BUILT ENVIRONMENT ACCESS AUDITS Presentation by Association for Disabled People Empaneled Access Auditor for AIC, Govt. of India

What is Accessibility? Environmental access is a set of norms and standards designed to provide safe and independent use of varied environments such as transportation, roads, buildings and communication by persons with disabilities. Universal design is a commitment for designing products and environments for the broadest population possible, especially for the people who have not been considered as part of the general population Accessibility provides equal opportunity to PwDs by way of providing ACCESS to schools, work places, temples, parks, banks etc. all facilities Accessibility provisions such as ramps etc. are visible objects which further creates awareness in society for Inclusive Thinking, barrier free society Different access needs are there for different type of special needs i.e. Disability so there are Universal Accessibility Standards.

ACCESS AUDIT Purpose of an access audit: The purpose of an access audit is to assess how a particular building or environment performs in terms of access and ease of use by a wide range of actual and potential users, including person with disabilities and to recommend access improvements. The aim of the access audit and its follow-up are to: Identify the extent of the problem of access to public buildings and recommend changes additions to make the environment accessible To create awareness of the importance of the concept of barrier-free environments for persons with disabilities To enforce the inclusion of accessibility for persons with disabilities in the official agenda of government and private agencies. The report includes observations, measurements, sketches and photographs covering all parts of the public building audited including the external and internal environment as well as the services provided in the building.

National Building Code 2017. Accessibility Standards/Guidelines followed in India National Building Code 2017. CPWD Guidelines and Space Standards for barrier-free built environment published by Ministry of Urban Development in 2016 CPWD Handbook on Barrier Free and Accessibility, 2014 Rights of Persons with Disabilities ACT 2016.   Effort to harmonise the standards India still needs a manual on standards .

Basics of Building Access Audit 1. Getting To The Premises Parking Approach and routes to entrance Lighting and signage to entrance Surfaces of approach Street and grounds furniture 2. Getting Into The Premises Steps and ramps Entrance doors and thresholds Reception areas including desks, seating and lighting 3. Getting Around The Premises Lateral circulation, width of corridors etc. Direction signage Floor surfaces and tonal contrasts of surfaces Vertical circulation - lifts and stairs

Basics of Building Access Audit 4. Using The Services In The Premises Toilets, washrooms, changing and bathroom facilities Access to and in eating and bar areas Public room access and layout Lighting, heating and acoustics Accessibility of switches, handles and controls Seating and furniture Telephones and electrical equipment Alarms and acoustics 5. Getting Out Of The Building Fire exits and escape routes Emergency lighting and warning systems Safe refuge areas in event of fire 6. Managing The Building And Service Keeping routes clear and obstructions removed Maintenance of lighting, heating and alarm systems Inclusive Attitude and appropriately trained staff Publicity material, menus etc.

Wheelchair Users – Basic Information Side reach 250 mm to 1300 mm from floor Forward reach 1200 mm from floor, Minimum is 400 mm from floor Average width of the wheelchair is 800 mm Turning radius is 1800 mm Knee space underneath that is at least 750 mm wide, 200 mm deep and 750 mm high The manual uses the manual adult wheelchair for reference

People with Visual Impairment – Basic Needs Tactile Blocks Photo luminescent way guidance systems Handrails Color Contrast (level differences, fixtures, staircases, signage) Illumination (100 to 150 lux) Beepers Remove Obstacles Embossed characters and Braille for Tactile Reading  (Signage, emergency information, Tactile maps) Audible Information (Lifts, kiosks, Traffic Signals etc.) Large Font Size Consistent Design

People with Hearing Impairment Supplementary visual information should be provided (example - subtitles in TV programs, Railway station screens etc.) Visual alarms for emergency Alternate system to Public Address System Information Signs (including direction signs) Lighting (Classroom, auditorium, hallways etc.) Availability of Sign Language Interpreters and sensitivity to communicate in alternate formats (say written)

About the Ramps Gradient Railings/handrails - whether continuous and present on both sides, height, if the same extends on the landings Tactile indicators along the ramp, landings Start and end of ramp – enough area for wheelchair turning Surface of the ramp

About the Ramps Gradient of 1:15 or less. (1:12 is the absolute maximum. ) Minimum unobstructed width (i.e. between handrails) is 1200 mm Handrails on both sides, that are at a height of 900 mm high measured from the surface of the ramp and that extend 300 mm beyond the top and bottom of the ramp. These shall be continuous on both the sides, even on landings and of 30 – 45 mm diameter, installed at a distance of at least 40 mm from the adjacent wall.   Tactile warning blocks should be installed at the top, bottom and landings of each ramp run Non-slip surfaces At least 1800 mm of straight clearance at the bottom and top Colour contrasted with the landing

About the Ramps

About Lifts Width of door opening Control panel on the jamb – height, colour contrast with the background, Braille Floor No. signage outside the lift on the opposite wall Control panel inside the lift car – colour contrast, height of all controls, Braille In the lift car – railings, mirror, emergency information, information in braille, phone

About Lifts Minimum internal clear space of the lift car should be 1200 mm wide and 1400mm deep The lift door should be a minimum of 900mm wide and should contrast with the adjoining wall The lift should have a voice announcement system along with a visual display to indicate the floor level  A clear maneuvering space of 1800 mm x 1800 mm should be provided in front of the entrance to all types of lift Controls should be in the zone 900 mm to 1200 mm from the floor Signs indicating the location of an accessible lift should be provided in a location that is clearly visible from the building entrance A sign indicating the number of the floor should be provided on each lift landing on the wall opposite the lift

About Lifts There should be handrails placed horizontally, at a height of 900 mm from the floor level; and be fixed on both sides and at the rear of the elevator The provision of a mirror on the wall of the lift car opposite the lift door is a positive aid to navigation for wheelchair users There should be no horizontal or vertical gaps between the floors of the lift landings and lift car. Where a horizontal gap is unavoidable, this should not exceed 12 mm Controls should be in the zone 900 mm to 1200 mm from the floor Controls should be colour-contrasted with the surrounding face plate panel and the face plate should similarly contrast with the background wall on which it is mounted Information should preferably be in relief (embossed letters/ symbols accompanied with Braille information) for tactile reading

About Lifts Accessible Elevator with Grab Bar, Mirror , button and auditory floor announcement system

About Stairs Railings/handrail - whether the same is on both sides and continuous on landings/mid-landings, height Directional signage How fire exit staircase open on the ground floor Tactile indicators along the staircase flight, landings

About Stairs Straight flights of steps; Treads should be approximately 300 mm deep and risers not higher than 150 mm. Steps should be of a consistent height and depth throughout the stair There should be no more than 12 steps in one flight run The stairs landing should be minimally 1200mm deep The stairs should have minimum 1000 mm clear width Handrails should be provided to both sides of any stairway. They should be continuous, even on landings, and extend not less than 300 mm beyond the top and bottom step. The handrails should be installed between heights of 900 mm and 1000 mm from the furnished surface of treads and landings Tactile or high-contrast color markings to indicate the top, bottom and landings of each flight of steps The stairwell should be equipped at each level with appropriate emergency alarm systems, including visual indicators Illumination level of 150 lux should be maintained on the stairs The space under the stairs, with a head room of up to 2.1 meters, to be cordoned off either by building a wall in front of it or by putting handrails to guide persons with visual impairments around the hazard

About Stairs With Proper Hand railing Hydraulic Chair on stairs

Corridors and Hall ways Accessible Corridors with Tactile flooring and low height grab bar as highlighted

Doors and Door ways Door Opening Force (max 22N) (push /pull ) Door Opening Handles / Controls (lever type, not requiring twist , etc.) Auto Doors

Accessible Tables shows knee space for wheel chair users Cafeteria and Office Accessible Tables shows knee space for wheel chair users

Drinking Water Facility

Rest Rooms An accessible unisex sanitary facilities must have the minimum dimension of 1800 mm x 2350 mm A clear maneuvering space of 1800mm x 1800mm in front of the water closet and wash basin in the accessible toilet unit.  All fixtures and utilities should provide a clear space of 750 mm x 1200 mm for wheelchair users to access them The toilet door should either be an outward opening door or a sliding type and should provide a clear opening width of at least 900 mm. Be provided with a horizontal pull-bar, at least 600 mm long, on the inside of the door, located so that it is 130 mm from the hinged side of the door and at a height of 1100 mm. Lock should be easy to operate

Rest Rooms Wash Basin – have a knee space underneath that is at least 750 mm wide, 200 mm deep and 750 mm high Water Closet should preferably be of wall-hung type and should be positioned such that the distance between the centerline of the water closet and the adjacent wall is 450 mm to 480 mm, and the distance between front edge of the water closet and the rear is 750 mm. The top of the water closet seat should be at a height of 450 - 500 mm from the floor. There should be an adequate clear floor space of at least 1350 mm depth and 900 mm width, both in front and on the transfer side, adjacent to the water closet Grab-bar Details: Have a circular section of 30-45 mm in diameter; Be mounted at a height between 200 mm and 250 mm from the top of the water closet seat; One 600mm long horizontal and one 600mm long vertical grab bar should be mounted on the side wall closest to the water closet All utilities and accessories such as soap dispenser, hand dryer etc should be installed between heights of 800mm and 1100 mm from the floor surface

Restroom / Accessible Toilet Design Considerations

Restroom / Accessible Toilet Design Considerations

Emergency Evacuation Emergency Evacuation Evacuation Signage Evacuation Chair Emergency Evacuation Evacuation Signage

* Thank you * SUVARNA RAJ Association for Disabled People ‘Presented by’ SUVARNA RAJ Access Auditor under the “Accessible India Campaign” International Para Athlete National Role Model Award Winner National Youth Award Winner Association for Disabled People Basti Vikas Kendra, F-1 , Sundar Nagri, Delhi-110095 Contact: +91 8800226202 Email: disabledpower@yahoo.in