Division 13 --- SIGNS

It is essential that suitable signs are erected at prominent and conspicuous

positions inside and outside a building to indicate clearly the exact locations of
facilities that are available for use by persons with a disability. To design an
effective signage system, the needs of different types of users in a building and
the complexity of the building layout must be considered.

MANDATORY SECTION

Performance Objectives

Signs shall give clear directions, information and instructions for the users of the
building.

Obligatory Design Requirements

Signs shall be erected to indicate clearly the exact locations of facilities

available for use by persons with a disability.

64. The International Symbol of Accessibility

The international symbol of accessibility shall be the wheelchair figure in white

on a blue background and is to be provided at conspicuous location as shown
in Figure 28 for the purposes of identifying/advertising /signifying:

(a) accessible entrance to the building;

(b) accessible exit from the building;
(c) reserved car parking facilities for persons with a disability;
(d) the location of toilets for persons with a disability;
(e) usable vertical circulation facilities;
(f) usable cloakroom facilities; and
(g) the availability of special services of information / service counter and
telephone in the building.

GRIDLINES ARE SHOWN TO DEFINE

THE PROPORTION ONLY

Figure 28 – Proportional Layout for International Symbol of Accessibility

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 Obligatory Design Requirements (Cont’d)

65. Directional Signs

Directional arrows and visual information shall be provided at conspicuous

location in conjunction with the international symbol for accessibility to guide
persons with a disability to the exact locations of the accessible facilities. (see
Figure 29)

DIRECTION IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION

(A) EXAMPLE OF A SIGN IDENTIFYING A FACILITY AND INDICATING ITS

DIRECTION USING A STANDARD SYMBOL [LIFT]

戲 院
Theatre
DIRECTION IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION

(B) EXAMPLE OF A SIGN IDENTIFYING A FACILITY AND INDICATING ITS

DIRECTION USING A WORD

Figure 29 – Directional Signs

66. Size

The height of signs shall be not less than the following :

60 mm for doors
110 mm for corridors
200 mm for external use

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 Obligatory Design Requirements (Cont’d)

67. Sign for Persons with Hearing Impairment

International symbol of access for hearing loss as shown in Figure 30 shall be

provided if there is an assistive listening system provided for persons with
hearing impairment.

GRIDLINES ARE SHOWN TO SHOW

THE PROPORTION ONLY

Figure 30 – Proportional Layout for International Symbol of Access for

Hearing Loss

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 Obligatory Design Requirements (Cont’d)

68. Braille and Tactile Sign

(1)&(2) Braille and tactile sign shall be installed on adjacent wall or door of
public toilet to indicate whether the toilet is for male, female or unisex.
The sign shall be placed at 900 mm to 1500 mm above the finished
floor level. Specification of Braille cells is shown in Figure 31.

(3) If there is no door, the sign shall be provided on the wall in front of the
toilets.

(4)&(5) A Braille and tactile fire exit map as shown in Figure 32 shall be
provided directly above the call button of the accessible lift in the lobby
of the accessible lift in a building if a fire exit map for the use of the
public is provided. The map shall be placed at 800 mm to 1200 mm
above the finished floor level.

Figure 31 – Specification of Braille Cells

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 Note: The 2m and 5m as shown on the Map are hypothetical figures only. They
shall be subject to actual site condition.

Braille information

Figure 32 – Braille and Tactile Fire Exit Map

Division 14 --- Special Obligatory Design Requirements to Assist Persons with

Visual/Hearing Impairment to Various Uses of Buildings in Table 2

69. Special Design Requirements to assist persons with visual or hearing

impairment

(1) This paragraph applies to any part of a building used for the purposes as
specified in Table 2 in Chapter 2.

(2) If a floor plan for the use of the public is provided, Braille and tactile floor
plan showing the main entrance, public toilet and major common facilities
shall be provided in a place in that building which is conspicuous to
persons with visual impairment.

(3) Tactile guide path shall be installed from a point of access at the lot
boundary to the main entrance of the building and from the main entrance
to lift zone, the nearest accessible toilet, public information/service counter,
Braille and tactile floor plan and staircase as illustrated in Figures 33, 34
and 35 respectively.

(4) If visual display board (such as LED) is provided, it shall be able to display
the essence of the information broadcasted by the public address system
in the building. Examples include display boards to inform travellers of the
arrival and destination of the MTR trains.

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 TACTILE
POSITIONAL
TILE/BLOCK WITH
RAISED DOTS OF
NOMINAL 23mm
DIAMETER AT BASE

*ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN mm

Figure 33 – Tactile Guide Path to Lift Zone

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 TACTILE POSITIONAL
TILE/BLOCK WITH RAISED
DOTS OF NOMINAL 23mm
DIAMETER AT BASE

*ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN mm

Figure 34 – Tactile Guide Path to Information / Service Counter

TACTILE POSITIONAL
TILE/BLOCK WITH RAISED
DOTS OF NOMINAL 23mm
DIAMETER AT BASE

*ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN mm

Figure 35 – Tactile Guide Path to Tactile / Braille Directory Map / Floor Plan

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 (PASSENGER CONVEYOR)

(PASSENGER CONVEYOR)

*ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN mm

Figure 36 – Tactile Warning Strip to Escalator or Passenger Conveyor

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 BEST PRACTICE SECTION

A. Design Considerations

(a) Signs should be clear and easy to read and understand in order to assist
persons with intellectual, cognitive and sensory disabilities.

(b) International symbols are to be used for purpose of standardization and

apprehension by all persons with a disability residing in Hong Kong or
visiting from overseas. Examples of standard public information symbols
are shown in Figure 37.

(c) Prominent signs with high color and luminous contrasts as well as special
shapes are recommended to be used for the elderly.

(d) Safety for persons with visual impairment should be considered.

Information such as distance to the destination, name of building etc.
should be conveyed to the persons with visual impairment. The
suggested provisions are voice message, Braille and signs with high
luminous contrast.

(e) To account for persons with visual impairment, larger fonts, more
prominent and well-defined shapes of signs are recommended.

(f) For categories of buildings as required in Table 2 in Chapter 2, tactile

guide paths should be provided for persons with visual impairment from
the main entrance to lift zone, public information/service counter, Braille
and tactile floor plan, and staircase/escalator provided with audible
signals. Braille and tactile floor plan showing the locations of major
common facilities should be provided in a location in that building which is
conspicuous to persons with visual impairment.

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 Figure 37 — Examples of Public Information Symbols

B. Recommended Design Requirements

Location

(a) Sign should be erected to indicate clearly the locations of accessible

routes through the building.

Luminous Contrast

(b) Luminous contrast of not less than 70% should be provided to differentiate
the international symbol of accessibility from the background, either
light-on-dark or dark-on-light. The commonly employed colours are white
for the wheelchair figure and blue for the background.

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Recommended Design Requirements (Cont’d)

Lettering and Colour

(c) Lettering should be plain and legible, e.g. Helvetica (medium) using lower
case letters except for initial capitals.

(d) Corners of sign should be rounded.

(e) Chinese characters should be legible e.g. “Haak Tai” style.

(f) Sign should be in raised characters.

(g) The system of sign used should be clear and consistent.

Braille and Tactile Sign / Audible Sign

(h) Braille and tactile building name and address (i.e., street name with
number) or a device which when activated will provide the same
information in audible form should be provided on both sides of the
building entrance at a height of between 900 mm and 1500 mm above the
finished floor level.

(i) If public address system is provided to convey information to the public in

a building, then a means of conveying the same or equivalent information
to persons with hearing impairment should also be provided.

(j) If a floor plan for the use of the public is provided, Braille and tactile floor
plan with audible device indicating the main entrance, public toilet and
major common facilities should be provided in a place in that building
which is conspicuous to persons with visual impairment.

Visual Sign

(k) Visual display board (such as LED) should be provided in public waiting
areas other than those required in Table 2 in Chapter 2 and where there is
an announcer installed to regularly convey information to the people
inside. The visual display board should be able to display the essence of
the information so announced.

83