The purpose of a corduroy surface is to warn visually impaired people of the presence of specific hazards such as; steps, level crossings or the approach to on-street light rapid transit (LRT) platforms.
It is also used where a footway joins a shared route. It conveys the message of ‘hazard, proceed with caution’.
At GripClad, we understand what a company might need to maintain compliance with the Equality Act 2010. We have worked with a number of companies ensuring that their premises are both safe and compliant, and these Surface Mounted Corduroy Tactiles help us to help you do just that!
What do they look like?
The profile of a corduroy surface comprises rounded bars running transversely across the direction of pedestrian travel. The bars are 6mm (± 0.5mm) high, 20mm wide and spaced 50mm from the centre of one bar to the centre of the next.
It is recommended that the surface is in a contrasting colour to the surrounding area so as to assist partially sighted people. It should not be red which is restricted to blister surface controlled crossings.
Where can these be applied?
The Corduroy surface can be used for any situation (except at pedestrian crossing points) where visually impaired people need to be warned of a hazard and advised to proceed with caution, for example:
- The top and bottom of steps
- The foot of a ramp to an on-street light rapid transit (LRT) platform (but not at any other ramps)
- A level crossing
- Where people could inadvertently walk directly on to a platform at a railway station
- Where a footway/footpath joins a shared route
Why Choose Surface Mounted Tactile Paving Tiles?
- Quick and easy to install using the included adhesive which will cover up to 10 tiles. Installations can be completed in less than 2 hours, reducing disruption to pedestrians.
- Ideal for a range of substrates and applications. Tiles are easily cut to follow kerb lines or to accommodate ramps and manhole covers. Suitable for most standard surfaces including asphalt, wood, concrete, ceramic and steel, with no surface excavation necessary.
- Lightweight and easy to transport.
- Hard wearing and durable – they are made from a hard wearing stone and resin composite.
Has this product been tested?
The tiles are made from a hard wearing stone and resin composite and are moulded to create paving which, under normal usage, will last up to seven times longer than the equivalent concrete product.
Recent tests carried out include:
- Tests conducted at the Transport Research Laboratory on the product conditioned at -40ºC found no measurable loss in height at the end of a scuffing test.
- They also measured the surface skid resistance at 61, well within the preferred range set by the Joint Mobility Unit of SRV = 50-70.
- When anti-slip tested using the pendulum test, our tactiles achieved a PTV of 65 in dry conditions.
- Building Investigation and Testing Services (Redhill) conducted a comparative wear test against a concrete blister slab and found tactile paving had a wear resistance 7 times better than the concrete product.
Could you benefit from using these applications in your industry?
The traditional replace and install method with tactile surfaces – used by many industries – was to use heavy concrete slabs making the work both physically demanding and time consuming due to exhausting excavation.
Surface Mounted Tactiles have now become the first choice because it is quick and easy to install using special adhesive and can be completed in less than 2 hours, reducing disruption to pedestrians and keeps cost down to a minimum.
Suitable Applications for this product include:
- Railway Platforms
- Car Parks
- Stairs and Escalators
- Ramps
- Entrance Doors
If you’d like to find out more about these fantastic products click here, or get in touch for some advice on how you might be able to best use them.