Contents ----------------- Preface ----------------- Introduction 1.1 Background 1.2 The Development of “Universal Accessibility” 1.3 Objectives 1.4 Study Methods and Framework ----------------- Universal Accessibility in the Built Environment 2.1 The Challenge in Hong Kong 2.2 Aging Population 2.3 Universal Accessibility in External Areas, Open Spaces and Green Spaces 2.4 Major Issues 2.5 The Way Forward ----------------- Best Practices and Guidelines 3.1 Access Route 3.2 Connectivity and Interfacing Elements 3.3 Landscaped Spaces 3.4 Furniture, Equipment and Fittings 3.5 Way Finding, Orientation and Signage 3.6 Detectable Surfaces 3.7 Colour and Luminous Contrast 3.8 Lighting 3.9 Safety 3.10 Management and Maintenance ----------------- Photo Gallery 4.1 Access Route 4.2 Connectivity and Interfacing Elements 4.3 Landscaped Spaces 4.4 Furniture, Equipment and Fittings 4.5 Way Finding, Orientation and Signage 4.6 Detectable Surfaces 4.7 Colour and Luminous Contrast 4.8 Lighting ----------------- Appendices A1 Case Study 1 - Rehabilitation Complex in Wong Chuk Hang A2 Case Study 2 - An External Public Space in Ma On Shan ----------------- Acknowledgements ----------------- References ----------------- View or Download PDF

3. Best Practices and Guidelines     3.1 Access Route 3.2 Connectivity and Interfacing Elements 3.3 Landscaped Spaces 3.4 Furniture, Equipment and Fittings 3.5 Way Finding, Orientation and Signage 3.6 Detectable Surfaces 3.7 Colour and Luminous Contrast     3.8 Lighting 3.8.1 Lighting Level and Arrangement   3.8.1.1 Walkway and Staircase   3.8.1.2 Signage   3.8.1.3 Footbridge, Lift, Escalator and Tunnel   3.8.1.4 Areas for Activities     3.8.2 Special Lighting Consideration 3.8.3 Ambient Lighting and The Environment 3.8.4 Transitions 3.8.5 Glare, Reflection, Colour Rendering, Shadow and Shaded Area 3.9 Safety 3.10 Management and Maintenance 3.8 Lighting   3.8.1 Lighting Level and Arrangement     “Outdoor lighting is used for a variety of purposes in our modern society. For work or recreation, it enables people to see essential detail in order that they may undertake their activities at night. It can facilitate and enhance the safety and security of persons or property, for example through lighting on roads and pathways. It may be used to emphasize features of architectural or historical significance, and to light parks and gardens. It is used for advertising or display to promote products or services, or to call attention to commercial premises by means of area lighting or signs,” — excerpted from Outdoor Lighting Code Handbook, International Dark- Sky Association1.   All lighting must be gauged ultimately in terms of the visibility it enables users to gain. The following sections raise the concerned areas affecting visibility with regard to outdoor lighting situations for consideration.   1 Outdoor Lighting Code Handbook Ver. 1.14 Dec 2000 / Sep 2002, Copyright © 2000, International Dark-Sky Association 3.8.1.1 Walkway and Staircase     Sufficient lighting should be provided along the walkway during both day and night time in order to maintain a perceivable, safe and secure environment. The lighting level should allow the pedestrian to perceive the walking surface, identify obstructions and objects, and realize hazards ahead.   Daylight considerations:     (a) Avoid designing any section of the walkway with poor daylight conditions(3.8.1.1a). (b) Avoid having poor daylight along a walkway caused by overgrown of trees and bushes. (c) Avoid sudden change in lighting level, such as from a walkway with an opaque cover and little sidelight ending in an open space facing direct sunlight (3.8.1.1b). (d) If it is unavoidable to have a section of the walkway with poor daylight, artificial lighting should be provided (3.8.1.1c).       3.8.1.1a  Section of walkway with uneven daylight condition             3.8.1.1b  Walkway facing bright sunlight   3.8.1.1c  Artifical lighting to light the walkway portion with less daylight       Night time considerations:     (e) Provide uniform lighting at regular intervals along the walkway. (f) Avoid glare, reflection, poor colour rendering, and large pieces of area in shadow or shade along the walkway (3.8.1.1d). (g) Avoid sudden change in lighting level.     The lighting for the walkway should not be in high contrast to its surrounding environment, for example:       (i) A comparatively lower but sufficient level of lighting would give better visibility for a walkway along a dark field than bright light (3.8.1.1e);   (ii) Brighter light should be provided near a brightly lit area, such as a building entrance;   (iii) Bright and glaring floodlight from a nearby football field over-spilling onto a walkway should be filtered or partial blocked, otherwise even providing bright light for the walkway would not produce acceptable visibility result due to the high contrast in lighting level.     Overhead placement of lighting above a staircase provides better visibility to the stair than wall-mount lighting alone (3.8.1.1f). It is very easy to over-light an external area. Over-lighting does not give an environment improved visibility. Due to the contrast with dark areas at night in external space, overlighting an area would easily produce glare and cause adaptation problem for the eyes (3.8.1.1g). The effect of colour contrast and luminous contrast of the nosing should be checked under the night lighting condition to ensure visibility.                     3.8.1.1d  Tree pit up-light and bollard light   3.8.1.1e  Wide access route lit up by reflective light                   3.8.1.1f  Wall-mount lighting alone (bottom) at low position does not provide good visibility for staircase   3.8.1.1g  Combination of signage, display, pavement and overspill of indoor lighting