Luminance Contrast, where is it required?

Luminance Contrast is the amount of light reflected from one surface as compared to the amount of light reflected from another surface. Australian / New Zealand Standard AS/NZ 1428.4.1-2009 requires Luminance contrast in a range of 30% to 60% based on the type of building elements.

As a bare minimum for compliance with the BCA 2016, the following requirements apply:

- 30% luminance contrast to Signage, Doorways, Stairway Nosing strips, Accessible toilet seats, Lift buttons and integrated TGSIs (Tactile Ground Surface Indicators)

- Additional luminance contrast requirements apply to Discrete and Composite TGSIs. For example, 45% luminance contrast is required to Discrete TGSIs to the background, while 60% luminance contrast is required to Composite TGSIs (2 colours).

Luminance contrast is determined via on-site testing. However where LRV of 2 colours is know by means such as a fan deck, an indicative level of luminance contrast can be determined via our FREE Luminance Contrast Calculator.

Or Download our LRV Contrast app from the Google Play store or on Itunes for Apple devices.