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Colour matching carries even more weight when meeting the needs of visually impaired users , for example . Under the Equality Act 2010 [ 1 ] , it ’ s stated all new and refurbished public buildings must offer equal access to all users , ensuring safe entry and passage through a building regardless of disability , age of gender . Where only 5 % of people that are blind can ’ t see anything at all , most have limited colour vision and perception of light and shade , and for this , an adequate level of visual contrast between building surfaces and their surrounding areas is mandatory .
With this , design professionals must be conscious of Light Reflectance Values ( LRV ) [ 2 ] . LRV is understood as the universal scale used in architecture and interior design and is a way of measuring the amount of visible and usable light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source . In essence , it is important to assess the contrast between the door facings and ironmongery throughout specification , with standards recommending an LRV contrast of at least 30 points in order to comply with BS 8300-2:2018 [ 3 ] .
Consistent by design
The purpose of a consistent finish runs deeper than aesthetics alone . Together with its design benefits , a high-quality , durable material scheme can add value to a project by offering high wear and abrasion resistance , improving the overall usability of door furniture throughout a building ’ s lifecycle .
Here , the specification of material schemes is often determined by project type and the location of the door itself . Stainless steel finishes for example , while offering clean aesthetics , are designed to add value in kitchen and bathroom spaces by offering naturally high resistance to moisture corrosion . On the other hand , stainless steel can often succumb to the harsh exposure of sunlight and as such , its use should generally be avoided in outside environments .
Similarly , a high-grade physical vapor deposition ( PVD ) coating is also naturally corrosion resistant , but in addition , it offers users an extremely scratch resistant surface – making it suitable
for high traffic environments such as hospitals and schools . With this in mind , design professionals must seek the most applicable material scheme throughout their project , opting for higher grades of materials where necessary . And where a single manufacturer may offer a continuous range of finishes of the same quality , the use of multiple suppliers can truly have the adverse effect .
Comparably , low-cost substitutes are unlikely to match the reliability that premium finishes can offer . Much like users
expect the mechanisms of door hardware to last throughout a building ’ s lifecycle , it is essential for material schemes stand the test of time too . Where ‘ natural living ’ finishes ( such as unlacquered bronze and brass ) are purposefully designed to react to the external environment and develop over time with the building , low-quality finishes may begin to fade unintentionally . Protective coatings ( such as PVD or lacquered finishes ) are designed to retain their quality regardless of the environment in which they ’ re installed . Even in high traffic areas , durable designs are more likely to retain their operational benefits over time , while also enduring decorative trends and leaving interiors intact for years to come .
Inherently , decision makers are urged to chase quality above trends and low-cost substitutes . Where door hardware finishes are concerned , durability and cohesion are key in offering longer-lasting benefits and design professionals must look to work closely with trusted manufacturers and supply chains to ensure their choices match expectations . Because , while styles change and trends come and go , the basis for a high quality , consistent finish lies within the manufacturing process . After all , the details are always in the design .
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Sources : [ 1 ] https :// www . legislation . gov . uk / ukpga / 2010 / 15 / contents [ 2 ] https :// ahmarra . co . uk / doorset-specification / light-reflectance-values-lrv / [ 3 ] https :// www . thenbs . com / PublicationIndex / documents / details ? Pub = BSI & DocID = 320547
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