A second home to our current and future generations’ brightest minds, school environments tend to be lively, bustling places, with large groups of students and staff gathering to collaborate, move between classes, and engage in various campus activities.
Whether for a new build, renovation, or extension, incorporating advanced access safety solutions is vital for fostering a welcoming, diverse, and vibrant learning environment for all students, staff, and visitors, including those with disabilities.
When safety and accessibility measures are not prioritised, students and other users of shared public spaces may feel restricted in their ability to participate fully in academic and social activities. This could diminish their sense of belonging while limiting the school’s ability to meet its immediate and broader responsibilities.
Conversely, when safe access is prioritised, schools can achieve both their functional and aesthetic campus goals. This reflects a valuable commitment to inclusivity and compliance, gaining the trust and support of students, parents, and the wider community.
The Importance of Prioritising Safe & Accessible Public Areas for Inclusive Schools
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 21.4% of Australians currently live with a disability, up from 17.7% in 2018.
Furthermore, slips, trips, and falls are among the leading causes of injury in schools across Australia. This highlights the increasing importance of accessible and inclusive design in public spaces, particularly in schools, where everyone should feel empowered to safely and confidently navigate their surroundings.
When schools and building professionals collaborate effectively, they can work together early in the design process to prioritise key aesthetic elements and access safety features.
This results in a space that is both safe and accessible without compromising aesthetic goals or facing costly retrofits at a later date, thereby enhancing the overall learning environment.
Failure to meet accessibility standards can lead to several consequences, such as hindered learning outcomes, significant safety risks, damage to reputation, increased maintenance costs, and costly legal action. This underscores the importance of compliance and the potential risks of not prioritising access safety.
Latest Innovations in Access Safety Products
Tactile Indicators for Schools
Tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs), often called tactile indicators, are vital in ensuring safe and accessible navigation for students, staff, and visitors with vision impairments, mobility challenges, or other disabilities.
Comprising two main types, warning tactiles function as a “stop” sign, alerting students of potential oncoming hazards, while directional tactiles provide directional cues to outline a recommended path of travel.
Tactile indicators are mandatory in public access areas, including all educational environments where inclusivity and safety are paramount.
Commonly installed at common access points such as stairways, ramps, building entrances, and open areas, they help create a supportive, accessible campus experience while reducing the risk of accidents.
Stair Nosing for Schools
Stair nosings are profiled strips typically installed on the edge of steps to create a safer, anti-slip surface. Offering enhanced grip and visibility, they minimise the risk of slips and falls in busy stairways throughout the day.
Stair nosings are not only a mandatory safety and compliance requirement for Australian Standards but also add longevity, extending the lifespan of stair treads and floor coverings in high-traffic school environments.
Commonly installed alongside warning tactile indicators, modern stair nosing solutions ensure safe, confident access for all stairway users, including those with vision impairments or disabilities, fostering a safer, more inclusive school environment.
Entrance Matting for Schools
Indoor and outdoor entrance matting are commonly installed at key access points around educational facilities, such as school entrances, hallways, and common areas. These commercial-grade entrance mats are designed to provide a safe, slip-resistant surface for foot and wheeled traffic.
Beyond serving as a crucial safety measure for minimising slips, falls, and other hazards, entrance matting promotes cleaner, healthier, and more welcoming entrance areas.
By effectively trapping dirt, grit, and moisture, these mats help preserve the condition of flooring surfaces, extending their lifespan and significantly reducing maintenance and repair costs over time.
Applications & Benefits of Classic’s Products for Safe, Accessible School Environments
Classic Integra Entrance Matting
Integra Zone: Advanced Wayfinding Solutions
Zone comes in a wide range of colours, utilising colours and textures that are easily identifiable and accessible to all students, making it ideal for assisting with wayfinding.
Offering a luxurious look and feel, our Integra Zone entrance matting is best suited for entrances, hallways, and common areas where clear navigation is vital to safety.Explore the Integra Zone entrance matting range.
Integra Premier: High-Performance Entrance Matting
Premier is designed with a unique chevron pattern for a highly effective scraping action for removing dirt, reducing floor maintenance costs and hazard liability.
This entrance matting solution is perfect for entrances or high-traffic areas where ongoing maintenance is critical to preserving safety standards.
Discover the Integra Premier entrance matting range.
Classic Tredfx Stair Nosing
PKD143: High-Visibility Stair Nosing
PKD143 offers a compliant and practical interior safety application. The combination of profile and insert colours available makes them suitable for a range of carpet colours where a heavy-duty, slip-resistant surface is desired. Their high visibility enhances safety for visually impaired students and makes navigation through school spaces more secure.
Explore our PKD143 stair nosing solution.
SBR104: Low-Maintenance Safety Stair Nosing
SBR104 is designed for ease of maintenance, offering a high-quality solution that retains its safety features over time, even in demanding school environments. It is ideal for staircases in busy school buildings where durability and safety are paramount.
Discover the Classic SBR104 stair nosing range.
Classic Tredfx Tactile Indicators
Fastile PT30A: Resilient & Slip-Resistant Tactile Tile
PT30A is a resilient flooring option that combines slip resistance with durability, reducing the risk of falls in high-traffic school areas.
Featuring peel-and-stick backing, this polyurethane warning tile is suitable for interior and exterior use in gymnasiums, multipurpose rooms, and other areas where slip resistance is a priority.
Explore our Classic PT30A tactile indicators.
SH75N: Stainless Steel Tactile
SH75N continues to be the best and longest-lasting solution when fitting tactile ground surface indicators for interior and exterior applications.
Available in a range of insert colours to seamlessly complement the surrounding floor surface, these stainless steel tactile indicators offer an architecturally superior appearance.
Discover the Classic SH75N tactile indicators.
Our Recent Projects Featuring Integrated Solutions for School Designs
Brisbane Grammar School, QLD
Classic Architectural Group contributed to Brisbane Grammar’s groundbreaking STEAM Precinct, built by BESIX Watpac, providing essential solutions to create a safe, dynamic learning environment.
Proudly supplying our Classic Integra Entrance Matting and Classic Tredfx Safety Stair Nosings, this project reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering current and future younger generations through educational projects Australia-wide.
Full case study: Brisbane Grammar School
Overnewton Anglican Community College, VIC
Classic Architectural Group supported Ireland Brown Constructions in developing Overnewton Anglican Community College’s new Middle School Precinct at their Yirramboi Campus in Keilor, Victoria.
With a multi-level learning hub building accommodating 390 students, our supply and installation of Classic Tredfx Safety Tactile Indicators ensures the safety and accessibility of students and staff.
Full case study: Anglican Community College
The Institute of Applied Technology for Construction (IATC) at TAFE, NSW
Collaborating with Adco Constructions on a new project fit-out for The Institute of Applied Technology for Construction (IATC) at TAFE in New South Wales, the IATC will now serve as a second home for 3,500 students by 2030.
A hub for innovative growth and learning, the Classic team was delighted to supply various products from the Classic Car Park Safety Range, Classic Bike Racks, and our Classic Integra Entrance Matting for the project, seamlessly blending functionality with aesthetics.
Full case study: IATC at TAFE NSW
Partner with Classic to Achieve Design Excellence in Educational Spaces Australia-Wide
Working closely with educational facilitators, architects, and property managers across Australia, Classic Architectural Group aims to go beyond simply fulfilling design briefs and meeting compliance standards. Our overarching goal is to offer end-to-end, cutting-edge solutions that deliver maximum return and long-term effectiveness while ensuring equal access for all.
From installing stair nosings and tactile indicators in busy stairwells to providing entrance matting for high-traffic areas and car park safety solutions, our innovative access safety products help create safer, more accessible, and aesthetically pleasing learning environments.
We support you at every stage—from initial consultations through to custom product designs, supply, and installation. Classic ensures your project stays on track by offering certainty of supply and comprehensive support, so you’ll never put a foot wrong.
To learn more about our tailored floor and stair safety solutions for schools and educational facilities, call 1300 244 377 to speak with one of our experts today.
