Entitled ‘Accessible Building Design: The Way Forward’, the presentation explains which types of automatic door operators and manual door controls meet the requirements of key legislation and building regulations. This includes the Disability Act 2005, Technical Guidance Document M ‘Access and use of buildings’ and BS8300:2009 the code of practice for the design of buildings, and their approach to meeting the needs of people with disabilities.
As well as detailing legislative requirements which apply to public buildings, the presentation looks at the fact that 8% of the population has a disability and how access needs to be addressed across the design of all buildings from retail and financial to residential, education, healthcare and transport.
With a common sense approach and a suggestion to look to simple yet effective access solutions, the presentation provides clear and concise information on planning and design requirements. This includes consideration of main building entrances, internal doors, fire doors, room access doors, escape doors, accessible toilet doors and clear door widths.
Addressing the different issues encountered with new build and the many challenges with refurbishment projects, in particular the sensitive refurbishment of historic buildings, the presentation guides specifiers through the individual requirements and approaches required for each.
Particular attention is paid to meeting access requirements whilst still maintaining the necessary regarding fire protection and the various manual door solutions that are available including surface mounted door closers, concealed door closers, floor springs and hold open magnets.
In addition, information on locks, seals, hinges and air pressure is included to provide a complete look at the specification of doors as part of accessible building design. Finally, information on the necessity of planned maintenance from not only a cost but also a safety perspective is included.
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