Five common mistakes that can lead to failure in a Braille certification inspection--have you fallen into any of these traps?

Certification of Braille is a necessary step for factories that produce products with identification labels, but many companies fail repeatedly because of oversights in the details.A summary of the five most common mistakes made in the certification process includes layout errors in the labeling, improper choice of materials, and a lack of quality control. This helps companies quickly identify and eliminate potential problems and increase their chances of getting certified.

Why can't you pass the Braille test?

Many factory owners complain, "I followed the standards, so why am I still being turned down?" The problem is often in the details that are easy to overlook.The following are five common mistakes. See if you've fallen into any of these traps.

The thickness of the material does not meet the standard.

The dots are not high enough.

International standards require that the height of the Braille dots be at least 0.5 millimeters. But some companies use materials that are too thin in order to save money.When touched, the dots gave a very indistinct impression, and were judged "unrecognizable.I suggest that they use a caliper to check each batch of materials, so that they don't let a small saving cause a big problem.

The substrate is too hard.

PVC and acrylic look similar, but PVC becomes soft and pliable in high temperatures, which can distort Braille characters.One food company put a label on the side of a sterilization cabinet, and after three months all the raised lettering had collapsed.When choosing materials, you have to consider the temperature and humidity conditions of the place they will be used.

The spacing is too wide.

The spacing between the characters varies.

The die may be loose when the machine is stamping, or the label may be stuck on by hand and the alignment off.He suggested using automated equipment with laser guidance, and not letting the "feel" of the old masters get in the way.

The lines were too close together to allow Braille reading.

The lines of Braille are too close together, so that when the fingers move, they are easily confused with the lines on either side.A complaint was made about the signs at one MRT station, and the whole project was scrapped.Remember to leave at least 8 mm of space between each line.

Inspection procedures have become virtually meaningless.

We only do sampling, not complete coverage.

It is common to find a few defective items in a batch after 10 % of the goods have been checked and found to be free of problems.He suggested that the company add a step of manual inspection before packaging, because blind customers can't "sample" the product--every can has to have a working label.

Long-term use tests were ignored.

Products that pass laboratory tests may still have problems in actual use.The braille on a sign at a certain hospital faded after only half a year, so that it became a flat design.They regularly test the durability of their products under UV light, and they don't want them to be "disposable" items.

The signs were installed in the wrong places.

The height is not ergonomic.

The Braille on the elevator buttons is too high for wheelchair users to reach.When installing them, the range of reach for different people must be simulated, and the safe range is usually 90 to 120 cm above the ground.

The environment around them interferes with their sense of touch.

Braille signs placed next to a vibrating machine or a rough wall will affect the experience of touching them.It's like trying to talk on the phone in a noisy factory, no matter how clear the braille, it's hard to make out.

Misunderstanding of certification standards.

New and old standards are mixed together.

The 2023 GB standard adjusted the requirements for ball diameter, but some factories are still using the specifications from five years ago.We recommended that they take part in industry training courses every year, and that notices about updates to standards be posted in a prominent place in the workshop.

They ignore local special requirements.

There are differences between the standards used for products sold in Europe and those sold in Taiwan. For example, Europe has stricter restrictions on environmentally unfriendly materials.Before accepting a foreign order, it's best to have the client provide a sample of the necessary certification.

To pass the Braille certification in one go, the key is to put the user first in every step of the process--from the feel of the tips of the fingers to the long-term experience of using it.Take a look around your workshop and see how well you measure up!