Colour perception

According to one of the UK’s foremost disability access partnerships, approximately 1.97 million individuals in the UK are eligible to register as visually impaired.

The inability to differentiate between colours, especially closely related ones, is a very common visual impairment, the effect of which can make both dark and pale colours very difficult to distinguish when grouped together.

Environments coloured in what non-visually impaired users would see as subtle and harmonious tones, may, to those with impaired colour perception, be amorphous, confusing and disorientating spaces.

Legislation, regulation and guidance

The last stage of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), which came into force in October , 2005, has caused the issue of design to ensure the inclusion of people with physical and sensory impairment to come very much to the fore.

There are 3 key documents to consider when designing environments for those with disabilities:

1          The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)

The DDA makes it unlawful to discriminate against a disabled person by:

a          refusing to provide any goods, facilities or services.

b          providing a service of a lower standard or in a worse manner.

c          providing a service on worse terms

2          British Standard 8300: 2001

This British Standard gives recommendations for the design for new buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people.

The recommendations given in the British Standard also apply for assessing the accessibility and usability of existing buildings and, where practicable, as a basis for their improvement.

It applies to the following types of building:

a          transport and industrial buildings, e.g. rail, road, sea and air travel buildings and associated concourses, car-parking buildings and factories;

b          administrative and commercial buildings, e.g. courts, offices, banks, post offices, shops, department stores and shopping centres, and public service buildings, including police stations;

c          health and welfare buildings, e.g. hospitals, health centres, surgeries and residential homes;

d          refreshment, entertainment and recreation buildings, e.g. cafes, restaurants, public houses, concert halls, theatres, cinemas, conference buildings, community buildings, swimming pools and sports buildings;

e          religious buildings;

f           educational, cultural and scientific buildings, e.g. schools, universities, colleges, zoos, museums, art galleries, libraries and exhibition buildings;

g          dwellings and other residential buildings, e.g. hostels, hotels, residential clubs, university and college halls of residence, nursing homes and prisons.

This British Standard does not apply to dwellings or residential buildings designed exclusively for use by disabled people nor does it make specific recommendations relating to the use of buildings by children.

3 The Building Regulations Approved Document Part M (under review)

The requirements of the Regulations cover the following:

M1 - Access and Use

Reasonable provision shall be made for people to gain access to and use the building and its facilities.

M2 - Access to Extensions to Buildings other than Dwellings

Suitable independent access shall be provided to the extension where reasonably practicable.

M3 and M4 - Sanitary Conveniences in Extensions to Buildings other than Dwellings

Akzo Nobel offers advice and guidance on compliance with legislation and regulations relevant to the use of their paint systems in creating inclusive environments.