Application of Blind Way Design in Train Station Buildings - 翻译中...

Overall, the new railway station fully embodies the five principles of "functionality, systematization, advancement, cultural significance, and cost-effectiveness". However, there are still issues with inadequate details, such as setting up ground ramps and selecting handrails for stairs. Therefore, the design details of the blind ways in the Ningbo-Taizhou-Wenzhou railway station project were given special attention.

Installation of blind ways in the railway station

The location and direction of blind ways set on the pedestrian route should facilitate the safe passage of visually impaired individuals and enable them to reach accessible facilities conveniently. Blind ways should be continuous, avoiding installation on manhole covers. If unavoidable, a prompt blind way may be installed as an alternative route. The locations where prompt blind way should be installed are as follows:

A strip-shaped traveling blind way should be installed to guide the visually impaired to move forward

When the traveling blind way needs to turn left or right, a prompt blind way should be installed at the corner no smaller than the width of the traveling blind way. This informs visually impaired individuals about the location of the blind way's turn.

Crossing of traveling blind ways

When traveling blind ways intersect at a crossroad, a prompt blind way should be installed at the intersection where the width of the prompt blind way is no smaller than that of the traveling blind way. This informs visually impaired individuals that the intersection has multiple directions of blind ways.

Locations with height differences from the ground

At the entrance or exit of pedestrian walkways, overhead bridges, underground passages, outdoor paths, and building entrances, steps or ramps are often present. A prompt blind way should be installed 0.25-0.4m from the edge of steps or ramps to inform visually impaired individuals about the upcoming height difference and potential danger zones, such as the edges of railway platforms and subway platforms.

The locations of accessible facilities

The locations of entrances, service counters, elevators, telephones, stairs, hotel rooms, and restrooms for individuals with disabilities should be equipped with prompt blind ways to inform visually impaired individuals of the location and position they need to reach. This helps individuals with disabilities to continue their trip or wait in the same location.

The distance between tactile indicators and buildings should generally be 300-600mm; for indoor traveling blind ways, the distance from the wall should be 600mm. A prompt blind way no less than 600mm should be installed on the inner side of the safety line of the platform, preferably using medium-yellow ceramic tiles with the same length as the safety line. Accessible directional signs should be set up at the entrance or exit of ramps and stairs, and a prompt blind way should be installed 250-500mm from the ramp or stairs, with a width of 300-600mm, corresponded to the width of the traveling blind way, and connected to the traveling blind way.

Selection of materials for blind ways in the railway station

The width of the traveling blind way should be 600mm. Other than the medium-yellow color required at the platform, the rest of the area should adopt the same color and material as the surrounding pavement. The style of the blind way should be uniform at each station. If granite blind way is used, the size of the dots and grooves should be uniform, regular, and exquisite.

The selection of materials for tactile indicators at the construction site is particularly important. The inadequate wear resistance of materials may turn blind way into a blind spot. However, standards supporting the selection of blind way materials are not yet uniform. The urban road and building accessibility design regulations suggest corresponding construction standards and recommendations for the color, surface tactile part thickness, and width of the blind way. However, specific requirements for the material and wear resistance of blind way are not yet specified. At present, there are many different materials available for blind way. Other than materials for road pavements, such as decorative marble surface carving, integrally formed stainless steel, and synthetic resin, materials of different wear resistances are widely available. Some construction sites select their own materials for processing to match the color and texture of the surrounding environment and ground. For the railway station project design, granite blind way was used to avoid using different materials and adhesives that might easily wear out.