How do Part M regs apply to tactile studs and strips?

Part M of the Buildings Regulation 2010

Part M or Approved Document M refers to governmental guidance surrounding the access and use of buildings for those visitors or occupants who are disabled.  It’s implemented to ensure safe and easy movement through a building.

What does Part M cover?

Part M covers:

• Wheelchair access i.e., ramps, slopes, lifts
• Communal entrances
• Circulation areas and internal doorways
• Sanitary facilities i.e., toilets and washrooms
• Services and controls i.e., doorbells, entry phones or intercoms, aerial and phone jacks
• Car park and drop-off areas
• External and internal stairs
• Private entrances and stairs
• Habitable rooms i.e., living, kitchen, and dining areas
• Bedrooms

Does Part M cover the use of tactile studs or strips?

Yes and no, their use externally is covered but not internally. One of the most common questions we receive is whether our studs are covered under Part M for internal use, which leads to a somewhat unclear statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Tactile Studs

Tactile studs are mentioned in the Part M regulations but in relation to their use in the form of blister paving for uncontrolled crossings like those found in communal car parks. The regulations follow the same guidance as the Department for Transport specifying their layout and the usual 25mm diameter, 5mm height blisters or studs.

Tactile Strips

The counterpart of tactile strips, corduroy paving tiles are mentioned in relation to their use on external stair sets to warn the visually impaired of the upcoming hazard and change in elevation. The same guidance will apply to tactile strips as they do to corduroy warning tiles.

Part M has this to say about tactile indicators and internal stairs:

“With the exception of the need for hazard warning surfaces on landings, other design considerations for internal stairs are as those for ‘Stepped Access’. It is not reasonable to require a hazard warning surface at the head of internal stairs since there is no recognised warning surface for use internally which can be guaranteed not to constitute a trip hazard when used alongside flooring surfaces with different frictional resistance characteristics.”

As it currently stands there is no official guidance on the use of hazard warning surfaces internally, although efforts have been made by various groups to encourage the government to investigate their use indoors.  The general suggestion has been to adhere to the Department of Transport’s current guidance surrounding the use of tactile surfaces. This would mean using a flat-top corduroy pattern at the top and bottom approach to the stairs, that possesses a similar friction coefficient and contrasting colour to the surrounding surface.

Going off the hesitancy to recommend any given values or implementations of hazard warning surfaces internally it would be reasonable to recommend proceeding with common sense. Common sense in drawing from existing guidance surrounding the use of hazard warning surfaces or tactile indicators, like that of the Department of Transport.

What other parts of Part M apply to tactile studs and strips?

The other section of Part M that applies to tactile studs, strips, or hazard warning surfaces is the LRV or light reflectance value. LRV is the total quantity of visible light reflected by a surface at all wavelengths and directions when illuminated by a light source. This is characterised as luminance contrast in tactile studs and strips. Metal tactile studs and strips have a high LRV, whereas studs with coloured tactile inserts will vary depending on colour and insert material.