Exteriors and Interiors — Common Design Elements
This section provides details for design elements that are commonly used in both interior and exterior environments.
Design requirements for accessible paths of travel are introduced, including stairs, ramps and platform edges, with a focus on the elements that impact safety and usability for people impacted by blindness. Specifications for attention and guidance tactile walking surface indicators (TWSIs) are provided, along with their critical dimensional requirements.
This section also presents the importance of proper signage for people impacted by blindness, along with the technical requirements for sign size, configuration and location, and requirements for readability using sight, touch and hearing. It concludes with the technical requirements for information and communication systems that are usable by people impacted by blindness, including information desks and kiosks, public address systems and building directories.
For more information, refer to the sections on Exterior Design Elements and Interior Design Elements.
The technical requirements within this section are derived from a number of sources including the National Building Code of Canada, CAN/CSA B651 Accessible design for the built environment, ISO/FDIS 21542 Building Construction – Accessibility and usability of the built environment and ISO 23599 – Assistive products for blind and vision-impaired persons – Tactile walking surface indicators. Please refer to these documents for more complete technical requirements.
In this section: