Accessibility Compliance and Guidelines.

Disabled Persons Access 

Disability Discrimination Act 1995 

Retailers, cafes, leisure departments, cinemas, health services and banks are just some of the service providers who use local authority planning and building control services. 

From October 2004, the final stage of the Disability Discrimination Act comes into force.  This makes it unlawful for employers and people who provide services, goods and facilities to the public to discriminate against people who have a disability by not making 'reasonable adjustments' to the premises from which the goods, services or facilities are available.
It is important to recognise that not all disabilities are obvious.  The Act includes any person who has a mobility, sensory impairment, learning, mental ill health disabilities, severe facial disfigurements and certain other conditions. 

If a disabled person feels that they have been wrongly excluded from the provision of goods, services or facilities, or the letting or selling of land or property, they will be able to take legal action through the courts to seek damages for any financial loss they have suffered and for any injury to their feelings. Even though Approved Document M to the Building Regulations has been identified as the standard against which accessibility for disabled people will be judged, the Council does not have an enforcement role for this legislation.
 
This is not new legislation; since 2nd December 1996 it has been unlawful for service providers to treat disabled people less favourably for a reason related to their disability and, since 1st October 1999, service providers have been required to make ‘reasonable adjustments’, such as providing extra help or making changes to the way they provide services. 

Meaning of physical features 

The Disability Discrimination Act talks in terms of changes to the ‘physical features’ of buildings. These are any features arising from the design or construction of a building and any fixtures, fittings, furnishings and equipment on the premises. This could include paths, entrances, exits, entry systems, car parking, public phones, changing rooms, service counters, doors, toilets, stairs, shelves, waiting areas, signage, floor and wall coverings. This list is not intended to be exhaustive; simply to serve as an indicator of the variety of features that can present barriers for which solutions may need to be found. Employers and owners of buildings will need to anticipate the types of problems that may arise, so that when a disabled person requests a service, reasonable steps have already been taken to overcome and access issues.
  

ACCESS TO BUILDINGS OTHER 

THAN DWELLINGS 

Objectives 

1.1 The aim is to provide a suitable means of access for people from the 

entrance point at the boundary of the site, and from any car parking that is provided on the site, to the building. It is also important that routes between buildings within a complex are also accessible. 

1.2 In designing an approach to the building, it should be recognised that 

changes in level are difficult for many people to negotiate, including 

wheelchair users, people who need to use walking aids and people with 

impaired sight. Access routes that are too narrow can also make it difficult for people to pass each other.  

1.3 It is important to be aware that people’s capabilities vary. For example, for some people, a stair is easier to use than a ramp.  

1.4 The building should be designed, within the overall constraints of space, so that the difference in level between the entrance storey and the site entry point is minimised.  

1.5 It is also important that potential hazards on access routes adjacent to buildings, e.g. open windows, are avoided so that people, particularly 

children and those with impaired sight or hearing, are not injured. 

Note: The publication ‘Inclusive Mobility: A Guide to Best Practice on 

Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure’ gives detailed guidance on designing the external environment.  

Level approach from the boundary of the site and car parking Design considerations 

1.6 As far as possible, access should be level from the boundary of the site, and from any car parking designated for disabled people, to the principal entrance and any entrance used exclusively for staff or, if either of these is not accessible, to any alternative accessible entrances. If access is generally required between entrances, or between alternative accessible entrances outside the building, this access should as far as possible be level. The site level of accessible entrances should be determined   

1.7 Where a difference in level between the boundary of the site or car parking designated for disabled people, and the building, is unavoidable due to site constraints, the approach may have a gentle gradient over a long distance (for all or part/s of the approach) or it may incorporate a number of shorter parts at a steeper gradient, with level landings at intervals as rest points. Generally, gradients within the approach should be as gentle as possible.  

1.8 Where the gradient of the approach, whether over its whole length or in part, is 1:20 or steeper, that part of the approach should be designed as ramped access.  

1.9 All access routes to principal, or alternative accessible, entrances should be surfaced so that people are able to travel along them easily, without excessive effort and without the risk of tripping or falling. 

1.10 There should be sufficient space for people to approach the building, pass others who are travelling in the opposite direction and carry out all necessary manoeuvres.  

1.11 A surface width of 1800mm can accommodate any amount of nonvehicular traffic without the need for passing places. A surface width of 1200mm may be acceptable on restricted sites, subject to a case being made in the Access Statement.  

1.12 It is important to reduce the risks to people, particularly people with impaired sight, when approaching and passing around the perimeter of the building under all lighting conditions. 

Provisions  

1.13 A ‘level approach’ (from the boundary of the site and from car parking spaces designated for disabled people to the principal entrance, to a staff entrance or to an alternative accessible entrance) will satisfy Requirement M1 or M2 if: a. it has a surface width of at least 1.5m, with passing places, free of obstructions to a height of 2.1m; b. passing places at least 1.8m wide and at least 2m long are provided within sight of each other (the width of the passing place may be included in the width of the level approach), but in any case spaced at a distance no greater than 50m; c. the gradient along its length is either no steeper than 1:60 along its whole length, or less steep than 1:20 with level landings (see 1.26(k)) introduced for each 500mm rise of the access (where necessary, between landings), in all cases with a cross-fall gradient no steeper than 1:40; d. its surface is firm, durable and slip resistant, with undulations not exceeding 3mm under a 1m straight edge for formless materials. Inappropriate materials might be loose sand or gravel; e. where there are different materials along the access route, they have similar frictional characteristics; f. the difference in level at joints between paving units is no greater than 5mm, with joints filled flush or, if recessed, no deeper than 5mm and no wider than 10mm or, if unfilled, no wider than 5mm; g. the route to the principal entrance (or alternative accessible entrance) is clearly identified and well lit; h. the danger of inadvertently walking into a vehicular access route is minimised by providing a separate pedestrian route and, where there is an uncontrolled crossing point across the vehicular route, this is identified by a buff coloured blister surface  

On-site car parking and setting down  

Design considerations 

1.14 People who need to travel to buildings by car need to be able to park, have sufficient space to enter and leave their vehicle, on occasions move to the rear of their vehicle, then walk, travel in a wheelchair or with 

pushchairs or luggage etc. to the principal entrance, the staff entrance, or any alternative accessible entrance, of the building. 

1.15 The surface of a parking bay designated for disabled people, in 

particular the area surrounding the bay, should allow the safe transfer of a passenger or driver to a wheelchair and transfer from the parking bay to the access route to the building without undue effort, barriers to wheelchairs or hazards from tripping.  

1.16 If people need to obtain tickets for pay and display parking, the person in a wheelchair, or a person of short stature, to gain access close to the machine and reach the payment and ticket dispensing functions. 

1.17 People with mobility impairments who arrive as passengers should be able to alight from a vehicle close to the principal entrance, or alternative accessible entrance, of the building in a way that is convenient for entry into the building.  

Note: Guidance is available in BS 8300 on: – the provision of parking bays designated for disabled people in different building types; – ticket dispensing machines; – vehicular control barriers; and – multi-storey car parks.  

Provisions  

1.18 Car parking and setting down will satisfy Requirement M1 or M2 if: 

a. at least one parking bay designated for disabled people is provided on firm and level ground as close as feasible to the principal entrance of the building; b. the dimensions of the designated 

parking bays. c. the surface of the accessibility zone is firm, durable and slip resistant, with undulations not exceeding 3mm under a 1m straight edge for formless materials. Inappropriate materials light be loose sand or gravel; d. ticket machines, where necessary for wheelchair users and people of short stature, are adjacent to the designated parking bays for disabled people and have controls between 750mm and 1200mm above the ground and a plinth which does not project in front of the face of the machine in away that prevents its convenient use; e. a clearly sign-posted setting down point is located on firm and level ground as close as practicable to the principal or alternative accessible entrance with its surface level with the carriageway at that point to allow convenient access to and fromthe entrance for people with walking difficulties or people using a wheelchair. 

Ramped access  

Note: Where there appears to be a conflict between the guidance in Part M and Part K, Part M takes precedence; see the Notes to the Requirements.  

Design considerations  

1.19 If site constraints necessitate an approach of 1 in 20 or steeper, an 

approach incorporating ramped access should be provided. Ramps are 

beneficial for wheelchair users and people pushing prams, pushchairs and bicycles.  

1.20 Gradients should be as shallow as practicable, as steep gradients create difficulties for some wheelchair users who lack the strength to propel themselves up a slope or have difficulty in slowing down or stopping when descending. However, there may be circumstances, e.g. in shop fit-outs, where a steeper gradient than the maximum shown in Table 1 may be necessary for a short distance. The case for such a solution should be made in the Access Statement.  

1.21 Ramps are also not necessarily safe and convenient for ambulant 

disabled people. For example, some people who can walk but have restricted mobility find it more difficult to negotiate a ramp than a stair. In 

addition, adverse weather conditions increase the risk of slipping on a ramp. It is therefore beneficial to have steps as well as a ramp.  

1.22 Some people need to be able to stop frequently; for instance to regain or breath, or to ease pain.  

1.23 Wheelchair users need adequate space to stop on landings, to open and pass through doors without having to reverse into circulation routes or to face the risk of rolling back down slopes.  

1.24 Some people have a weakness on one side. This leads to a requirement for support at both sides of ramps.  

1.25 If the total rise of a ramped approach is too high, it can be unacceptably tiring for wheelchair users and some people with walking 

difficulties, even if a number of rest landings are provided.  

Note: Guidance is given in BS 8300 on: – lighting ramped access. 

Provisions  

1.26 A ramped access will satisfy Requirement M1 or M2 if: a. it is either readily apparent or the approach to it is clearly sign-posted; b. the gradient of a ramp flight and its going between landings  c. no flight has a going greater than 10m, or a rise of more than 500mm;  

Acces for All