6.1 Tactile Requirements

6.1.1 It is good practice for a QR code to be marked by adding to its entire contour one of the following elements: a frame made of a continuous or a dotted line, not combinable, with the same dimensions, and in relief.

Three QR codes, each surrounded by a red frame. Left: a continuous solid line around the whole code, marked with a green tick as correct. Centre: a line of evenly spaced dots around the whole code, marked with a green tick as correct. Right: a frame that mixes solid lines down the sides with dots along the top and bottom, marked with a red cross as incorrect.
Figure 4Examples of correct and incorrect tactile marking

6.1.2 The thickness of the tactile mark should never be less than 1 mm and be a maximum of 2 mm. If it is a dotted line, the dots will have a diameter at their base similar to that of standard braille dots—that is, 1.5 mm—which, as they are not true braille dots, may vary between 1.2 and 1.9 mm. Likewise, the dots can be printed at any distance from each other provided that the gap between the edges of the bases of two adjacent points does not exceed 2.75 mm; this ensures that the idea of continuity is not lost.

6.1.3 Where a tactile mark is provided on a transparent covering, the frame will need to be significantly larger to ensure that the QR Code is always inside the tactile marking.

Close-up photograph of a printed sign. A QR code is surrounded by a frame of small raised clear dots that can be felt by touch, with braille alongside. Beneath the code is the printed text “Can’t scan? Enter the code below…” followed by a large reference number.
Figure 5Example of tactile marks around a QR Code