CEN/TS 15209:2008

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2008
Otipni indikatorji tlakovane površine iz betona, opeke in kamna
Tactile paving surface indicators produced from concrete, clay and stone
Taktile Bodenindikatoren gefertigt aus Beton, Ton und Stein
Spécifications relatives aux surfaces tactiles d'indication au sol
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TS 15209:2008
ICS:
11.180.30 3ULSRPRþNLLQSULODJRGLWYH]D Aids and adaptations for
EUDQMH reading
93.080.10 Gradnja cest Road construction
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
CEN/TS 15209
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
April 2008
ICS 11.180.30; 93.080.10
English Version
Tactile paving surface indicators produced from concrete, clay
and stone
Surfaces tactiles d'indication au sol en béton, terre cuite et Taktile Bodenindikatoren gefertigt aus Beton, Ton und
pierre naturelle Stein
This Technical Specification (CEN/TS) was approved by CEN on 18 September 2007 for provisional application.
The period of validity of this CEN/TS is limited initially to three years. After two years the members of CEN will be requested to submit their
comments, particularly on the question whether the CEN/TS can be converted into a European Standard.
CEN members are required to announce the existence of this CEN/TS in the same way as for an EN and to make the CEN/TS available
promptly at national level in an appropriate form. It is permissible to keep conflicting national standards in force (in parallel to the CEN/TS)
until the final decision about the possible conversion of the CEN/TS into an EN is reached.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2008 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TS 15209:2008: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents page
Foreword. 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope. 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions. 5
3.1 General terms and definitions . 5
3.2 Types of tactile paving surface indicators . 6
4 Requirements for tactile paving surface indicators . 7
4.1 Profile feature arrangement . 7
4.2 Blister surface profile features . 10
4.3 Rib surface profile features . 15
4.4 Grooved surface profile features . 20
5 Marking . 22
Annex A (informative) Guide to the various applications of tactile surfaces in a number
of European countries. 23
Annex B (informative) Guide to the preferred dimensions for tactile paving surface
indicator profiles for use in a number of European countries. 32
Annex C (normative) Measurement of the dimensions of a single tactile paving unit. 34
C.1 General. 34
C.2 Width at base, WB. 34
C.3 Width at top, WT. 34
C.4 Spacing, S. 35
C.5 Height, PH . 35
C.6 Length at base of profile . 35
C.7 Length at top of profile. 36
C.8 Acceptance criteria. 36
Bibliography . 37

Foreword
This document (CEN/TS 15209:2008) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 178
“Paving units and kerbs”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to announce this CEN Technical Specification: Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Introduction
The nature of visual impairment
The nature of visual loss varies considerably among individuals. Generally, the result of different eye
conditions will lead to the following types of impairment:
 a limited field of vision, being unable to see to the sides or up and down;
 some loss of central vision limiting the ability to see fine detail;
 acute short-sightedness, seeing the world as a continuous blur;
 uncontrollable oscillations of the eyeball leading to an inability to see objects clearly;
 night blindness, a sensitivity to light and a tendency to be dazzled by glare.
Visually impaired people detect information about the environment by the use of non-visual features,
for example, audible and tactile features. A loss of sight is not accompanied by an increase in the
effectiveness of other non-visual senses. However, visually impaired people generally place more
emphasis on information received via other senses, for example the sense of touch.
The use of tactile information
When moving around the pedestrian environment, visually impaired people, using a range of mobility
equipment including the long cane, will actively seek and make use of paving surface tactile
information, particularly detectable contrasts in surface texture.
The ability to detect contrasts in texture underfoot varies from one individual to another. For example,
older visually impaired people and people who have lost their sight through certain medical conditions,
such as diabetes, may well have reduced sensitivity in their feet.
It is important that tactile warning of potential hazards, e.g. a road crossing or a stair, are rigorous
enough to be detectable by most people but without constituting a trip hazard or causing extreme
discomfort.
Considering the walking speed and the length of one step by a visually impaired pedestrian, the
‘width’ of any warning surface is a critical parameter.
The importance of luminance contrast
In addition to tactile information those visually impaired people who have some residual vision will
also make use of the luminance contrast between surfaces for orientation and guidance. Those
characteristics can therefore be used by designers, planners, engineers and others involved in the
design of the built and pedestrian environments to accentuate the presence of hazards and amenities.
This Technical Specification cannot deal with luminance contrast since it relies on the difference
between adjacent surfaces which need not both be tactile surfaces. However, manufacturers should
be aware of this issue in considering the range of colour and tones they provide in their tactile
products.
1 Scope
This document specifies the nominal dimensions for surface profile features and patterns for the
surfaces of pedestrian paving units, used to convey information for visually impaired people. It applies
to paving units made of concrete, clay and stone.
This document does not specify requirements for visibility (colour, luminance contrast or profile)
except where this visibility is provided by the tactile paving surface indicator. It does not specify
material characteristics.
NOTE 1 See Introduction for an explanation for the exclusion of luminance contrast requirements.
NOTE 2 A guide to the various applications of tactile surfaces in a number of European countries is given in
informative Annex A.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 1339:2003, Concrete paving flags — Requirements and test methods
EN 1344:2002, Clay pavers — Requirements and test methods
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1 General terms and definitions
3.1.1
visually impaired
blind or partially sighted
3.1.2
profile feature
single component of a tactile paving surface indicator
NOTE  For example: dome, flat-topped dome, cylinder, bar or cuboid.
3.1.3
tactile paving surface indicator
profiled paving finish used to convey information to visually impaired pedestrians about hazards and
amenities
3.2 Types of tactile paving surface indicators
3.2.1
blister surface – type B1
profiled paving finish comprising raised rows of domes, flat-topped domes, flat-topped pyramids or
cylinders
3.2.2
blister surface – type B2
profiled paving finish comprising raised off-set rows of domes, flat-topped domes or cylinders
3.2.3
blister surface – type B3
profiled paving finish comprising lozenge shapes with rounded edges
3.2.4
blister surface – type B4
profiled paving finish comprising raised lozenges
3.2.5
rib surface – type R1
profiled paving finish comprising parallel rounded bars running full width or diagonally on the unit
3.2.6
rib surface – type R2
profiled paving finish comprising flat-top bars with rounded ends running full width or diagonally on the
unit
3.2.7
rib surface – type R3
profiled paving finish comprising flat-top bars running full width or diagonally on the unit
3.2.8
rib surface – type R4
profiled paving finish comprising trapezoidal shapes
3.2.9
rib surface – type R5
profiled paving finish comprising a continuous sine-like wave
3.2.10
rib surface – type R6
profiled paving finish comprising trapezoidal intermittent rib
3.2.11
grooved surface – type G1
profiled paving finish comprising flat grooves running full width of the unit
3.2.12
grooved surface – type G2
profiled paving finish comprising flat trapezoidal grooves running full width of the unit
3.2.13
complementary fitting
curved paving unit used to maintain the general profile paving finish between paving units
4 Requirements for tactile paving surface indicators
4.1 Profile feature arrangement
4.1.1 Dimension designation
4.1.1.1 General
The tables in Clause 4 detail the designations for product dimensions. However, 4.2 and 4.3 limit the
possible combinations of designations.
NOTE Preferred dimensions for tactile paving surface indicator profiles for use in a number of European
countries are given in informative Annex B.
Dimensions shall be determined in accordance with Annex C.
Dimensions shall conform to the acceptance criteria in Annex C.
4.1.1.2 Spacing
The spacing, S, of profile features within a single paving unit shall be in accordance with the following
categories, with a permitted tolerance of (± 1 mm), and shall be defined as the dimension from
centre-to-centre of the profile feature.
Table 1 — Spacing of profile features, S, in mm (even spacings only)
S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11
≥ 10 ≥ 15 ≥ 20 ≥ 25 ≥ 30 ≥ 35 ≥ 40 ≥ 45 ≥ 50 ≥ 55 ≥ 60
to to to to to to to to to to to
< 15 < 20 < 25 < 30 < 35 < 40 < 45 < 50 < 55 < 60 < 65
S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S21 S22
≥ 65 ≥ 70 ≥ 75 ≥ 80 ≥ 85 ≥
...