Access to Buildings by Disabled People

Everyone providing a service, from the dentist to the library, now has to consider making improvements to the physical structure of their buildings to make them more user friendly for disabled people.

Anybody who provides a service has duties to disabled people under the Disability Discrimination Act, and may have to make changes to the way their service is delivered if it is difficult for disabled people to use.

Building Regulation Guide

New Building Regulations recently brought in impose a range of requirements. These make sure that when buildings are erected, extended, altered or their use changed, they are accessible and/or improved to allow people with a disability to have an opportunity to make full use of the built environment.

The Building Regulations contain specific requirements regarding access for disabled people to buildings. This includes:

• provision of toilets
• special audience seating where provided for the able-bodied

The provision of facilities to enable disabled people to use buildings is also necessary. This includes:

• the provision of ramps
• suitable width corridors
• disabled toilet facilities
• in some buildings the provision of a lift

Access for people with a disability is not just about wheelchairs, it covers a wide range of disabilities such as:

• sight
• hearing
• walking impairments

The requirements of the regulations also extends to new dwellings and in most cases requires ramped access and level thresholds to the principal entrance door, together with an accessible toilet at ground floor level. The Council's Building Control Surveyors will be happy to discuss these issues.

If you require more information about access to buildings by disabled people, contact the Building Control Team.