Changes to the Code of Practise on the Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people in the latest revision BS8300:2009

Published in February 2009 this is the first amendment to the British Standard, published in October 2001.

The amendments seek to reduce the differences between Approved Document M and the British Standard, consider means of escape and update the recommendations in the light of recent research and feedback from the implementation of the accessibility requirements of the Building Regulations 2000. Most of the guidance on housing has been removed from BS 8300: 2009 and can now be found in the draft standard on lifetime homes (Draft for Development 266).

Although not currently cited in the Approved Documents, so there is no statutory requirement to comply with the recommendations of BS8300:2009, however there may be instances when the recommendations can be advantageous to the designer, as in the past it was found that guidance had been taken restrictively by designers and resulted in a uniformity of design in public buildings that was not the original intention.

The code has been amended to allow and indicate greater flexibility of design. Of particular note is the alteration to the maximum number of risers in a flight (see Steps Item Below).

It is also the case that clients in certain instances may be looking to achieve the best standard of access, and use of this document could be considered best practice.

As it is not a regulatory requirement Salus do not as a rule do a detailed check against BS8300, except where design compliance has been based upon the British Standard. Should such a check be required please discuss with your project manager.

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Changes in the recommendations

There are numerous minor changes in the recommendations, however the most relevant have been highlighted below.

Car Parking

Car parking totals have been revised upwards for some purpose groups, and are to be supplemented by ‘enlarged standard spaces’ (6m x 3m) which can be adapted for use if necessary. The standard recommends (where space permits) 1 space for converted vans 4.8 x 8m. The 1200 clear zone now extends both sides of the vehicle and a vertical sign where the parking space is outdoor and the surface may be obscured by leaves.

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Access

Access routes now have designation of gently sloping where they are between 1:60 and 1:20 and require a landing for every 500mm of rise. Gradients over 1:20 should be considered as a ramp.

Maximum ramp gradients are now set out for each metre of going between 2m and 10m to clarify that it was permissible to interpolate the gradients, originally specified in the 2001 standard and Approved Document M.

Minimum access ramp width is now 1.5m increased from 1.2m-landing sizes have also increased. Permissible obstruction on access route has been reduced to min width 1.2m and 2.0m long (1.8m clear width).

Calculations of lobby dimensions have altered and would appear to increase the lobby size required with no reduction allowance for vision panels.

Steps and stairs

Preferred step dimensions are now 150-180mm rise, and increased to 300 - 450mm, going with clarification that evidence now indicates a larger going helps to avoid accidents.

Maximum rise of a flight has increased from 12 to 20 risers and acknowledges that the benefits for some of the shorter flights are balanced by the increased risk for others of each change from a landing to a flight.

Stair width is now specified as a minimum 1200mm, with a minimum 1m between handrails (previously the clear width between handrails of 1m was specified in the standard).

More detail is provided in the specification for nosings.

The detail for access stairs has been re-drawn, the landing at the top now appears to require to be 400mm wider than the stair, as the corduroy hazard warning surface should extend this far – however this may only apply where the upper landing is a two way path.

Upper limit of handrail height brought into line with common usage by increasing from 1m to 1.1m.

A requirement has been added for a 2nd handrail at 600mm for all public buildings and those principally for children.

The document no longer stipulates that handrails should be oval or circular. Equal acceptance is now given to non-circular handrails with a broad horizontal face. The guidance originally identified as being relevant to ‘Principle’, entrance doors has now been broadened to encompass ALL external doors.

The requirement relating to handrail materials not becoming excessively hot or cold to the touch has been clarified to apply in locations where subject to extremes of temperature, and adds stainless steel as acceptable, along with wood and nylon covered steel.

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Doors and Entrance areas

Table 2-Effective clear widths of doors has been amended to bring into line with the Approved Document - The main change relates to reference to ‘New buildings’ and ‘Existing buildings’, rather than ‘Preferred’ and ‘Minimum’ as used in the original document, and the addition of guidance on external doors and internal lobby doors.

There has been a relaxation of the recommendations on the provision of vision panels in doors, and more detailed information is given on the location and design of door opening and closing furniture.

The code now specifically clarifies the limitations of thumb turns and specifies the force to operate keys and cylinder turns should not exceed 0.5N.m.

The code contains detailed guidance on controlled door closing devices (not self closing) which require differing force dependent on the angle of opening-30N up to 30 degrees and 22.5N up to 60 degrees.

Guidance is provided on door furniture revised to give more scope to designers. Min height to top 1300mm, bottom 700 to 1000mm i.e min 300mm handle.

Visual Contrast

A note to the clause on manifestation of glazed screens states that the manifestation should cover 10% of the glazed area of the manifestation zones (850-1000mm and 1400mm – 1600mm, which will allow extra freedom for designers.

The requirements regarding text heights and visual contrast for signage have been altered.

Clause 9.3.7.1 states that fire alarms should be visible as well as audible to all users, however it goes on to advise that areas where people are in isolation e.g. bedrooms and toilets they should have alerting systems for the deaf and hard of hearing, such as beacons or vibrating devices. A clause which would appear redundant where the first statement to be followed. This leaves open the argument for the management option for open plan heavily occupied areas.

Provision of wheelchair spaces in audience seating has altered to 1% of the total with a minimum of 6 spaces which can be provided via removable seating. To bring the code in line with the Approved Document.

Sanitary facilities

The maximum horizontal travel distance for a disabled employee to an accessible W.C. has been altered to 40m from 100m on the same floor to bring the code in line with A.D. M.

Where the building has only one unisex accessible W.C. the size should not be less than 2200mm x 2000mm with an additional large wash basin.

The code confirms that baby changing facilities should not be installed in sanitary facilities provided for disabled people.

Changing Places

Sanitary facilities are for severely disabled people who require up to two assistants, and are a minimum 3m x 4m, with a ceiling height of 2.4m. These should be provided in addition to, and not instead of, the standard sanitary facilities for disabled people. These include a hoist and an adult-sized changing table, are intended for assisted use only and are likely to be needed in all major public buildings, such as major transport interchanges, motorway services, cultural centres, stadia, shopping centres, educational establishments and health facilities. There is already one in London City Hall.
Lever height is now between 800-1050mm preferred 900mm and the possible lever design has been expanded.Reference is made to panic bars to BS EN 1125, push pads, and lever handles to BS EN 179 for emergency exits with maximum operating force restrictions.

Door entry systems should be within 200mm of the door frame and 900-1050mm high.

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Horizontal Circulation

New clause on Entrances to commercial and public buildings which should have matting or similar to dry feet and wheels.

The guidance on reception area design has been expanded.

The clause regarding doors opening into corridors has altered such that accessible w.c. doors may open out only into infrequently used corridors, which are not escape routes. Previously these were allowed into any corridor. The 900mm clear corridor remaining is still required. Reference is made to reduced swing doorsets.

A new clause specifies that the unobstructed width of an escape route should be a minimum 1200mm.

Self closing devices have again been re-named ‘controlled closing devices’ of variable power type – to BS EN 1154 1997 and a detailed discussion of the requirements is provided.

Vertical circulation

Reference is now made to BS5395-Stairs, ladders and walkways.

Helical or spiral stairs are not recommended as the dimensions suitable for ambulant disabled cannot be achieved, however they may be acceptable in the workplace if they meet the needs of specific employees.

Reference is made to refuges and BS9999.

Ramps should now be provided with steps as an alternative where the rise is above 300mm (previously 200mm).

Clarification is provided regarding non-enclosed lifting platforms (single level only), and enclosed vertical lifting platforms, (multi storey) i.e. that they are not equivalent to conventional lifts and should only be considered in existing buildings.

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Reference is made to emergency evacuation lifts.

Bedrooms

Accessible bedroom numbers appear to have increased somewhat with a recommended 5% without a hoist, 5% with a hoist and 5% capable of being adapted in the future.

Where only one accessible bedroom is provided. a shower room rather than bathroom should be incorporated as the en-suite, and it is clarified that a shower room is preferred.

Unisex accessible fitting rooms in shops should have a min dimensions of 2m x 2.2m.

Annex B clarifies the requirements with regard to using light reflectance values to assess visual contrast and provides a paint colour guide which may be of assistance in the design of visual contrasting elements.