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 3.9 Safety 3.9.1 The Importance of Safety 3.9.2 Safety Considerations     3.9.3 Slip Resistance   3.9.3.1 Factors Affecting the Slip Resistance of Ground Surfaces   3.9.3.2 Field Measurement   3.9.3.3 Relative Slip Resistance Value     3.9.4 Safety for Persons with Visual Impairment 3.9.5 Importance of Maintenance 3.10 Management and Maintenance 3.9.3.3 Relative Slip Resistance Value     The relative slip resistance of 37 different flooring materials have been obtained using the field measurement in Section 3.9.3.2 above. The values obtained for each material under dry and wet conditions are presented in the summary in Figure 3.9.3.3a.   A common international consensus has established to set 0.50 as the minimum safety level for the slip resistance of travelling surfaces. By using the same safety threshold of 0.50, the results of our field measurement reveal that with the exception of 2 samples of glass surfaces, all the other 35 material samples have a relative slip resistance value of higher than 0.50. The chart in Figure 3.9.3.3b shows the flooring materials in descending order of the relative slip resistance. The lower slip resistance value obtained for the same material in dry and wet conditions shown in Figure 3.9.3.3a has been adopted to formulate the chart so as to reflect the worse scenario.   As mentioned in Section 3.9.3.1(a), the difference in slip resistance of adjoining flooring materials needs to be considered in order to contribute to a safer travelling surface. It is recommended that adjoining flooring materials should not have a difference in slip resistance value of more than 0.2. Taking this maximum figure as a guideline, the chart in Figure 3.9.3.3c shows the difference in slip resistance for different pairs of flooring materials when used next to each other. This aims to provide a handy tool for designers to check whether the proposed combination of flooring materials can offer a safer travelling surface in terms of slip prevention.     Click to view enlarged version in PDF 3.9.3.3a  Summary of slip resistance values of different external flooring materials                 Click to view enlarged version in PDF 3.9.3.3b  Relative slip resistance value of different external flooring materials                 Click to view enlarged version in PDF 3.9.3.3c  Difference in slip resistance for pairs of external flooring materials