More than three million people have visual impairments in the United States alone. And another study shows that over 1.3 billion people worldwide live with some degree of visual impairment.
When so many people live with vision problems, our social structure has developed a way to ensure that we give the same opportunities to people we give to sighted people. And the valuable tool is called tactile warning strips.
What Are Tactile Warning Surfaces?
Tactile paving is also known as truncated domes, detectable domes, tactile tiles, or tactile ground surface indicators. A tactile warning strip is a distinctive pattern of truncated domes that is detectable by the cane or underfoot. It helps the people with vision impairment who approach the streets or hazardous surfaces.
The texture consists of truncated domes that are easily recognizable and safe to walk. Warning surfaces are available in various colors, but installers often choose the colors that match the tiles' surface. The high contrast works as the warning helps the people to stand out with some degree of sight.
Tactile warning strips are made from durable material to ensure they last for long-span, even in heavy traffic areas. Compliance Solutions is one of the trusted tactile walking surface indicators suppliers and offers products that meet Canadian Federal and Provincial Standards.
Types of Detectable Warning Products
There is a variety of sizes and types available for warning surfaces. For example, we offer tactile warning strips in Canada at compliance solutions. In addition, we have a range of tiles with different installation methods and capabilities that suit your various needs.
You can install standard cast-in-place tiles while the surrounding surface is under construction. However, these types of tiles cannot replace once they are installed. Therefore, it is advisable to install cast-in-place tiles during the initial construction.
Other the other hand, you can use surface applied tactile warning tiles on the existing surfaces, making them good for retrofit applications.
Tactile Warnings Are Used All Around Us
There are plenty of tactile surfaces around, and even if you have perfect vision, you may not have noticed all of these tiles. But in reality, they have become so common that it has become quite difficult to overlook them. So, here are a few common places where you can easily find the Tactile Warning Strips.
At the Ends of Crosswalks
Tactile warning strips are helpful for people with low vision and alert impaired pedestrians they are about to enter or exit the crosswalk. It helps them know if they have left the sidewalk and finished crossing. By feeling the changes in the texture, the person can know that they have reached the sidewalk on the other side.
There are some cases where the entire crosswalk is paved with tactile warning strips. With the help of these warning strips, visually impaired people can stay in the crosswalk just by the feel of truncated domes.
At Sidewalk Curbs
It is easy to find the detectable warning surfaces along the roadside edge of the sidewalk in some areas. It helps visually impaired people know that they reach near the curb's edge or close to the road. If there is no such warning system, then there are high chances people could risk injury from tripping over the road or being struck by a vehicle.
Along Unsafe Edges at Transit Stations
You may have noticed that parking lots usually don't have distance between driver and pedestrian areas.
Businesses install tactile warning strips to protect visually impaired people, as they provide physical guidance. When the visually impaired person feels the truncated surface, they know they are approaching the area where the vehicle might be moving.
Around Water Features like Reflecting Pools
The tactile detectable warning surfaces are not limited to sidewalks or roadways. Businesses often install tactile warning systems and pools so that people with low or zero vision do not fall in.
Why Choose Compliance Solutions for Tactile Warning Strips
Compliance Solutions Canada is a leading supplier of industrial safety and hazardous material handling products. We are also a trusted tactile walking surface indicators supplier in Canada. In addition, we offer everyday equipment like industrial lockers to larger investments such as industrial steel shelving and pallet racking; we're committed to finding your business a solution that works.