ISO 19029:2016

Accessible design - Auditory guiding signals in public facilities

ISO 19029:2016 specifies the sound characteristics of auditory guiding signals for persons with seeing impairment and blindness to provide the location and direction information of particular public facilities. The public facilities include facilities such as railway stations, airports, ports, bus terminals, government offices, libraries, community centres, parks, schools, hospitals, theatres, large supermarkets, and its toilets, stairs, etc. EXAMPLE As an auditory guiding signal, a chime sound is emitted from the ticket gate of a railway station. Pedestrians, including persons with seeing impairment and blindness, are able to know the location of the ticket gate by detecting the location of the chime sound. NOTE 1 The auditory guiding signals are also helpful for sighted persons. ISO 19029:2016 also specifies the design or usage of the equipment that provides auditory guiding signals. ISO 19029:2016 does not specify the characteristics of the alerts, such as alarm sounds or emergency signals. NOTE 2 The auditory danger signals are covered by ISO 7731. ISO 19029:2016 does not specify the characteristics of auditory guiding signals coming from the personal mobile equipment that is worn by persons with seeing impairment and blindness.

Produits assistive pour des personnes avec l'incapacité — Conception accessible — Signaux de guidage auditifs dans les équipements publics

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 18-Jan-2016
• ICS: 11.180.15 - Aids for deaf and hearing impaired people
• ICS: 13.180 - Ergonomics
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 173/SC 7 - Assistive products for persons with impaired sensory functions
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 173/SC 7 - Assistive products for persons with impaired sensory functions
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 01-Jun-2022
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO 19029:2016 - Accessible design - Auditory guiding signals in public facilities defines sound characteristics and equipment recommendations for auditory guiding signals intended to assist people with seeing impairment and blindness. The standard covers use in public facilities such as railway stations, airports, bus terminals, libraries, hospitals, schools, theatres, large supermarkets and associated features (toilets, stairs, ticket gates, etc.). It addresses location and direction information delivery, not alarm or emergency signals, nor signals from personal mobile devices.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard specifies measurable sound and equipment requirements to ensure reliable localization and intelligibility:

• Sound envelope

  • Attack duration: > 0 ms and ≤ 5 ms (short attack aids direction detection).
  • Interval between signals: should be ≤ 2 s.

• Frequency components

  • Lowest frequency component: not higher than 1 kHz.
  • Highest frequency component: not lower than 8 kHz.
  • Harmonic tones should include all orders of harmonics in the band.
  • Single-frequency (narrowband) tones should not be used; broad or multiple components preferred to distinguish signals from ambient noise.

• Signal generation and recording

  • Sound signal generators must reproduce the required frequency band.
  • If digitally recorded, sampling resolution shall be at least 8 bits, preferably 16 bits; compression should not degrade quality.

• Loudspeaker and arrangement

  • Loudspeakers must cover the specified frequency components.
  • Preferred placement: loudspeaker aligned vertically with the goal and facing the main pedestrian flow (examples include ceiling suspension above the goal or pole-mounted units).
  • Keep obstacles out of the emission axis and within 3 m of the emission angle; emission angle defined where attenuation is <10 dB.

• Ambient environment

  • Required signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at listening point: ≥ 10 dB (measure using A-weighting; FAST for signal).
  • Reduce reflection and reverberation where possible (acoustic absorbers, space design).
  • Prevent overlapping signals for multiple goals at a single location.
  • Auditory guiding signals should operate continuously unless facility usage patterns justify control.

Applications

ISO 19029:2016 is practical for:

• Designing auditory wayfinding at transit hubs (ticket gates, platform entrances)
• Guiding users to restrooms, stairs, help desks, or specific service points in large public buildings
• Specifying audible wayfinding systems in airports, hospitals, libraries, malls and parks
• Integrating auditory guidance into accessibility strategies and building designs

Who should use this standard

• Sound designers and acoustic engineers
• Architects and facility planners
• Accessibility consultants and disability inclusion teams
• Transit operators, building owners and asset managers
• Manufacturers of public-address and wayfinding equipment

Related standards

• ISO 7731 (auditory danger signals) - emergency/danger sound characteristics
• ISO 23600 (acoustic and tactile signals for pedestrian traffic lights)
• IEC 60268-5 (loudspeaker requirements)

Keywords: ISO 19029:2016, auditory guiding signals, accessible design, public facilities, sound characteristics, signal-to-noise ratio, loudspeaker arrangement, wayfinding.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 19029
First edition
2016-02-01
Accessible design — Auditory guiding
signals in public facilities
Produits assistive pour des personnes avec l’incapacité — Conception
accessible — Signaux de guidage auditifs dans les équipements publics
Reference number
©
ISO 2016
© ISO 2016, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
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ii © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Terms and definitions . 1
3 Requirements and recommendations. 2
3.1 Sound characteristics . 2
3.1.1 Envelope . 2
3.1.2 Frequency component . 2
3.2 Equipment . 3
3.2.1 Sound signal generator . . . 3
3.2.2 Loudspeaker . 4
3.2.3 Arrangement of loudspeakers . 4
3.3 Ambient sound environment . 5
3.3.1 Signal-to-noise ratio . 5
3.3.2 Auditory guiding signals for different goals . 5
3.3.3 Sound reflection and reverberation . 5
3.3.4 Operation of auditory guiding signals . 5
Bibliography . 6
Foreword
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The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 173, Assistive products for persons with disability,
Subcommittee SC 7, Accessible design.
iv © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

Introduction
When the persons with seeing impairment and blindness walk and travel independently, the auditory
guiding signals in public facilities for mobility assistance are very beneficial for them to know the
location (i.e. direction and distance).
This International Standard provides the guidelines of sound characteristics and specifications of
sound equipment of the auditory guiding signals in public facilities for mobility assistance of mainly the
persons with seeing impairment and blindness. The provided sound characteristics and specifications
of sound equipment enable the user to detect the sound location correctly even in the noisy environment.
This International Standard is useful for the sound designers who design the auditory guiding signals
in public facilities, and the designers who plan the public facilities.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 19029:2016(E)
Accessible design — Auditory guiding signals in public
facilities
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the sound characteristics of auditory guiding signals for persons
with seeing impairment and blindness to provide the location and direction information of particular
public facilities. The public facilities include facilities such as railway stations, airports, ports, bus
terminals, government offices, libraries, community centres, parks, schools, hospitals, theatres, large
supermarkets, and its toilets, stairs, etc.
EXAMPLE As an auditory guiding signal, a chime sound is emitted from the ticket gate of a railway station.
Pedestrians, including persons with seeing impairment and blindness, are able to know the location of the ticket
gate by detecting the location of the chime sound.
NOTE 1 The auditory guiding signals are also helpful for sighted pers
...