Abstract:

About one in ten persons is born with, or develops, a physical, sensory or mental impairment. When this stops a person from participating in normal life, it becomes a handicap. The aim of this Building Issue is to help create physical environments, particularly in public buildings, that support people with physical and sensory impairments, so that they do not become handicapped. This report identifies basic requirements for barrier-free design and offers design guidelines for low and medium cost buildings and sites. Built-in barriers are often a result of negligence or lack of awareness. It is a matter of attitude and information, and buildings can be made accessible at little or no extra cost, if the issue is considered early in the planning stage. The report contains illustrated design guidelines with recommendations for creating a non-handicapping physical environment. The recommendations are related to moving, seeing and hearing difficulties. Specific dimensions are given for building features such as pathways, stairs, ramps, corridors, doors, openings and rooms. The size of signs and the principles of good acoustic design are discussed. There is a summary check list intended as a reference for the client when consulting an architect and later when approving the project. It should be photocopied and used by the client and the architect. ; About one in ten persons is born with, or develops, a physical, sensory or mental impairment. When this stops a person from participating in normal life, it becomes a handicap. The aim of this Building Issue is to help create physical environments, particularly in public buildings, that support people with physical and sensory impairments, so that they do not become handicapped. This report identifies basic requirements for barrier-free design and offers design guidelines for low and medium cost buildings and sites. Built-in barriers are often a result of negligence or lack of awareness. It is a matter of attitude and information, and buildings can be made accessible at little or no extra cost, if the issue is considered early in the planning stage. The report contains illustrated design guidelines with recommendations for creating a non-handicapping physical environment. The recommendations are related to moving, seeing and hearing difficulties. Specific dimensions are given for building features such as pathways, stairs, ramps, corridors, doors, openings and rooms. The size of signs and the principles of good acoustic design are discussed. There is a summary check list intended as a reference for the client when consulting an architect and later when approving the project. It should be photocopied and used by the client and the architect.