheapproachtothestairiswiderthantheflight,thetactilesurfaceshouldextendbeyondthelineofeachedgeoftheflight.’

BS8300:2009+A1:2010:“Toavoidgivingthewrongimpressionaboutthesizeofaroom,skirtingsshouldhavethesameLRVasthewallsothatthejunctionbetweentheskirtingandthefloormarkstheextentoftheroom.”

BS8300:2009+A1:2010:Ahandrailshouldbefinishedsoastoprovidevisualcontrastwiththesurroundingsagainstwhichitisseen.’‘Large,repeatingpatternsthatincorporatebold,contrastingcoloursshouldnotbeusedforthewallsurfacesinpartsofthebuildingwherevisualacuityiscritical.’

• BS8300:2009+A1:2010:‘Floorpatterningthatcouldbemistakenforsteps,e.g.stripes,shouldnotbeusedforfloorsincorridors’

• ‘Deeppilecarpetshouldnotbeusedonstairtreads’

• ‘DifferencesinLRVshouldbeusedtoassessthedegreeofvisualcontrastbetweensufacessuchasfloors,walls,doorsandceilingsandbetweenkeyfittings/fixturesandsurroundingsurfaces

• TheLRVofawallshouldbe30pointsdifferentfromthatoftheceilingandofthefloor’

• ‘Large,repeatingpatternsthatincorporateboldcontrastingcoloursorsimulatestepsshouldnotbeusedforanyfloorsurface’

BuildingRegulationsApprovedDocumentPartM(England)specifiersareadvisedtocontrastvisuallyadjacentcriticalsurfacessuchaswalls,ceiling,doorsandfloorsbydifferentiatingthecoloursusedbyalightreflectancevalue(LRV)ofmorethan30points.

BS8493:2008stipulatesthataspectrophotometer(apparatus)isusedtomeasuretheLRVusingCIETristimulusY,IlluminantD65(naturaldaylight)andthe10°colorimetricobserver.Furthertothis,thestandarddetailsthenumberofmeasurementsthatneedtobetakenfromeachspecimen,usingameasurementgrid(seefigures1andfigure2below).

ThestandardstatesthattheresultsoftheLRVmeasurementsshallthenbeputintoatestreport.

A

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48

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