1. S A M P L E H E A D E R
DDA IN THE EXTERNAL
ENVIRONMENT

2. D S A M I P L E HHE E A D E R R N A L
D A N T E X T E E N V I R O N M E N T
Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA) & Equality Act 2010
In light of this legislation, the design of street furniture elements for people
with visual or mobility impairment needs to be carefully considered to ensure
it is ‘fit for purpose’.
The DDA makes it unlawful for a provider of services (a Local Authority for
instance) to discriminate against a disabled person by making it unreasonably
difficult for the disabled person to use that service.
Although this responsibility may ultimately lie with the client or their agents (ie
specifiers), it is still our duty as a supplier to take ‘reasonable’ steps and
modify products to make them suitable for all to use.
In addition to the DDA, there are many guidelines produced by various
bodies that have no legal status; however, there is plenty of information
available on established best practice that can be applied to our products
(see Further Reading at the end of the presentation for more information).

3. D S S A B I LL E T H E IA SDSEURE S
I A M P I Y
The term ‘disability’ covers people with physical, sensory or mental
impairment.
A conservative estimate is that approx 10-15% of the population have some
degree of impairment and many face barriers to movement in the external
environment.
Also consider those not conventionally considered disabled but who
encounter daily mobility problems eg people with small children, those
carrying heavy shopping or luggage, people with temporary accidental
injuries and older people.
While there are aspects of design in the pedestrian environment that are
helpful to all or most disabled people (and many able bodied too), there are
certain specific facilities needed by people with a particular kind of
impairment.
No category is mutually exclusive. Many disabled people have more than
one impairment and although it is not possible to consider the needs of every
individual using the public realm, it should be recognised that a solution for
one group of users may not assist another: rarely does one solution suit all.

4. C S A M P LNE PHREO B LEERM S
O M M O A D E N C O U N T E R E D
Locomotion
Includes people using
wheelchairs and those
who walk with difficulty
and often use an aid
such as a stick or
walking frame
Up to 70% of disabled
people have
locomotion difficulties:
those with walking
difficulties outnumber
wheelchair users by
about 10:1

5. C S A M P LNE PHREO B LEERM S
O M M O A D E N C O U N T E R E D
Sight
Can be sub-divided into
blind and partially sighted
people
Only around 5 per cent of
visually impaired people
have no sight at all: the
vast majority have some
residual vision, and can
distinguish colours, or
shades of light and dark
It is estimated that there
are almost 2,000,000 in
Great Britain with a
significant sight loss

6. C S A M P LNE PHREO B LEERM S
O M M O A D E N C O U N T E R E D
Hearing
Can also be sub-
divided into those who
are profoundly deaf and
those with impaired
hearing
The RNID estimates
there are over
8,000,000 deaf or hard
of hearing people in the
UK

7. C S A M P LNE PHREO B LEERM S
O M M O A D E N C O U N T E R E D
Reaching, stretching &
dexterity
Often as a result of advanced
age and/or arthritis, which can
make movements painful and
difficult, muscular dystrophy
(causing a loss of muscular
strength), or complaints of the
nervous system
Difficulty sitting down or
standing up needs to be
considered when providing
seating for people with
mobility problems

8. C S A M P LNE PHREO B LEERM S
O M M O A D E N C O U N T E R E D
Learning disabilities
Making it hard to understand
complicated information on
signage or to use complex
machines (some ticket
machines)

9. S T R E E T F U R N I T U R E G E N E R A L L Y
A desirable urban realm is
accessible, safe, legible, and inclusive
A coordinated and consistent
design, supported by the logical
installation of street furniture, will allow
users to be unhindered by
inappropriately located obstacles
Badly sited furniture is an obstruction
to people with both mobility and visual
impairments
Ideally, items of street furniture should
be grouped together where possible
(at the back of the footway, out of the
main pedestrian flow) so that visually
impaired people can more easily
identify, and avoid, the potential
hazard

10. S S A M E T E F U R N I TE UR R E
T R E P L H E A D P L A C E M E N T
Items should be mounted on walls or buildings whenever
possible; if not, placing them at the back of the footway,
as near the property line as possible, is acceptable (max
distance from the property line to the edge of a pole
should be 275mm)
However, this is sometimes not ideal as the building
line can provide the best route for visually impaired
people who use canes using building facades as a
guide
If items are placed adjacent to a road, they should be a
min 450mm away from the edge of the carriageway,
increased to 600mm where there is a severe camber or
crossfall
BS5489 provides safe distance from kerb edge to light
column centre – these may be as much as 1500mm
A clear area of footpath, a minimum 1200mm wide,
should be allowed for access, since visually impaired
people who receive mobility training are trained to walk in

11. S S A M E T E F U R N I TE UR R E
T R E P L H E A D D E T A I L S
Free-standing items, such as individual
bollards, are a particular problem for visually
impaired people and it is essential (while
taking account of heritage issues) to consider
the means of making them apparent to
people with reduced vision
Street furniture should be detectable at
ground level with a long cane; for example,
the addition of tapping rails to cycle stands
should be considered at either end of a run
If there is a need for more than one pole to
support any item eg signage, they should be
set at least 1m apart
All street furniture should be at least 1000
millimetres high as anything lower (eg
benches without backrests and low bollards)
are not in most adults’ normal line of sight

12. C S A MT E R
L U T P L E R E D U C R I O N
H A D E T
To reduce street clutter and hence the
number of potential obstacles to the safe
movement of visually impaired people, it
may be desirable to coordinate certain
elements of street furniture (traffic signals
and signage, bins, banners etc with street
lighting columns
ALTHOUGH…
Projecting litterbins fixed to lighting columns
and the glazed side walls of cantilevered
bus shelters are examples of street furniture
that may cause problems through being
undetectable at ground level

13. C S A M P L E TH E A D EC O N T R A S T
O L O U R / O N A L R
If, for practical reasons, it is necessary to
locate freestanding items of street
furniture within (or close to) an access
route, their presence should be clearly
apparent, for example by ensuring that
they contrast in colour and luminance
with the background against which they
will be seen
Many guidelines advocate the use of
colour / tonally contrasting marking to
identify street furniture to those with
residual sight, although such treatments
may not be considered appropriate in
historic areas
While colour contrasted bands will help
to some extent, the choice of colour for
the overall post or bollard also affects
visibility - grey poles in particular are
often problematic as they tend to blend
into a paved background

14. T O A M L LC O H E A D E R
S N A P E N T R A S T - M A T E R I A L S
Contrast is the visual perception of the different light
reflectance values of two surfaces and it is essential to
ensure that colours selected for street furniture contrast with
their surroundings
Hues that appear to be quite different from one another in
colour (chroma) can be very similar tonally (e.g. green and
brown) and therefore do not give sufficient contrast –
particularly to those with colour blindness
It is generally recognised that 30 points of difference in light
reflectance between surfaces should give adequate contrast
for a large proportion of partially sighted people; however,
the level of light shining on a surface has a large influence
on the visual perception of contrast, and light levels
outdoors obviously vary greatly so higher differences in light
reflectance value would be preferable
As a rule of thumb, for existing street furniture, a good
contrast will show up clearly on a black and white
photograph while poor contrast will show up simply as
shades of grey

15. T O A M L LC O H E A D E R
S N A P E N T R A S T D I M E N S I O N S
A contrast band should be a minimum depth of 150mm, positioned with the lower edge
of the band between 1400mm and 1600mm above ground level (essentially at eye
level); some guidelines advocate deeper bands (300mm), or more than one band
(three dark, two light bands each 100mm deep), but the single band, minimum
150mm, is acceptable to the Royal National Institute for the Blind
Specific items require different treatment:
Bollards and low furniture should display a single band at approx 1m above
ground level
Items of furniture such as bus shelters and lighting columns should be highlighted
with two bands, one at 900-1000 millimetres and the other at 1400-1600
millimetres measured from ground level to the top of the band
In the case of glazed screens, such as those found on bus shelters, two coloured
bands should also be provided. The colour chosen for the highlighting on glazing
should contrast with the background against which it will be viewed.
When installing new items of street furniture, tonal contrast should be a key element within
the design of materials and finishes. When integrated into the design process, a broader
range of aesthetically pleasing designs can be achieved and specifiers should not be
restricted to using 150mm banding since this is the minimum vertical dimension required.
Where appropriate, the banding could take the form of a logo or emblem for example, and
applied to a glass panel in a shelter.

16. SSAEM P L E GH E A D E R
A T I N

17. S S A T IPNL G
E M E H E A D E R
G E N E R A L L Y
Where people with a disability are able to walk at all, approximately 30% can manage
no more than 50 metres without stopping or experiencing severe discomfort and a
further 20% can only manage between 50 and 200 metres; therefore seats provided at
50m intervals will help less mobile people use the streets more easily and encourage
the use of public space
In designing the layout of seating, space should be made available for wheelchair users
to sit with their companions (or assistance dogs to sit nearby) and the provision of
sufficient space to manoeuvre is an important factor to consider if disabled people are to
use facilities independently
Bench seats with open ends and sharp corners should be avoided
Seat supports should not have visible base plates nor extend beyond the profile of the
seat where they could create a trip hazard
It is vital that rain water is not allowed to collect on any part of the seat and seats should
be made of vandal resistant, easily cleanable material (timber is the preferred material
where people may sit for longer periods of time)
Sitting on a slight slope can be very uncomfortable for wheelchair users

18. S S A T IPNL G
E M E – E A S U A L
H V I D E R C L A R I T Y
In order for seating to be DDA
compliant it should be highly visible,
with a bold side profile, and in a
colour and luminance that contrast
with immediate surroundings and
surfaces
Alterations to the colour and/or finish
of seating in certain locations may
need to be made or the addition of
contrasting banding or reflective
strips might be required

19. S S A T IPNL G
E M E -H E A M E N S I O N S
D I D E R
Seat surface heights are crucial to the
comfort of individuals if seating is to be used
for prolonged periods. If a seat is too high
or too low a person may experience
considerable discomfort as a result of poor
posture
Conventional seat heights vary over the
range of 420-580mm, with a common height
being between 450mm and 480mm
(BS8300 recommends 450-475mm for fixed
seating)
Seat heights slightly greater than the normal Extract from TfL’s Streetscape Guidance 2009
450mm are more convenient for people with
restricted mobility

20. S S A T IPNL G
E M E -H E A M E N S I O N S
D I D E R
If space permits, it is helpful for people of restricted
growth (and children) if there are some seats at a
lower level than the standard height. Where
possible, seats of varied height and width, ie higher
and/or wider than standard seating, should also be
provided for people of large stature or those with
restricted leg movement
Seat widths are recommended to be a minimum
500mm; wider may need to be provided to allow for
those of large stature
Although conventional seating to these dimensions
will meet the needs of most disabled people, there
are some who find perch-type seating, against Extract from TfL’s Streetscape Guidance 2009
which people half lean and half sit, easier to use
Perch seating (at bus stops and other locations
where people wait for a short period of time) is
recommended at a height of 580-800mm

21. S S A T IPNL G
E M E – E A D E R E S T S
H B A C K R
Seats with backrests should be provided
at regular intervals along well used
pedestrian routes; approx 50% of
seating should have backs
For lower back support, a back height of
approx 300-500 mm is
recommended, depending on the length
of time likely to be spent seated and the
formality of the seat design
Ideally, a minimum 75mm gap should be
allowed between the top of the seat and
base of the backrest
For comfort, seat backs should be
slanted back at approx 5-15o ; the seat
angle will also need to be adjusted to
maintain a seat to back angle of 90-100o

22. S S A T IPNL G
E M E – E A D E R S T S
H A R M R E
A mixture of seating options, with or without
arms, should be provided to assist in rising from
the seat
Seats placed in a row should either all have
armrests or no armrests; a mixture within a single
row can cause difficulties for visually impaired
people
To allow wheelchair users to transfer on to fixed
seating, not all seats should have armrests, i.e.
there should be no armrest on the end of a row
of seats (the same principle applies for those
with pushchairs)
Armrests should be placed approx 200mm above
seat level; width should be 40-70mm
Armrests should have no sharp edges and the
ends must be rounded if not connected to the
seat; on longer seats, additional arms can be

23. B S A M A R D SH E A D E R
O L L P L E
Generally, the use of bollards should be avoided as
they clutter the streetscape and can create an
unnecessary hazard for people with mobility and
visual impairments: improved legibility for both
pedestrians and vehicle users through good design
will minimise the need for bollards
Bollards are recommended to be a minimum
1000mm in height ; under no circumstances should
adjacent bollards be linked with chain or rope as this
is a hazard for blind and partially sighted people
Bollards can be customised for DDA compliance
through the addition of contrast colours or finishes
and reflective banding to break up the bollard outline
and increase visibility
The incorporation of a light at the top of bollards is an
effective way of making them more easily seen at
night

24. C S A M E LS T A N D S E R
Y C L P E H E A D
In order to assure DDA
compliance, cycle stands can be
customised through the addition of
contrasting colours and/or reflective
banding
Cycle stands should be spaced a
minimum 1000mm, and ideally
1200mm, apart
The addition of tapping bars to
Sheffield type cycle stands can also
aid the visually impaired so that an
empty stand can be identified by
someone using a cane; rails are
often added only to the two end
stands in a run for reasons of
economy

25. L I TA TME PRL E I H E A D E R
S B N S
Litter bins should be between
1000mm and 1300mm in height
Bins should continue down or
close to ground level and be of
a rounded design in a colour
that contrasts with their
surroundings
The bin opening should be
approx 1000mm above ground
level

26. T S A M P G R I L LE EA SD E R
R E E L E H
If feasible, grilles should be
positioned outside the boundaries
of pedestrian thoroughfares;
gratings within an access route
must be of a non-slip finish and set
flush with the surrounding surface
Slots in gratings should be a max
13mm wide and set at right angles
to the dominant line of travel
The diameter of circular holes in
gratings should be a max18mm
(Heelsure drainage grates from
Marshalls have slots of 6mm max
for this reason); this
recommendation is intended to
reduce the risk of trapping the ends
of canes and of wheelchair wheels
becoming stuck

27. RSSAAM PPL LGES HH& EAADDEERU S T R A D E
A I L I N E
M E B A L R

28. H S A M P L E L HT O D E R P S
A N D R A I E A S T E
Any flight of steps that consists of two or more risers
should be provided with a handrail on each side
Where a stair is used simultaneously by a large
number of people, and the overall unobstructed width
of steps is greater than 1800 mm, an additional
handrail, or handrails, should be provided to divide
the flight into separate channels; no channel should
have an unobstructed width of less than 1000 mm or
more than 1800 mm
The division of wide flights into separate channels will
allow an individual who may have less strength on
one side or the other to be within easy reach of
support; An ambulant disabled person may be weaker
on one side so a handrail on each side of the flight is
essential for support
If any stairway consists of two or more flights,
separated by a landing or landings, each handrail
should, if feasible, be continuous throughout the
series of flights

29. L O A M T IL O N H O F DH EA RN D R A I L
S C A P E E A
The vertical height to the top of a
handrail should be between 900mm and
1000mm from the pitch line of a flight and
between 900mm and 1100mm from the
surface of a landing
Second, lower handrails for children and
people of restricted growth are helpful
and should be fixed at heights of
between 550mm and 650mm
Each handrail should extend at least 300
mm beyond the first and last nosing; this
extension allows an individual to steady
or to brace themselves before ascending
or descending
As much of the extension as possible
should be horizontal and the extension
should not intrude into any circulation
route

30. H S A M P L E L H D E S I EGRN
A N D R A I E A D
A handrail should be:
a) an oval or circular profile (a non-circular handrail is
as easy to grip as a circular handrail and gives better
support)
b) finished to contrast in colour and luminance with its
surroundings, without being highly reflective
c) smooth and comfortable to grip (slip resistant) with
no sharp edges, not cold to the touch (the use of
Ferrocast, timber or certain coatings, such as
powdered nylon, is recommended)
For an individual with impaired vision, the change in
slope of the handrail and its return into a wall will signal
the start or finish of the flight
At the start and finish, the handrail should be terminated
in a way that will reduce the risk of clothing being
caught: this is achieved by returning the handrail to the
wall or floor, having a minimum rounded downturn of
100mm, or by terminating it with a scroll or similar
feature

31. H S A M P L E L H D I AMDEENRS I O N S
A N D R A I E
A circular handrail should have a minimum
diameter of 40mm but not greater than 50mm; an
oval profile should be 50mm wide by 38mm deep
The profile should have rounded edges with a
radius of at least 15 mm
There should be a clearance of 50-60mm between
a handrail and any adjacent wall surface (subject
to a maximum intrusion of 100mm into the ramp or
stairway); minimum of 600mm clear space above
the handrail is required
Any handrail support should meet the handrail
centrally, on its underside, so there is no
obstruction to the passage of the hand along the
rail; the clearance between the bottom of the rail
and any cranked support, or continuous
balustrade, should be a minimum 50mm to
minimize the risk of the handrail supports
interrupting the smooth running of a person’s hand
along the rail

32. G S A M P L E IH E N G E R
U A R D R A L I A D
Railings are a hindrance to people with
disabilities but if there is a steep slope
or drop on a footway, precautions must
be made to prevent wheelchair users
running over the edge or blind/partially
sighted people walking over it
Guardrails and barriers adjacent to
footways should be at least 1000mm
high, preferably 1200mm, measured
from ground level
In common with other street furniture,
guardrails should be clearly colour
contrasted from their surroundings. If
galvanised or black railing is used, in
conservation areas it should at
minimum have colour contrasted
markings added to the end panels
Grouping other furniture, such as
litterbins, at the ends of railings will
minimise the collision hazard at the
ends of railings

33. G S A M P L E I H E D IDME ER N S I O N S
U A R D R A L A
Guardrails should be designed to prevent guide dogs from walking under the rails, but
there must be sufficient openings between vertical elements to ensure that children,
people of limited stature and wheelchair users can see, and be seen, through the
railings
The top rail should have a smooth profile and, if intended to provide support, should be
circular with a diameter of between 40mm and 50mm
There should be an upstand, a minimum of 150-200mm in height, to act as a tapping rail
for long cane users as well as a safeguard for wheelchair users
Where it is necessary to provide staggered barriers across footways and footpaths in
order to prevent conflict with other forms of traffic (for example at junctions with main
roads) the barriers should be constructed of vertical bar sections 1200mm high and
colour contrasted with their surroundings
An offset between the two barriers of 1200mm allows wheelchair users convenient
passage but discourages the riding of bicycles

34. SSI A M P L EE H E A D E R
G N A G

35. W S A M P N D I N G AP R I R C I P L E S
A Y F I L E H E D E N
Buildings designed with a logical layout will
directly assist wayfinding; everyone needs
information about the purpose and layout of
spaces if they are to maintain a clear sense of
direction and independent use of a building
Colour can be used to signal the location of
certain features within a building eg walls within
core areas containing stairs, lifts or toilets
could be painted a particular colour to aid
orientation
Visual information can be provided by
distinguishing floors, walls and ceilings etc;
where a building relies upon its own vocabulary
of finishes to convey information to people with
sight or learning impairments, a key should be
provided at a central information point
Tactile maps or models of the interior layout of
buildings aid the comprehension of the building
for those with sight impairments

36. S SG N A G E
I A M P L E G E N D R R L L Y
H A E E A
Signs should form part of an integrated communication
scheme that gives clear directions, information and
instructions for the use of an area; they should support
a wayfinding strategy that considers the needs of
different types of users as well as the complexity of the
area’s layout
Making a sign clear and easy to read for a visually
impaired person it will make the sign clear and easy to
read for most people; the orientation of maps and plans
should match that of the building
The effectiveness of information is determined by:
the location, accessibility, layout and height of
signs
the size of lettering, symbols and their reading
distances
the use of tactile letters and symbols
colour/luminance contrast and lighting, including
the finished surfaces of materials used
the simultaneous use of audible cues/integration

37. S SG N A G E
I A M P L E G E N D R R L L Y
H A E E A C O N T I N U E D
The location of signs should be part of the process of
planning a building or landscape
Signs must be sited in logical positions where they do
not cause obstruction and positioned at high level in
areas that are likely to be crowded to ensure visibility
Key information should be provided both visually and
audibly, and in tactile form (embossed
lettering, pictograms or Braille) where low enough to
be touched (as no single medium can communicate
information to all those who need it, some duplication
will be necessary)
Clear information is essential for people with
impaired hearing who may be unable to ask, or feel
uncomfortable about asking, for directions
Symbols are an essential aid to supplement written
instructions for people with learning difficulties:
universally recognised pictograms should be used to

38. S SG N A G E
I A M P L E – EDAEDT E R L
H A I D E S I G N
The principles of clear signage are:
the use of colour to highlight the sign
from its background and to highlight the
text on the sign (to enable a sign to be
located on both light and dark
backgrounds, a border can be
incorporated on the sign, rather than
changing the colour of the sign board)
the need for upper and lower case
lettering rather than all capitals
consideration of text heights suitable for
different viewing distances
materials should be of a matt finish,
avoiding reflective glass
position signs where they will be well lit
but avoiding reflections from low level
sunlight and artificial lighting
provide simple, short and consistent
information
use prescribed typefaces, colour and
graphic devices

39. S SG N A G E
I A M P L E – D IAM EE N S I O N S
H E D R
Signage poles and cantilevered signs can present a barrier and a hazard to disabled
people and the guidance provided earlier concerning the position of street furniture,
minimum footway widths and tonal contrast applies
Ssigns should ideally be placed on fixed parts of a building such as walls and floors
Consideration should be given to duplicating detailed signs or instructions, at both high
and low level, ie 1.4-1.7m for a standing person and 1-1.1m for viewing by a wheelchair
user
Low level signs supported on two vertical poles (eg city maps) should have a lower
tapping rail or skirting between the posts to prevent pedestrians inadvertently walking
between them and colliding with the sign; the rail or skirting should be 300-400mm above
ground level; the sign must not extend more than 150mm beyond the supporting posts
Overhead signs (and any other obstacles over a footway) should give height clearances
of 2.1m min below suspended signs, 2.3m otherwise
The height above ground of any controls for signage that need to be operated from a
wheelchair should be at least 750mm and not more than 1200mm above ground level; for
non-wheelchair users, the height of controls may be between 1000mm and 1400mm

40. CSSAAMOPPL LEE S HEEAASDHEERL T E R S
A N M P I E H & D E R

41. S S A MT E R SH G E N E R A L L Y
H E L P L E E A D
Shelters should be provided where
there is space to do so and in more
exposed locations enclosed shelters
should be provided if possible
In order to provide shelter for those
having to pause before entering a
building other than a dwelling, the
principal entrance of a building should
incorporate some form of weather
protection, such as a canopy or
recessed entrance, unless freely
accessible automatic doors are installed
In locations not exposed to severe
weather, a cantilever bus shelter with
one end panel offers good accessibility
and some weather protection; where
the end panel is used for advertising, it
should be at the downstream end of the
shelter so that people can see the bus
approaching

42. S S A M T E R S H -E A D E R R I A L S
H E L P L E M A T E
For reasons of personal security, a bus
shelter should be made mainly of
transparent material and well lit at night,
though use of other materials may be
more appropriate in rural areas
Any part of the structure of a canopy
should not present an obstruction to
visually impaired people and contrast
banding should be added to vertical
elements
Where glass or transparent walls are
used they should have a tonally
contrasting band at least 150mm wide
at a height of 1400mm to 1600mm from
the ground and a second, lower band
may be placed at 900mm to 1000mm
above ground level

43. L I G H T I N G

44. L I G H TP I L EG HGEEANDEERRA L L Y
S A M N
The primary function of lighting is wayfinding
and well planned lighting benefits everyone
using transport and pedestrian facilities at
night, providing a sense of security and safety,
and encouraging full use of an area
More than that, carefully considered lighting
systems will improve the aesthetics of a
scheme at night, accentuating colour, tone and
texture: consideration should be given to how
different lighting will affect colour rendering
and contrasting materials
Lighting often fulfils secondary functions,
eg providing directional guidance, highlighting
potential hazards such as steps or enabling
visibility of signs and instructions

45. L I G H TP I L EG HF EOARD E R U A L I T Y
S A M N E Q
People with visual impairments require clarity from a
lighting system in order to avoid visual confusion and, in
some cases, acute discomfort
Reflection/glare
lights should be positioned where they do not
directly cause glare or reflection on certain materials
eg glass
non-reflective surfaces for signs etc should be
specified
spotlights and floodlights must not be poorly
positioned in a person’s direct line of vision
Shadows mask hazards and are confusing for the visually
impaired: pools of light and dark should be avoided
through delivering a good level of ambient light and
uniformly lighting an area; positioning lighting in unusual
or unexpected places can create shadows and
misleading visual effects
Broad variations in lighting levels across an area will

46. L I G H TP I L EG H– E A D E R I F I C
S A M N S P C A R E A S
Good light levels are particularly important in
potentially hazardous areas such as stair wells or
changes in level along a route
Each flight and landing of a stepped access route
should be well illuminated, providing a clear
distinction between each step and riser (use of
contrasting materials to step nosings is also helpful
to achieve this)
Uplighters placed above a standing person’s eye
level will deliver glare-free illumination; if placed
below they can be uncomfortable
Light columns can obstruct the footway and present
a hazard: they should ideally be located at the back
of the footway or at least sited consistently either to
only the back or front of a footway
To reduce clutter at street level in urban areas, new
light fittings should, where practical, be fixed to

47. D S A M I P L E HHE E A D E R R N A L
D A N T E X T E E N V I R O N M E N T
Further reading
Requirements of the Equality Act 201o here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/DG_4001068
Transport for London Streetscape Guidance:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/streetscape-guidance-2009-street-
furniture-108.pdf
For further information on the use of colour, refer to ‘Colour, Contrast & Perception - Design
Guidance for Internal Built Environments’ (University of Reading, 1997) and BS 8300
Part M of the Building Regulations
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADM_2004.pdf
For detailed guidance on the use of signs, refer to the ‘Sign Design Guide’, (a publication produced
by the Sign Design Society)
http://www.signdesignsociety.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54:the-sign-
design-guide&catid=10&Itemid=19
BS 5489:2012 is the code of practice for the design of road lighting
‘Inclusive Mobility’ http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/access-inclusive-mobility/inclusive-mobility.pdf
For further guidance on external lighting refer to the CIBSE Code for Lighting and BS 8300 or seek
guidance from a member of the Institution of Lighting Professionals
There are many valuable websites offering guidance on a regional basis, for example
http://www.mdpag.org.uk/standards.htm in Manchester