MUST KNOW – 5 Things to consider before choosing Tactile Indicators

MUST KNOW – 5 Things to consider before choosing Tactile Ground Surface Indicators

Before you purchase or think about purchasing Tactile Ground Surface Indicators, you should consider the following.  It could potentially save you thousands and avoid costly issues.

1. Making The Right Choice

With a variety of Tactile Ground Surface Indicator products on the market it is important to understand the pros and cons of each before making a final decision.

Common issues that Councils, Civil Contractors, Maintenance & Facility Managers come across when dealing with Tactile Ground Surface Indicators are:

• Colour Fading
• Cracking
• Peeling
• Lifting
• Poor Slip Rating
• Poor warranty support

These common issues are a result of poor design, poor product components, lack of product testing/development and cheap imitation products.  This means that the products need to be replaced more frequently, costing asset owners and taxpayer’s significant amounts of money.  The downside to Tactile Ground Surface Indicators not performing is the negative impact to the intended end users of the product – people with vision impairment.

Ceramic – Tactile Ground Surface Indicator’s

Perceived Advantages – Cost-effective, widely available
Issues – Poor slip ratings, easily damaged, expensive to install, unsafe when damaged.

Bladed Shaft – Tactile Ground Surface Indicator’s

The picture below demonstrates how easy it is for the inserts to dislodge rendering the Tactile Ground Surface Indicators non-compliant.

Perceived Advantages – Cost-effective relative to stainless steel individual Tactile Ground Surface Indicators.
Issues – Fades, short product life cycle, substrate needs to be cut, easy dislodgement, specialised equipment required for installation.

Stainless Steel – Tactile Ground Surface Indicator’s

Perceived Advantages – Architectural appeal, internal use.
Issues – Expensive, slow installation and removal process, easy dislodgement.

Plastic Pad – Tactile Ground Surface Indicator’s

The picture below demonstrates how much the tiles have faded & how poor the colour contrast is between the Tactile Ground Surface Indicators and the concrete substrate.  The tiles have peeled and lifted and are now unsafe for all pedestrians.

Perceived Advantages – Cost-effective, readily available
Issues – Crack, peel, fade, lift, safety of users

2. Longevity – Will it last a long time?

Ask yourself the question…  Will these Tactile Ground Surface Indicators last a long time?

ESP Australia are proud to supply Australian councils and civil contractors with the most innovative and reliable fibre reinforced ‘Herculite’ polymer Tactile Ground Surface Indicators on the market.  This has been achieved through subjecting our designs and materials to over 24 International and Australian Standards independent tests.  Meaning the Access® Tile will maintain its strength, durability, and colour over the long term.

Say goodbye to lifting, peeling, fading, and cracking Tactile Ground Surface Indicator’s with ESP’s Access® Tile!

3. Installation time & labour costs

It is also important to factor in installation times and labour costs.  Some Tactile Ground Surface Indicator products require special tooling and machinery to be installed and can be very time consuming and slow.

ESP’s Surface Applied Access® Tile is designed to be fast and easy to install utilising both adhesive and fixings for a secure bond between the tile and the substrate.  The Access® Tile can be installed onto ANY stable surface and is now available in a 1200x600mm (Warning Tile) to increase efficiency and speed.

Additionally, ESP offer a Cast In Place Tactile Indicator product which can be installed in minutes during the concrete finishing stage.

4. After sales service & warranty support

You really do get what you pay for when it comes to Tactile Ground Surface Indicators…

At ESP Australia we live by our mantra and are always looking to ‘Be the solution’, assisting with any problems you may encounter.  Our Tactile Ground Surface Indicator products are designed to last, which is why we back them with our comprehensive warranty.

From the date of purchase, ESP Australia will warrant the ESP Access® Tile products for their designed life expectancy:

• Low Pedestrian Foot Traffic (6 – 10 Years)
• Medium Pedestrian Foot Traffic (3 – 5 Years)
• High Pedestrian Foot Traffic (1 – 2 Years)

5. Are they easily replaceable?

Using certain types of Tactile Ground Surface Indicators can prove to be a costly exercise later down the track when it comes to replacing tiles.  This should be something to consider when selecting types of Tactile Indicators.

ESP Australia’s Cast In Place Access® Tile has been designed with this in mind utilising corrosion resistant hexagonal anchors which are designed to trap concrete for optimal anchoring.  By simply removing 5 screws the tile can be lifted out of the set concrete and replaced with a brand-new tile.  The replaceability feature of the tile is industry leading due to its simplicity and speed.