Transforming the healing environment - Dulux Trade

Creating colour contrast in line withThe Equality Act GuidelinesThe Equality Act Guidelines are designed to help healthcare providers avoiddiscriminating against people with disabilities including visual impairment.The Equality ActEnsuring that neighbouring expanses of colour, suchas walls and doors, are clearly distinguishable by usingcontrasting colours is first and foremost good designpractice. But it is also an important aspect of the guidanceprovided by The Equality Act.The Equality Act Guidelines are designed to helphealthcare workers provide a better service forpeople with disabilities including visual impairment.SkirtingsMaking the skirting the same or a similar colour asthe wall gives visually impaired people an accurateindication of the size of the floor, so they can avoidbumping into walls.For more information and in-depth guidance on colourcontrast, please send for our free CD.Visit www.duluxtrade.co.uk/colourandcontrastLRV and visual contrastDulux Trade have conducted research with the RNIB,Guide Dogs for the Blind and Reading University to lookinto ways in which colour can help visually impairedpeople to navigate a building as easily as possible. Thisestablished that over 80% of visually impaired peopleare able to discern colour differences. So using colourcontrast can make their movement much easier.Approved Document M and BS8300: 2001 advise thatany colours used to differentiate surfaces should vary intheir light reflectance value (LRV) by at least 30 points.WallsThe largest critical surfaces, walls need to be clearlydistinguishable to give visually impaired peoplegreater security.Doors0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 99LRV values range from darkest 0 to 99 maximum possible lightThe whole door and architrave should contrast withthe surrounding surfaces. The only exceptions aredoors to storage spaces, which patients and visitorsdo not need to distinguish.26 |