Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces.

The guidance describes six surfaces: the blister surface for pedestrian crossing points, the corduroy hazard warning surface, the on-street platform edge (lozenge) surface, the segregated shared cycle track and footway surface with its central delineator strip (ladder and tramline), the guidance path surface, and the off-street platform edge warning surface. For each it sets out purpose, definition, application and layouts, with detailed drawings.

It is written for anyone with a role in providing, designing, improving or maintaining the public realm, and DfT links it to the public sector equality duty and reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.

The guidance treats visual contrast as part of the system, because many vision impaired people have some residual sight. Red blister paving has signalled a controlled crossing since 1981 and should not be used elsewhere; uncontrolled crossings usually use buff, or any colour except red that contrasts well with its surroundings. Where red materials nearby cannot be avoided, a contrasting border around the blister surface is recommended. Limited relaxations are possible in conservation areas and near listed buildings, subject to local consultation.

It is DfT guidance for England and sits alongside Inclusive Mobility, which summarises the six surfaces in its own chapter. Inside the building line, tactile warnings at stairs and ramps are dealt with through the building regulations guidance and BS 8300. In Ireland, external tactile paving is covered in the NDA's Building for Everyone booklet on external environments and in local authority practice.