Access & facilities for disabled

people

J.M.M Jayasinghe (B.Sc. Eng)

 Considerations
• Dwellings – Residential purposes such as flats,
houses and bungalows, nursing or old people’s
homes
• Shops and commercial uses – Restaurants,
public houses and bars, offices, banks, public
buildings, Leisure, assembly and recreational
facilities, Schools, Hotels, Hospitals, Sacred
places
 Considerations
• There are two types of disabled are
considered – Assisted disabled and not
assisted disabled
• Additionally people with wheel chair, clutches,
canes, very elder people, children with prams
are considered
 The Disable Discrimination Act - DDA
• The DDA creates rights for any individual, defined
by the act as a disabled person, not to be
discriminated against in
• Employment
• Provision of goods, services and facilities
• The management, buying or renting of land or
property
• Education and training
• Provision of Transport
 Matters for consideration
• Disabled parking provision or setting down points
or garaging
• Approach routes to building – Way finding
signage, gradient, width, surface finish
• External Steps/ramps – gradient, width, guarding
and heights
• Entrances – primary and secondary
• Doors – Operation, Size, level threshold,
automatic, controls
 Matters for consideration
• Entrance Lobbies – sizes, manoeuvrability
• Reception – Counter height
• Visibility of signage – Size and contrast people
with impaired vision
• Interpretation and Braille facilities
• Internal Corridors – Width, obstructions
• Internal steps, ramps – height, width,
guarding, rise and going
 Matters for consideration
• Lift – Size, height of controls
• Sanitary facilities – WC, WB, Grab Rails
• Spectator seating – Number of spaces, choice
of viewing points
• Access to special facilities – meeting rooms,
swimming pools, sports equipments
• Management arrangements – for assisted
access and means of escape
 Disabled parking provision
• Provision is made for disable drivers and cars
carrying disable passengers
• It is provided as near to the principal entrance-
Shortest accessible route
• If payment is required, provide level and
unobstructed access to pay and display unit
• The surface of designated parking bay should be
firm and level, slip resistant and have a 1200mm
transfer zone
 Disabled parking provision
• Guidance can be found in BS 8300
• The recommended numbers of reserved spaces vary
in accordance with the type and capacity of the car
park as follows – 5% of total capacity in employment
premises and one plus 6% for shopping, leisure
• Car parking spaces should be signposted using
international symbols – size 1200 mm x 1200mm
• Vertical sign board shall be located near reserved
parking bay
 Approach routes
• Routes of travel across grass or paved areas
should be highlighted by contrasting colour,
texture or directional paving
• Covers and gratings should be flush with
pavings – max gap 18mm
• Define foot path edges with either Kerb or a
surface change
 Approach routes
• At changes in level and
to slopes steeper than
1:15 hand rail and kerb
should be provided. A
lower rail and kerb is a
guide for people using
canes
• Pedestrian crossing
points very important
• Red tactiles for
controlled crossings and
buff coloured tactiles at
uncontrolled crossings
Approach routes
 External Hazards
• The provision of landscaping furniture needs
careful thoughts
• Avoid overhangs
• Guard against building projections by rails,
textured surface and kerbs
External Hazards
Ramps
Ramps
 Ramps
The surface should be slip resistant
At minimum it should be 900mm wide
U and L shape should be avoided as much as possible
Bottom of the ramp should be even with the ground
level
Level landings are necessary at the top and bottom
ends to make it easier to maneuver
If it is long than 10m intermediate level landing is
needed. For a L shape 1500mm x 1500mm landing
and for U shape 1500mm x 2400mm landings are
needed
Stepped Access
 Stepped Access

• Rise 150mm – 170mm

• Going 280mm – 425mm
• Width of flight >
1200mm
• There are top and
bottom landings and
give advance warning
when the change in
level
Stepped Access
 Hand Rails
• Height between 900mm
and 1000mm
• Continuous along the
flights and landings
• Surface should be slip
resistant and not cold to
touch
• The profile should be
circular or oval with
diameter of 50mm
 Entrances and Doors
• Should be clearly signposted and include
international symbol of action
• Should have a level landing at least 1500 x
15mm clear of any door swings
• Power operated automatic doors are
preferred at the entrance
• If a manual operated door special door closers
should be used
Entrances and Doors
Entrances and Doors
 Entrance lobbies
• Adequate space must be provided
• Threshold should be flush – 15mm max
• Good lighting should be provided
• Floor surface should be level and slip resistant
 Reception Area
• Should be easily identifiable
• Designed to accommodate with both standing
and seating visitors
• At least one section of counter is 1500mm
wide, no higher than 760mm with a knee
recess not less than 700mm from the floor level
• Reception point should be provided with a
hearing enhancement system
 Internal Doors
• Lever handles are preferable with knob sets
• Fire doors particularly in the corridors should
held open with an electro magnetic device but
self close when
Activated by fire alarm
If power supply fails, activated by hand
operated switch
Fire doors to individual rooms should be fitted
with swing free devices that close when
activated by smoke detectors, fire alarms and
power failures
 Vertical Circulation
• Passenger lift is the most suitable means
• Indicating signs should be provided to find the
lifting device
• Sign indicating the floor reached should be
provided that can be easily seen from the lift
• What ever the lifting device is chosen, internal
stairs always be provided to suit the ambulant
disabled and visually impaired
Vertical Circulation
 Vertical Circulation
• Minimum car size 1100mm wide and 1400mm deep
• For lift which does not have enough room to turn
around mirrors are provided
• Power operated sliding doors are provided with
clear space of 800mm
• Controls are located between 900mm and 1200mm
• Landing call buttons are located between 900mm
and 1100mm and at least 500mm away from the
any wall
• Audible and visual indication of lift arrival and
location should be provided
Sanitary Conveniences
 Sanitary Conveniences
• A changing place facility is a combined toilet, shower and
changing room for use of people with multiple disabilities
who may require of two assistants
• This is provided in larger buildings where visitor might be
expected to spend long hours – Air ports, Large railway
stations, Large hotels, Hospitals
• The CP facility is at least 3m wide, 4m long and 2.4 to ceiling
• Door needs clear width of 1000mm with level threshold
• A WC is provided with drop down support rails either side
• Waste bins are recessed in to wall to avoid being an obstacle
• A power operated height adjustable wash basin is provided
• Minimum fittings and accessories in a CP shown here
Sanitary Conveniences
 Sanitary Conveniences
• Where there is a only one toilet in a building it
must be a unisex wheel chair accessible toilet
• Doors are outward opening with a horizontal
closing baron the inside face and can be broken
easily from outside
• All fittings and grab rails should contrast visually
with the back ground wall finish and there should
be a contrast between walls and floor
• Wash Basin tap is a long arm with sensored type is
preferred
• Automatic release of soap liquid is also preferred
• Door accessories should be relatively large
 Sanitary Conveniences
• The shape, height, size, size, inclination and
the grip of grab bars to be considered
• Shape of the wash basin is important
Sanitary Conveniences
Sanitary Conveniences