Corridors and Hallways

Main corridors should be wide enough for two people with guide dogs, or two people travelling with sighted guides walking in opposite directions to pass each other easily. Wider hallways will also make it easier for people using mobility devices to navigate corridors. The minimum width of corridors and hallways in public buildings should be 1,800 mm with a minimum overhead clearance of 2,030 mm. For very wide corridors like those in shopping centres and airports, use directional TWSIs to define primary paths of travel. These should create a straight path of travel well clear of seating areas or obstacles. They should be constructed using materials that are colour contrasted and tactilely distinguishable from surrounding flooring.

Changes in corridor direction should be at 90-degree angles. This makes it easier for wayfinding and memorizing a corridor’s layout. It’s more difficult and disorienting for a person impacted by blindness to navigate corridors that curve or change direction at angles that are greater or less than right angles.

At intersections between primary paths of travel, use textured flooring that differs from the leading path of travel. This will indicate to pedestrians impacted by blindness that a decision point has been reached with respect to navigating through a building or large open area.

The walls at the ends of corridors should contrast in colour and brightness to the surrounding walls and floor. Avoid using windows at the end of corridors because they produce glare. If windows are already in place, use shades, blinds, glazing or other methods to reduce glare while maintaining appropriate light levels. Further information can be found in the section on lighting.