Access for people with Disability
Guidance on Provision of goods and services and Access to
Buildings
To aid clarity for people who have a visual impairment it
helps to have items coloured sufficiently different from their
background.
Signage that is effective benefits everyone. It also enables
people with visual impairments, deaf people and people with
learning difficulties to use the environment as independently as
possible.
Access for Disabled People in and around Buildings
Our urban environment has not been designed with the needs of
disabled people in mind, yet about one person in twenty has some
form of permanent or temporary disability which makes mobility
difficult. Disability covers more than the obvious conditions such
as blindness or confinement to a wheelchair. Breathlessness, the
need to walk with a stick, difficulty of gripping due to paralysis
or arthritis, lack of co-ordination, partial sight, deafness and
pregnancy can all affect a person’s mobility in the environment. It
makes practical sense to ensure that design takes account of this
group. Advances in medical care and changing social attitude means
that the numbers of elderly disabled people who wish to follow an
independent life will increase.
Access Statements
Access statements should be submitted as part of Planning and
Building Control submissions. These must highlight conditions where
there are areas of non-compliance with either planning policy,
planning guidance or the requirements of Approved Document M of the
Building Regulations.
The following features need to be taken into account although
this will depend ultimately on the proposed works :
Car parking:
Business Premises:
Up to 200 bays: Individual bays for each disabled employee
plus 2 bays or 5%of the total capacity whichever is the
greater.
Over 200 bays: 6 bays plus 2% of the total capacity.
Shopping Leisure and Recreation:
Up to 200 bays: 3 bays or 6% of the total capacity whichever
is the greater
Over 200 bays: 4 bays plus 4% of the total capacity
Location - Spaces should be located within 50 metres of an
accessible entrance and desirably be under cover.
Parking Bays - Need to be wide enough to accommodate
wheelchair traffic to and from the car. The minimum size of a bay
must be not less than 6000 x 3300. Reserved spaces should be
denoted by clear signposting at the entrance and beside the space
itself.
Surfacing and hard landscaping:
Design - Internal and external surfaces should be firm, non
slip and well laid. Where changes in direction or levels do occur
the path edge should be defined with a colour contrast, textured
surface or where appropriate upstand kerb or low rail.
Street furniture - Should be clearly distinguishable from
surrounding and be clearly defined. Projecting covers, isolated
steps and large aperture gratings are to be avoided.
Pathways:
Dimensions - Pathways should be a minimum of 1.8 metres wide
and 2 metres wide if possible.
Movement - Pathways should be clear of obstacles; edges should
be clearly defined and routes from roads, bus stops and car parks
should be signposted and well lit.
Kerbs - Dropped kerbs, flush with the carriageway, which offer
a gradient of maximum ratio of 1:10 should be used subject to
detailed design and drainage requirements; use of non slip
textured-footway surface and pedestrian crossings are
advisable.
Entering the building:
Changes in levels should be avoided, especially at entrances
and exits.
Where this is not possible both ramps and steps should be
available.
Ramps - Dimensions: Ramps should be 1.8 metres wide (1.2
metres minimum) with 100mm kerb and have a preferred gradient of
1:20. At the beginning and end of a ramp a level platform 1.8
metres long should be provided. On long ramps a level platform a
minimum of 1.5 metres long should be provided at 10.0 metre
intervals.
Features - Handrails should be provided on both sides of the
ramps.
Entrance should be well lit and ideally protected from the
weather.
Steps:
Dimensions - Steps should be 1.8 metres wide (1.2 metres
minimum). The goings of stairs should be a minimum of 280mm and the
risers a maximum of 150mm. Open risers should be avoided.
Features - The edges of steps or stairs should be clearly
defined. The approach to a flight of stairs should also be
indicated and the actual materials used need to be hard wearing and
non slip.
Handrails:
Dimensions - Handrails should be located 1.0 metre above a
landing and be no more that 900mm above the nosing lines of the
steps, and preferably be to the door entrance or at least 450mm
beyond the end of the steps.
Handrails should be between 45mm and 50mm in diameter and 45mm
from the adjacent wall and be made of an easy to grasp material;
they should be continuous yet end in a clearly recognisable manner
such as returning to the wall.
Doors:
Dimensions - Doors should have a minimum clear opening width
of 800mm (830mm is preferred) for a wheelchair. Where double doors
are used at least one door should be a minimum of 800mm wide.
Types - Revolving and heavy doors are to be avoided. Automatic
sliding doors are desirable where hinged doors are required for
safety reasons extra care needs to be taken to ensure they are
usable by disabled people.
Materials - Glazed doors should be easily distinguishable.
Vision panels, extended to low level, are desired as they can help
visibility in the building.
The effort of getting around can be eased if the circulation,
displays and facilities are considered at an early stage of
design.
Layout:
Main facilities should be at main entrance level, where if
small changes in level do occur they can be dealt with by
duplicating stairs and ramps.
Routes from entrance doors to lifts, stairs, enquiry desks and
toilets should be clearly defined and unobstructed.
Seating should be generously provided especially around areas
where waiting is likely. It should be of stable construction and be
available in a choice of heights.
Telephones, counters and checkouts should be accessible and
usable by disabled persons.
Handrails should be used to assist ambulant disabled
people.
Corridors:
Dimensions - Corridors should be 1.8 metres wide with
appliances recessed to avoid projecting space.
Features - Splayed or rounded corners are desirable, deep pile
carpets are to be avoided as are tiled floors which are not
slip-resistant. Contrast is desirable between doors and
walls.
Lifts:
Dimensions - Lifts should have minimum internal measurements
of 1.1 metres wide by 1.4 metres deep. There should be 1.5 metres
of unobstructed space in front of the lift entrance and entrance
doors should have 830mm of clear opening width (minimum 800).
Controls should be no higher than 1.4 metres above floor level with
embossed digits a desirable added feature.
Toilets:
The minimum dimensions of a toilet cubicle should be 2200
metres by 1.5 metres with a metre wide outward opening of sliding
entrance door and have a non-slip floor. Various layouts are
suitable. (see BS8300)
Signposting:
Information should be clear and unambiguous - carefully sited
at convenient, readable heights and be readily distinguishable form
the background by use of strong contrast.
Standardised symbols should be used where appropriate and
raised/embossed symbols/Braille located within reach.