Extra features to make the building environment more accessible
Accessibility in construction is about designing a building and its environment to be used by the largest range of people as possible and it is everyone’s responsibility.
Designers have a special role to play in ensuring people can approach and access buildings. The Technical Guidance Document for Part M of the Building Regulations (TGD M 2010) is a guide of requirements which if implement in the design and construction of buildings ensures compliance with the building regulations. However, we can make the approach to buildings more accessible by considering extra features which go beyond TGD M 2010. Below is a list of features which would ensure a broader range of people are catered for when approaching buildings:
- Provide larger set down areas to allow persons to alight safely from larger vehicles.
- Allow regular rest points along access routes for persons with limited mobility and ensuring a mix of seating options are provided.
- Provide lighting to ensure all users, including persons with visual impairments, and persons with sensory or neurological processing difficulties can use the external environment safely and securely.
- Street furniture to be placed and maintained to not become a hazard to persons with visual impairments.
- Provide protection from inclement weather with covered walkways.
- Provide spending areas for service dogs, with a water source for drinking water for dogs and handwashing.
- Provide accessible bike parking for non-standard bikes.
- Provide electric charge points which can be accessed from an accessible parking bay, to accommodate electric accessible vehicles.
Find further information on how to design the external environment so that it can be accessed and used by everyone, click here; http://universaldesign.ie/Built-Environment/Building-for-Everyone/#figBfE1ExternalEnvironment
If you want to ensure your building is accessible by as many people as possible, at OHAC we provide a range of accessibility services aimed at all levels. If you need further information on how to make the external environment more accessible and inclusive, please do not hesitate to contact one of our team on (01) 415 12 85 or e-mail [email protected].
